As I sat down to write this column, it occurred to me that it’s been about a decade since I began the transition into the role of editor in chief for Experience Life. Ten years. Some days it seems like so long ago; others, it seems like yesterday.
It’s remarkable to look back at all that’s happened and all that we’ve covered in these pages during that time. While a lot has changed (the team, the number of issues per year, the amount of digital-first content we create), some important things have stayed the same — namely, the factors that form the foundation of a healthy way of life.
Pick up any past issue and you’ll find that fitness and movement, nutrition and healthy eating, mental health and mindset, community and connection, stress and sleep management, and time in nature are referenced in every one.
While that might seem boring or repetitive, it’s the nuances of these elements, along with how they’re applied in different circumstances, that keep them interesting and fresh from issue to issue.
For instance, we know that having a consistent exercise routine is important — but my fitness goals and how I integrate movement into my daily life are likely different than how you approach it. That’s why I love the four goal-oriented templates in “How to Make a Fitness Plan Based on Your Goals,”; they allow each of us to create our own fitness adventure, but with proven guidance that can help us make meaningful progress.
“How to Add More Fiber, Protein, and Antioxidants to Your Plate” is about eating well by strategically adding rather than subtracting from our diets. My favorite line from the article reads, “Experts say that white-knuckling your way to healthy eating by depriving yourself of the foods you love is a recipe for misery.” We offer ways to do the opposite and get more nutrients — as well as satisfaction and pleasure — from our meals.
Creativity, as described in “4 Practices to Create a More Flexible Mind” is a path to cognitive flexibility. It’s a mindset and practice that ultimately sets us up to be more adaptable and open to new ideas and perspectives.
I encourage you to notice how all these factors are covered in this and future issues. They are essential to maintaining a healthy life, making sustainable change when you need to, and addressing many lifestyle-related health issues if and when they arise.
Now for what’s changed. Led by Maggie Fazeli Fard, our editorial director of fitness, our “Real Fitness” section is refreshed with four new departments: Form Check offers targeted cues for improving your lifting form, one move at a time; Level Up focuses on training strategies that can take your physical efforts to the next level; True or False sets the record straight on common fitness beliefs; and The Long Game provides guidance on how to keep moving at any age.
There’s also Perfectly Imperfect, a new column by author Oliver Burkeman, who encourages letting go of unreasonable expectations and embracing our humanness so we can experience more joy in the day to day.
Just as many of us start a new year by reflecting on what’s working in our lives (and what’s not) and identifying new goals, we’re doing the same with Experience Life. We’ve listened to your feedback, noticed trends, and made some updates, all with the intent of supporting you, our readers, as you move toward your goals, whatever they may be. With that, cheers to the start of another year and all the possibilities it brings.
This originally appeared as “Ever Evolving” in the January/February issue of Experience Life.
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