Most health outcomes are attributable to the choices we make every day and the habits we form. These things are under our control — they are “modifiable risk factors” as well, as they are called in medicine. Changing habits is hard. If it weren’t, we’d all be healthy already, as most us have a pretty good idea of which foods and activities promote good health and longevity, and which promote the opposite. Yet many people make poor choices anyway, often with the intention of making a change “soon.”

Part of the problem seems to be that the rewards for our efforts are not delivered in a palpable time frame. Just as sitting down and watching a movie does not cause an immediate negative change in health status, neither does going for a single hike. Rather, every choice you make makes a tiny, imperceptible change. But the changes caused by our decisions compound over time, positively or negatively. Understanding the compounding nature of our choices is critical to achieving exceptional long-term health.