Better Habits https://betterhabits.online/ Small habits, kept for life. The practical side of health after 40, one habit at a time. en-us Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:00:00 -0600 The Ten-Minute Walk After Meals https://betterhabits.online/articles/walk-after-meals https://betterhabits.online/articles/walk-after-meals Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:00:00 -0600 Move A short, unhurried walk after eating is one of the easiest habits to attach to a day you already have. Here is what research suggests it may do, and how to make it stick. A Fixed Wake Time May Matter More Than Your Bedtime https://betterhabits.online/articles/fixed-wake-time https://betterhabits.online/articles/fixed-wake-time Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0600 Rest Sleep advice usually starts with going to bed earlier. Sleep science suggests starting at the other end of the night. Adding Fiber Without Overhauling How You Eat https://betterhabits.online/articles/adding-fiber https://betterhabits.online/articles/adding-fiber Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0600 Eat Fiber is one of the few nutrients nearly every dietary guideline agrees on. The habit is smaller than you might expect. Learning Something New After 50 Is Worth the Effort https://betterhabits.online/articles/learning-after-50 https://betterhabits.online/articles/learning-after-50 Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0600 Mind Crossword puzzles are fine. But research on cognitive health suggests the bigger gains may come from learning skills that are genuinely unfamiliar. Strength Training After 50, Starting With What You Have https://betterhabits.online/articles/strength-training-after-50 https://betterhabits.online/articles/strength-training-after-50 Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0600 Move Muscle-strengthening activity is in every major guideline for older adults, and few people do enough of it. The barrier is usually the picture in your head. The Standing Weekly Call: A Health Habit Hiding in Plain Sight https://betterhabits.online/articles/standing-weekly-call https://betterhabits.online/articles/standing-weekly-call Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0600 Connect Social connection now appears in public health guidance alongside diet and exercise. The habit that supports it is older than the telephone. An Evening Routine You Can Actually Keep https://betterhabits.online/articles/evening-routine https://betterhabits.online/articles/evening-routine Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0600 Rest The hour before bed shapes the night more than most people realize. The trick is to design a routine around what you already do, not around what an ideal person would do. Drinking Enough Water After 60, When Thirst Isn't a Reliable Guide https://betterhabits.online/articles/drinking-enough-water https://betterhabits.online/articles/drinking-enough-water Tue, 26 May 2026 09:00:00 -0600 Eat The body's thirst signal tends to weaken with age. That makes hydration a habit rather than an instinct. A Five-Minute Breathing Practice for Tense Days https://betterhabits.online/articles/five-minute-breathing https://betterhabits.online/articles/five-minute-breathing Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:00 -0600 Mind Slow breathing is among the most studied relaxation techniques, and one of the few you can do in a waiting room. Here is a plain version and how to make it a habit. Balance Practice: The Small Habit That Supports Independence https://betterhabits.online/articles/balance-practice https://betterhabits.online/articles/balance-practice Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0600 Move Balance is a skill, and like any skill it fades when unused and returns with practice. Two minutes a day, while the coffee brews, is enough to begin.