Most of us want the same thing: to feel good, have energy, stay healthy, and show up as our best selves. We know we should move more, sleep more, drink more water, eat better, and make time for the people we love. We want to be around for our children and grandchildren. We want to feel strong enough to travel, pursue our passions, and embrace whatever opportunities life places in front of us.
So WHY is it so hard?
Life gets busy. Work deadlines pile up. Kids need rides. Parents need care. Dinner doesn’t cook itself. The laundry doesn’t fold itself. And somehow there’s always one more email to answer before the day is done. By the time evening arrives, the workout gets skipped, dinner becomes whatever is easiest, and we promise ourselves we’ll start fresh… tomorrow.
This was all at the heart of a recent conversation I had with Sara Starkoff Green, wellness consultant at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at Florida Atlantic University Schmidt College of Medicine. Through her work leading more than 200 community wellness programs each year, Green helps people navigate everything from nutrition and movement to mindfulness, stress management, healthy aging, and women’s health.
One distinction she made immediately stood out.
“We spend a lot of time talking about lifespan,” said Green. “But what we’re really working toward is health span.”
It’s a subtle but important shift. Lifespan measures how many years we live. Health span focuses on the quality of those years, maintaining the strength, mobility, independence, and mental clarity to continue doing the things that give life purpose.
That perspective also changes how we think about wellness.
Rather than chasing perfection or the latest trend, Green encourages people to focus on sustainable habits they can actually maintain. Progress, she believes, begins by “meeting people where they are.”
For some, that may mean committing to a daily walk. For others, it might be drinking more water, getting to bed 30 minutes earlier, preparing healthier meals, or simply reconnecting with a friend. None of those choices are dramatic on their own, but together they create the foundation for long-term health.
Green’s philosophy extends beyond physical wellness. It’s also about human connection. Relationships, community, and meaningful conversations all contribute to healthier, longer lives, a finding supported by decades of research on longevity.
That belief also inspired one of her newest projects, The Menopause Playbook, a podcast designed to educate men about menopause. While menopause affects every woman differently, Green believes it shouldn’t remain a conversation only among women. Whether it’s a spouse, son, father, brother, coworker, or friend, helping men better understand menopause can strengthen relationships, improve workplace communication, and create more compassionate support systems.
I asked Sara what she would say to someone who feels like they’ve let their health slide. Her answer was remarkably simple:
“Every moment. Every breath. Is an opportunity to begin again,” said Green.
When it comes to non-negotiables, Green’s list of habits wasn’t complicated: quality sleep, regular movement, sunshine, hydration, nutrient-dense foods, human connection, mindfulness, gratitude, and continually challenging the brain through learning and neuroplasticity.
Simple doesn’t always mean easy. But perhaps that’s exactly the point.
Healthy living isn’t built through one grand gesture. More often, it’s shaped by small decisions made consistently over time.
And maybe that’s the real takeaway: wellness isn’t another item to check off our list. It’s what helps us enjoy everything else on it.
To hear my full conversation with Sara Starkoff Green, including our discussion on health span, menopause, mindfulness, and practical wellness habits, listen to Episode 98 of The Paige Kornblue Show at PaigeKornblue.com and wherever you find your favorite podcasts
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