Editorial Policy and Corrections

This page describes how we decide what to publish, how we research and write it, and what we do when we get something wrong. It applies to every article on betterhabits.online and to our newsletter.

Our purpose

Better Habits exists to describe, in plain language, everyday habits that public health research suggests may support health for adults in midlife and later, and to explain how to fit those habits into a real life. We are not a news organization, a medical service, or a marketplace. We publish editorial content only.

How we choose topics

We cover a habit when three things are true: the habit is small enough for most adults to attempt, there is guidance from at least one recognized public health institution that supports it, and we can say something useful about how to start and keep it. We prioritize habits relevant to people over 40, and we try to cover our five areas, Move, Rest, Eat, Mind, and Connect, in reasonable balance.

We do not cover topics that require individual medical judgment, such as specific diagnoses, medications, or supplements. Content whose purpose is to promote a product or service is handled as advertising and labeled as such, never as an article.

How we research

Our primary sources are public health institutions and academic medical centers, including the National Institutes of Health and its institutes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the World Health Organization, and the Mayo Clinic. We read the institution's own public guidance and summaries before writing. Where we refer to research, we describe the direction and strength of the evidence as the institution describes it.

We do not cite individual studies we have not read, we do not quote statistics we cannot trace to an institutional source, and we do not attribute findings to named researchers. Each article ends with a list of the institutions it relies on, with links to their websites.

How we write

We write for adults who are intelligent and busy, and who may be reading on a phone with tired eyes. We use short sentences and everyday words. We avoid jargon where we can and define it where we cannot. We do not use fear, urgency, or shame to hold attention.

We use conditional language, such as "research suggests" and "may support," because that is what the evidence usually justifies. We do not promise outcomes, we do not describe any habit as a fix for any condition, and we do not use words that imply certainty the research does not have. Every article includes a section describing when a reader should talk to a clinician rather than rely on a habit.

Authorship

Articles are written and edited by the Better Habits editorial team and are credited to the publication rather than to individuals. We do not present writers as medical professionals, and we do not invent credentials. Where we quote or paraphrase an institution, we name it.

Independence

Editorial decisions are made without regard to advertising. Better Habits is supported by advertising; advertisements and sponsored content are clearly labeled and kept apart from our articles, and advertisers do not review or influence editorial content. Coverage is never exchanged for payment, and any content supplied by an advertiser is published only as labeled sponsored content, as described in our Advertising Disclosure.

Review and updates

Each article is reviewed before publication for accuracy, clarity, and compliance with this policy. We revisit older articles periodically and update them when institutional guidance changes. Articles show a publication date and, where the content has been meaningfully revised, an update date.

Corrections

We make mistakes, and when we do we fix them openly.

How to report an error. Email contact@betterhabits.online with "Correction" in the subject line. Tell us which article, what you believe is wrong, and, if possible, where a reliable source says otherwise. We acknowledge correction reports and aim to review them within a few business days.

What we do. If we confirm a factual error, we correct the text and add a note at the end of the article stating what was changed and the date. Significant corrections are also noted at the top of the article. If an error is minor and does not affect meaning, such as a typographical mistake, we fix it without a note. We do not silently rewrite substantive content.

Removal. We do not remove articles to hide errors. In the rare case that an article cannot be corrected and must be withdrawn, the page will explain why.

Accessibility

We design the Site for readers over 40. Body text is set at a large size in a typeface designed for readability, with high contrast and generous line spacing. Every page offers a "Larger text" control. We avoid pop-ups, auto-playing media, and moving elements. If any part of the Site is difficult for you to use, please tell us.

Contact

Questions about this policy can be sent to contact@betterhabits.online. Better Habits is published by ZN Digital Ventures LLC, 525 Randall Ave, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001, United States.