Small changes to sleep, diet, and exercise can have significant benefits – and I’m all for barely perceptible adjustments A week into the first lockdown of the pandemic, I vowed I would never set foot in a gym again. This pledge seemed in keeping with the confused fatalism of the moment, but it turned out to be one of the few promises to myself I have ever kept. Since then I’ve become a fan of evidence suggesting that minimal changes to one’s lifestyle make a big difference to overall health, and this week there was more: a new study from the University of Sydney found that even small changes to three key behaviours – sleep, diet, and exercise – can have significant benefits. For those with the least healthy habits, an additional 5 minutes of sleep, 2 minutes more exercise and minimal dietary adjustments could add another year of life. Continue reading...