As a lifelong learner and advisor in the longevity space, I embrace new opportunities to utilize tools that enhance my overall wellness. Wearable sleep-tracking devices have become all the rage, with over 30% of US adults using them to track their sleep. But for far too many of us, myself included, these wearables can cause more stress than benefit. So I made a bold move and returned my Oura ring, one of the holy grails of sleep health tracking.  

When I first received the ring, I charged it up with anticipation. There were days I would wake up feeling refreshed, ready to be productive for my first 90-minute focused work session, with a plan to follow that up with a robust workout; I would check my Oura with high hopes for a “You go, girl!” kind of confirmation. On the contrary, when I woke up feeling refreshed, Oura’s readiness score consistently indicated I should take it easy (based on recorded low sleep quality from the night before).  

As a coach to high-performing leaders and an advocate for living a life as healthy as it is long, I understand that energy matters, how we feel matters, and being in tune and attuned with our bodies matters. I consider each of us an N-of-1 patient or a study of one based on the understanding that what works for some might not work for others.   

This approach can be an antidote to our culture of more, more, more. But it’s hard to do alone, which is why I’m creating a Longevity Roadmap others can use in their own lives.   

Trusting ourselves to know what works best (when appropriate) can feel insufficient, even counter-cultural. From gadgets and monitors to watches and rings, we now have more real-time access to data than ever before, and we are continuously encouraged to buy the next new device.  

Beyond whether the data received is accurate, causes anxiety, or poses equity concerns, I’ve been asking myself: When it comes to building your longevity repertoire, are more and more inputs always better?  

I was recently honored to speak about a popular wellbeing self-assessment, The Seven Lifestyle Levers Assessment™ at Healthy Aging 50+: The Science of Healthy Living Conference, hosted by the Stanford Center on Longevity and Stanford Lifestyle Medicine, where I am an advisor. Juliet Starrett, founder of The Ready State, shared another challenge related to many wanting to skip over the basics and get straight to maximal results:  

“We see many people skip over the (proverbial) Mount Everest base camp, hiking up the mountain… Get yourself to base camp first. Longevity is about practicing simple basics with radical consistency.”  

This resonated profoundly with most of us in the room. Our energy and vitality are like a reservoir, not an ocean. Each of us has a reservoir at different levels in different areas that can vary at different times—this is why the study of one approach is as much an art as a science. And why the path toward achieving any Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG), whether conquering Mount Everest or cultivating a healthful and sustainable lifestyle, begins with minor steps that, over time, create significant progress.  

What’s been missing is a comprehensive yet accessible way for people to understand the elements needed to create their own longevity journey. I’m excited to share that I’ve used my experience, the most up-to-date scientific studies, and rich client stories to develop The Longevity Roadmap. I’ll share parts of that journey here with Thrive Global over the next months and would love to read your thoughts in the comments. 

The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates summed up his philosophy regarding life’s most essential commandments with these two words: Know thyself. I couldn’t agree more.

Author(s)

  • Barbara Waxman

    Leadership Coach, Gerontologist, Life Stage Expert, Angel Investor

    Barbara Waxman, founder of The Odyssey Group, is a highly sought-after longevity and leadership advocate, advisor, coach, speaker and author. Barbara translates cutting-edge research and collective wisdom in ways that enable others to understand how the dynamics of our aging world impact individuals, communities, companies, and the planet. Barbara's leadership as a gerontologist in the coaching field has culminated in the transformative coaching model Entrepreneurship Turned Inward™️ (ETI), the evidence informed Seven Lifestyle Levers Assessment™️ and the Longevity Roadmap™️.  Barbara is an Advisor to the Stanford Center on Longevity, Stanford Lifestyle Medicine and is a faculty member at Chip Conley's Modern Elder Academy.    Website: https://barbarawaxman.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarawaxman/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbarawaxman/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBarbaraWaxman/