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Modern life is stressful. The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath have added to that stress, leaving society at the highest risk of burnout than we’ve had in decades. Financial stress is also at all-time highs, adding to the problem.

According to the American Psychological Association, 79% of employees are experiencing high levels of work-related stress. Nearly 3 out of 5 report negative impacts from this. A surprising 44% of adult workers report physical fatigue and 36% report mental fatigue due to stress.

What do these numbers mean? They mean that burnout is a serious concern for the modern adult, and it isn’t just a risk for people in the workforce. People from all walks of life can face stress that can lead to burnout. The statistics also show that most of us don’t know how to manage the stress that causes it.

What is burnout? How does it affect you? Keep reading to learn about this common issue and what you can do to spot it, prevent it, and heal from it.

What is burnout?

The term “burnout” was coined by Herbert Freudenberger, a psychologist who practiced in the 1970s. It refers to severe stress that leads to complete physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion.

Burnout goes beyond just feeling tired or fatigued. When someone’s in burnout, they might struggle to handle their daily responsibilities. They often feel as though they can’t give anymore, and they can feel hopeless about life.

Unfortunately, burnout is not a temporary problem. It doesn't go away on its own and can severely impact a person’s physical and emotional health. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to prevent burnout and overcome it if you do experience it. That’s why understanding burnout, its causes, and good prevention steps is so important.

Common causes of burnout

Stress is the underlying cause of burnout, but stress can come from many areas of life. Here are some examples:

• A nurse faces high stress on the job as they deal with increased demands and nursing shortages.
• A CEO of a large corporation must manage the demands of growing a business and increasing the bottom line while keeping employees and shareholders happy.
• A stay-at-home parent faces stress from the daily tasks of parenting combined with the lack of social interaction.
• A newlywed couple finds it difficult to afford their household needs while starting out in their careers, leading to high emotional and financial stress.
• An adult child who works a hard job comes home each night to care for their elderly parent, meaning they never have time to relax.
• A recent high school graduate finds it necessary to work multiple jobs to pay their bills, and this creates a stressful schedule on top of financial strain.

The stress in each of these people’s lives is different, but the end result’s the same: exhaustion and apathy. This is burnout.

What are common signs of burnout?

Burnout looks different from person to person, but some common signs of this problem include: 

• Exhaustion – This common symptom of burnout makes working productively challenging. It derails concentration and enjoyment in life.
• Cynicism – When someone is experiencing burnout, they become increasingly cynical about life and its challenges. While most people will be cynical occasionally, if it’s becoming a habit, you might be experiencing burnout.
• Inefficacy – This term refers to a general feeling of incompetence or the lack of achievement in life or work.
• Changes in eating or sleep habits – According to Eastern Washington University, many people find their eating or sleep habits changing when they experience burnout. They either eat and sleep too much or too little.
• Physical symptoms – Headaches, immune system concerns, and muscle pain can all occur due to burnout.

How to prevent burnout

Modern life has many stressors. When possible, we should try to take measures to manage that stress in a healthy way to prevent the negative effects of burnout.

If you’re wanting to prevent burnout, there are some proactive steps you could take. 

1. Try adding some self-care to your routine

One way to reduce stress and prevent burnout is to make taking care of yourself a priority. You could use tools like Evidation to track sleep, eating, and exercise, and make sure you’re caring for your body.

Make time in your week for activities you enjoy that feel relaxing. When possible. When you start feeling stressed and worn down, find ways to engage in activities that help you reset.

If you’re pressed for time or resources, self-care can be simple. Instead of a shower one night, consider a warm bath to relax your muscles. This doesn’t take much additional time or cost anything, but it could end up being a great self-care addition to your life.

2. Look for ways to reduce exposure to stressors

While you can’t eliminate all stress from your life, see if you can reduce some exposure. For example, if work is stressful, you could limit your exposure by having set times when you do work activities and set times when you focus on your non-work life. Even if you’re working multiple jobs, you can learn to walk away from work responsibilities when you clock out from each one for the day.

It’s not always work that makes people feel stressed. If you have people or activities in your personal life that are stressful, limit your exposure to them or plan to do something less stressful after you spend time with those people to combat the effect of the stress.

3. Find meaningful ways to connect with others

Healthy interpersonal relationships can help you overcome the symptoms of burnout. Your friends and family can encourage you to slow down when you’re taking on too much.

Once you have those people in your life, you could grow those relationships by dedicating time to them. You’ll need that support system when life gets stressful.

How to recover from burnout

Most people will experience burnout from time to time, even with the best possible plan. When you find yourself in that position, try to take steps to recover. Here are some tips that can help:

• Rest – When you find yourself in full-blown burnout, see if you can take some time off. Your body and mind need time to rest and recuperate. If you can’t take time off work, find other places to carve out time for rest. Going to bed earlier some nights or making time to sit and watch a movie with a friend are examples of restful activities you can do when you have some extra time.
• Improve your personal care – Eating well, sleeping, and exercising are often the first things that stop happening when we’re stressed. Find ways to add these back in. If you can’t make big changes due to your schedule or budget, start small. Swap out a bag of chips for an apple for your snack, and start going to bed just 30 minutes earlier. You can add exercise by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, even if you can’t carve out time or money to go to the gym. Use tools like Evidation to track your new habits.
• Ask for help – If your workload’s overwhelming and you have a support system around you, ask for help managing it. If you can’t get help, consider reassessing your goals and determining if you can cut back somewhere while still meeting your needs and achieving your goals. Asking for help could also look like reaching out to your doctor or a mental health professional for guidance. 
• Reduce your stress – The human body wasn’t designed to handle extreme stress for endless weeks and months. Learning to either reduce stress or manage stress more effectively may help avoid burnout. If you’re able to lessen your responsibilities, that may help, but if not, activities like meditation, yoga, and walking can release the hormones that counter the stress hormones.
• Learn a new perspective – There will be situations where you can’t reduce your stress. In these, learn a new perspective. Decide what you can and can’t fix, and stop taking responsibility for the things you can’t change. This mental shift in perspective may help you recover.

Reward yourself for less stress with Evidation

Preventing burnout relies heavily on self-care, and there are many tools available to help. Evidation is one of them.

With Evidation, you can reward yourself for making better health choices. Simply pair your favorite health-tracking app with Evidation, and earn rewards for every healthy choice you make.

Keep track of your health as you strive to manage stress more effectively – download the app today!

Many researchers generally agree that personality is made up of 5 unique traits: 

• Conscientiousness (organization, productiveness, responsibility)
• Extraversion (sociability, assertiveness; its opposite is Introversion)
• Agreeableness (compassion, respectfulness, trust in others)
• Openness (intellectual curiosity and creative imagination)
• Neuroticism (tendencies toward anxiety and depression)

Some people may have very high or low levels of a trait, but most of us fall somewhere in-between. 

What is openness?

‍Openness describes how intellectually curious, imaginative, and appreciative of art and beauty someone is.

• Those with high levels of openness are generally open to new activities and ideas. They tend to be creative, curious, and sensitive to art and beauty. 
• Those with low levels of openness tend to be traditional, practical, and like to stick with conventional ways of doing things. They prefer the familiar over the new, and the concrete over the abstract. 

Why does openness matter for health and health decision-making?

Although openness doesn’t strongly or consistently relate to health, people can still use their understanding of their level of openness to change their health behaviors and make them more likely to stick.

We recently offered our members the opportunity to take a survey to see where they fall on the spectrum for openness. If you’re an Evidation Member who took the survey and received your openness results, read on to understand what a high or low score may mean for your health. If you’re not a member and want to see results like these, download the Evidation app.

I scored high on openness. What could this mean for my health?

If you’re high in openness, and thus enjoy exploring new activities and ideas, you may be more motivated to stick with a varied physical activity schedule than a familiar routine. 

If you have a hard time turning healthy behaviors, like exercise, into habits, try adding variety. For example you may try… 

• Going for a walk at a new spot
• Creating a new music playlist to run to
• Signing up for an exciting race you need to train for 

Finding new ways to fulfill your intellectual interests–like music, art, or something else–may also help boost your well-being. You may find these hobbies to be especially helpful when you’re feeling stressed.

I scored low on openness. What could this mean for my health?

If you scored low in openness, you may find it easier to stick with familiar exercise routines or healthy recipes than it is to try new ones. 

If you haven’t found healthy behaviors that work for you, try a few out until you find one you like, and make it a habit, such as…

• Making a healthy taco dinner every Tuesday
• Aiming to walk with a friend every day at the same time 
• Going to the same evening yoga class each week

Though personality traits are only one small part of your health and well-being, learning more about yourself may help you to find healthy routines and behaviors that stick. 

Want to receive more personalized health insights? Complete cards daily in the Evidation app and, if you haven’t already, connect a compatible health app. 

Don’t yet have an Evidation account? Download the app today!

From hyperthyroidism to hypothyroidism to Hashimoto's disease, it can be tough to understand all of the different conditions that can affect your thyroid gland. Here, we'll take a look at the differences between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, including symptoms and treatments.

The thyroid gland: supporting your body, one system at a time

Hormones produced by the thyroid include thyroxine, triiodothyronine, prohormone, and calcitonin. These hormones work to regulate your body's growth, development, and metabolic rate.

If you're generally healthy, you probably don't spend much time thinking about your thyroid. But if the gland begins producing too much or too little thyroid hormones, many health symptoms can appear. Changes in energy levels, weight, heart rate, reproductive health, and skin health can all occur when thyroid hormone levels fall out of balance.

Cancer can also develop in the thyroid, interrupting a variety of bodily processes. Signs of thyroid cancer can include a lump or nodule in the front of the neck (where the thyroid is located), voice changes, neck and throat pain, trouble swallowing, and hormonal changes (such as acne and unusual growth of body hair).

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider.

What are the symptoms of thyroid disorder?

As mentioned, the thyroid is a key player in producing and regulating your body's hormones. If you're experiencing a thyroid disorder, such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, it's likely that you'll notice some changes related to your energy and hormones.

Symptoms of thyroid disorder are often attributed to aging and other factors. If you're noticing symptoms that could be indicative of a thyroid problem, it's important to talk to your doctor about the changes you've noticed.

Symptoms that may indicate a thyroid disorder include:

• Changes in mood, including anxiety or depression
• Sleep changes, such as excessive sleepiness
• Weight loss or weight gain that cannot be explained by lifestyle factors
• Changes in energy levels, especially feeling tired even after getting a normal amount of sleep
• Body changes typically related with teenage hormones, such as an increase in body hair and acne

If you're experiencing symptoms that could indicate a thyroid condition, your doctor will be able to prescribe tests to find the root cause of the issue. Thankfully, medication and lifestyle changes can be hugely helpful in alleviating many of the symptoms associated with a thyroid disorder.

What's the difference between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism?

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism mean that something isn't quite right with the thyroid.

The prefix "hyper" means "more"--when a person is experiencing hyperthyroidism, their thyroid is producing a surplus of hormones.

The prefix "hypo" means "less"--when a person is experiencing hypothyroidism, their thyroid isn't producing enough hormones.

Hypothyroidism symptoms

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid does not make enough hormones. This can cause the body processes to slow down. People with certain conditions, including diabetes, lupus, and Celiac disease, are more likely to develop hypothyroidism than people who do not have these conditions.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism can include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Fertility problems
• Struggles to tolerate cold temperatures
• Slow heart rate
• Depression
• Muscle and joint pain
• Weight gain that can't be explained by changes in diet or lifestyle

Like the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism are often thought to be associated with aging, mental health issues, and other non-hormonal conditions. Hypothyroidism tends to develop slowly. If you notice that you're developing symptoms of hypothyroidism, it's important that you ask your doctor to check your thyroid hormone levels.

Hyperthyroidism symptoms

If your body has an excess of thyroid hormones, it can speed up your metabolism to the point where you experience negative health effects.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism can include:

• Losing weight despite efforts to maintain or gain weight
• Never feeling satiated despite eating more food
• Rapid heartbeat or heart palpitations
• Anxiety
• Hand tremors
• Eyes appear to bulge forward out of sockets

Simply put, hyperthyroidism speeds up your body to a point where it can be tough to function effectively. Many people who have hyperthyroidism believe that their symptoms--especially anxiety--are within their control. With hyperthyroidism, medication is often needed to regulate hormone levels.

It’s important to note, that while most people with hyperthyroidism lose weight, about 10% actually gain weight, which can lead to difficulty getting diagnosed. So, if you’re experiencing other symptoms of hyperthyroidism but are gaining weight, be sure to talk to your doctor. 

Hypothyroidism treatment

There are several approaches to treating hypothyroidism. Your endocrinologist (a doctor who specializes in hormonal issues) will work with you to determine the right treatment approach for you. Your doctor may recommend diet and lifestyle changes along with synthetic thyroid medicine known as levothyroxine. After about a month and a half of taking medication for hypothyroidism, your doctor will run tests to ensure that the medication is working as expected and make changes if necessary.

Hyperthyroidism treatment

If you're diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, your endocrinologist will likely prescribe a combination of medicine, radioactive iodine treatment, and/or surgery. Medications, including carbimazole and propylthiouracil can work to stop your thyroid from over-producing hormones. Some patients diagnosed with the condition also find that taking beta blockers can help to control their symptoms.

Radioactive iodine treatment uses radiotherapy to kill some of your thyroid cells. This can minimize the hormones produced by your thyroid, allowing your hormones to return to a healthy level. Some people also need surgery to remove some or all of the thyroid gland.

Evidation: moving treatment forward

At Evidation, we're proud to partner with medical research industries to make a difference in tomorrow's healthcare. When you use the Evidation app, you may have the option of participating in research with our trusted partners. If you choose to participate in research, we're excited to tell you more about how your choice can make a difference in the world of healthcare.

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The energy we feel when we're awake is often related to how much sleep we get at night. 

We can all relate to the dreaded feeling of taking on the day after a night of poor sleep. Your body feels worn out, and your brain is full of fog.

During sleep, our body works to support and maintain our physical health and healthy brain function.

In a sense - your body recharges and repairs itself during this time.

Whether you’re striving to perform and feel your best with sports, work, or family life - sleep plays a critical role. 

But, how much sleep do we really need? 

When we asked our members the common health myths and practices they believed in - getting 8 hours of sleep every night was amongst the top ten.

But, is this true?

Does it really matter how many hours of sleep we get? 

Is quality or duration of sleep more important?

And, can age affect how much sleep is optimal for our health?

We’ll be discussing all these questions and getting to the bottom of the idea that we need 8 hours of sleep every night to be at our best!

How much sleep do I need?

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the average adult needs about 7-9 hours of sleep every night. However, many factors can affect how much sleep you need, including age, pregnancy, your level of physical activity, and prior sleep deprivation (sleep deficit). We'll go into that later in this article.

If you get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep most nights, you'll spend about one-third of your life sleeping. However, keep in mind that the time you spend sleeping isn't wasted time. Your body is getting a lot of work done while you're sleeping. If you get high-quality sleep—and enough of it—you'll be healthier, more energetic, and more productive when you're awake.

But sleep duration is only part of the equation. Sleep quality matters just as much when it comes to whether or not your sleeping hours are actually restorative. The key is to progress through the four stages of the sleep cycle multiple times every night.

Genetics also plays a role in how much sleep you need. A 2009 study found that some people have a mutation in the DEC2 gene. These people can function efficiently on very little sleep. In fact, people with this mutation are well-rested after just 6.25 hours of sleep per night.

In 2019, a second short sleep gene was discovered when researchers at the University of California, San Francisco identified 50 families whose members require less than 6.5 hours of sleep per night. The research team used whole exome genome sequencing to study three generations of naturally short sleepers in one of these families and found a rare mutation of a gene that was being passed down in the family's DNA.

People who have these specific gene mutations are called "efficient sleepers." Magaret Thatcher, the former British prime minister, famously needed only four hours of sleep to feel well-rested and energetic. Researchers suggest that Thatcher probably had one of the gene mutations. However, most of us aren't this lucky. Less than 1% of humans have one of these mutations, so most of us need 7-9 hours of sleep to function at our best.

Quality or duration?

First, we should understand the difference between sleep quality and duration.

Whether you’ve had nights of tossing and turning or nights where you’re waking up often. Not all of our time spent trying to sleep is of good quality. 

According to the nationwide research team - assessing sleep is better done using quality of sleep as a measurement rather than using the duration.

But, what does quality sleep even mean?

How can we measure the quality of our sleep?

The National Sleep Foundation states that there are generally 4 aspects used to measure the quality of sleep:

1. Wakefulness: which is the amount of time you spend awake after first falling asleep 
2. Sleep latency: this refers to the amount of time it takes you to fall asleep
3. Sleep efficiency: the time you spend sleeping while lying in bed
4. Sleep waking: how many times you wake up during your sleep

Becoming aware of all four parts of your sleep quality will allow you to better measure if you’re having a good sleep.

Do you wake up in the middle of the night?

Do you have trouble falling asleep?

These are all questions we should be asking ourselves when trying to figure out how much sleep we really need.

But, how come?

Why does it matter?

8 hours of quality sleep is much different from 8 hours of poor quality of sleep. 

In fact, you feel the difference the day after.

Those days when we wake up feeling energized and satisfied with our sleep are generally days we can say we had a good quality sleep.

Right?

This brings up the point that when we refer to the hours of sleep we get a night, we’re referencing good quality sleep, not poor quality sleep.

But, the question still remains - how much sleep do we really need?

How many hours of sleep by age?

I’m sure we can all agree that age plays a role in the amount of sleep that’s necessary for optimal health.

When we were infants if we weren't crying or eating we were sleeping, and during our teenage years sleeping in felt like the greatest thing ever!

During infancy, the recommended number of sleep is as much as 16 hours a day! But, as we grow up the recommended time spent sleeping begins to lessen and lessen. 

1. From the ages of 3-5, it’s recommended we sleep 10-13 hours a day
2. From the ages of 6-12, it’s recommended we sleep 9-12 hours a day
3. From the ages of 13-18, it’s recommended we sleep 8-10 hours a day
4. Then, from adulthood onward, it’s recommended we sleep 7 or more hours a day

Other than age, there are other factors that can affect our sleep patterns.

How much sleep we need can also be affected by things like:

1. Pregnancy
2. Sleep quality 
3. Physical activity
4. Reaching older age
5. Previous sleep deprivation

Some of these factors may cause us to have a poor night's rest, making us fall behind in our sleep. Think of it like sleep debt. Sleep debt accumulates when we sleep fewer hours than our body needs. 

For example, your body may need 7 hours of sleep, but when you only sleep for 5 you create 2 hours of sleep debt.

This is why some people decide to nap, go to bed earlier some nights, or even sleep in on the weekends! 

These approaches may provide temporary recovery and energy. But, research suggests that 1 hour of sleep debt takes a total of 4 days to recover to your optimal level. 

This means it’s better in the long term for you to do your best to maintain a sleep schedule that fits your lifestyle. 

The general guidelines provided by the NIH say from 18 years old and onward we should be getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

What is the sleep cycle?

The sleep cycle—sometimes referred to as the sleep-dream cycle, ultradian sleep cycle, or REM-NREM cycle—is the period of time it takes to transition through the four stages of sleep, which we'll define below.

A sleep cycle takes between 90 and 110 minutes, but can extend to up to 120 minutes. However, like all aspects of sleep, the sleep cycle duration varies depending on various factors. For example, the sleep cycle for infants lasts about 50-60 minutes.

If you sleep 7-9 hours at night, you'll go through between four to six sleep cycles.

Sleep cycles can be affected by a number of different things, including some medications. To encourage a healthy sleep cycle, try some of these things:

• Turning off all artificial lighting sources
• Practicing good sleep hygiene
• Relaxation techniques or meditation
• Avoiding caffeine in the afternoon and evening

Let's learn more about the four stages of sleep that make up the sleep cycle.

What are the four different types of sleep?

Sleep is divided into four stages. The first three stages are NREM sleep, and the fourth stage is REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.

The acronym NREM stands for "non-rapid eye movement," and the acronym REM means "rapid eye movement." NREM sleep is abbreviated by the letter N, with numbers representing the stages.

1. Stage 1: N1 (NREM - drowsiness and light sleep)
2. Stage 2: N2 (NREM - light to moderate sleep)
3. Stage 3: N3 (NREM - deep sleep, delta sleep, or slow-wave sleep)
4. Stage 4: REM (rapid eye movement or REM sleep)

Note that many experts cite five sleep stages, with two stages of deep sleep. However, the majority of sleep scientists focus on the four stages, so we're using the sleep stage guidelines established by the Sleep Foundation for this article.

Let's do a deep dive into what these four sleep stages mean.

Stage 1: N1 (drowsiness and light sleep)

Duration: 1-7 minutes

When you're in sleep stage 1, you drift from wakefulness to sleep. This light NREM sleep doesn't last for long. During stage 1, you begin to relax and dream, but you may twitch occasionally as you transition to stage 2.

During this stage, your body isn't fully relaxed, but brain and body activities start slowing down. If you're not disturbed, you will move quickly into state 2 of the sleep cycle.

Stage 2: N2 (light to moderate sleep)

Duration: 10-25 minutes

While still light sleep, stage 2 of the sleep cycle has you drifting into steadier sleep. As your heartbeat and breathing slow down, your muscles begin to relax. During this time, your body temperature decreases, and your brain waves become less active.

In this stage, brain activity begins to slow, but you will still have short bursts of activity that help your body resist being awakened by external stimuli. Throughout the night, stage 2 can become longer during sleep cycles. You spend about half your sleep time in N2 sleep.

Stage 3: N3 (deep sleep, delta sleep, or slow-wave sleep)

Duration: 20-40 minutes

The deep sleep stage of the sleep cycle lasts for up to 40 minutes, and it's more difficult for someone to wake you up when you're in this stage. Your breathing rate, muscle tone, and pulse rate decrease during N3 sleep, and your body begins to further relax.

Stage 3 is also known as delta sleep because of the identifiable patterns of brain activity. Another name for this stage is slow-wave sleep (SWS).

Deep sleep is critical to getting restorative sleep. This stage allows your body to recover and grow. Stage 3 also boosts your immune system and impacts some of your other bodily processes.

While brain activity is reduced in Stage 3, evidence suggests that deep sleep contributes to creativity, insightful thinking, and memory.

During the first half of the night, you spend more of your sleep time in deep sleep. Throughout the night and subsequent sleep cycles, deep sleep stages get shorter.

Stage 4: REM (rapid eye movement, REM sleep)

Duration: 10-60 minutes

Brain activity picks up during REM sleep, coming close to the same as waking hours. However, your body also experiences a temporary muscle paralysis called atonia. There are two exceptions to atonia: the muscles that control breathing and the eyes. Although your eyes are closed, they can also be seen moving quickly, and that's where the name "rapid eye movement" comes from.

The REM stage is believed to be highly associated with cognitive functions such as learning, memory, and creativity. During REM sleep, most people have vivid dreams because of increased brain activity, but they’re more common in NREM stages. 

In most circumstances, you don't enter REM sleep until you've been asleep for approximately 90 minutes.

REM stages get longer throughout the night, particularly during the second half of the night. The first REM stage might last for just a few minutes, and later stages can last for about an hour. REM stages make up about 25% of sleep in the average adult.

Why is deep sleep so important?

The effects of sleep deprivation are well-known, and as we explained earlier, the quality of your sleep is as important as the quantity. All sleep stages are necessary, but deep sleep specifically offers numerous mental and physical benefits.

Deep sleep starts between 20 and 30 minutes after you first doze off, and it's this restorative sleep that dominates the first half of your sleep. Deep sleep lasts for up to an hour at a time, then you drift into deep sleep again approximately every 90 minutes.

Deep sleep is the most restorative sleep, and it's when we produce most of our growth hormones. For children, this is what helps them grow and develop. However, for adults, growth hormones are involved in youthfulness.

Also known as slow-wave sleep (SWS), deep sleep strengthens our bones and muscles, keeps our immune systems optimizing and functioning, helps us prevent injury, and contributes to many other important bodily functions. Equally important, if we're injured, deep sleep helps with recovery.

This sleep stage has been shown to have potential importance in regulating glucose metabolism, and elite athletes value deep sleep because it helps them replenish their energy stores. Researchers believe that deep sleep is important for memory and cognitive function and that it plays a significant role in motor skills, language learning, and brain development.

Signs you might not be getting sufficient deep sleep

If you are experiencing any of these issues, you may not be getting enough deep sleep.

• Reduced attention and alertness
• Hitting the snooze button repeatedly
• Cognitive fogginess
• Feeling drowsy
• Lowered libido
• Cravings for food high in calories
• Irritability
• Dozing off when it's not convenient, such as at your desk
• Slow reaction time (increased risk of having accidents)
• Increased anxiety
• Trouble forming new memories and learning

When you wake up, you should feel refreshed and alert. If you don't, you may not be getting enough sleep or your sleep may be lower in quality than it should be. Conditions such as general sleep disorder and obstructive sleep apnea also affect our sleep quality. In total, about 13-23% of your sleep should be deep sleep. For most people, this equals to between 1 and 2 hours every night for deep sleep. 

What are the long-term effects of not getting enough deep sleep?

In addition to the issues listed above, chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to other serious health conditions. For example, if you don't get sufficient deep sleep, your immune response to vaccines may be weakened.

One of the roles deep sleep plays is eliminating waste products that are potentially harmful from the brain. For this reason, long-term deep sleep disruptions may drive the advancement of such neurological conditions as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

Because sleep deprivation increases our appetites for high-calorie foods, a shortage of slow-wave sleep may contribute to insulin resistance, which often manifests as heart disease and the development of type 2 diabetes.

How can I get more deep sleep?

If you're concerned that you're not getting enough deep sleep, there are some strategies you can employ to try to increase the quality of your sleep.

• Reducing the stress in your life
• Establishing sleep routines and rituals
• Eliminating caffeine in the afternoon and evening
• Using an eye mask for blocking light
• Using earplugs to block external noise
• Exercising regularly
• Creating a relaxing ritual or routine to wind down near bedtime
• Listening to pink or white noise
• Eliminating screen time for an hour before bed
• Using brainwave entertainment such as binaural beats
• Sleeping in a cool room
• Practicing sleep meditation

The bottom line - How much sleep do we really need?

We know that not all hours of sleep are created equal. There’s a difference between poor quality and high-quality sleep. 

And, we know we can create a certain sleep debt in our lives causing us to fall behind.

This makes us more tired throughout the day, and we often try to catch up on sleep through different methods.

The general consensus for adults 18 years and older is that we should be trying to get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Which is about 49-64 hours of sleep a week!

But, we know this isn’t always possible. Life can sometimes cause interruptions in getting that amount of sleep.

You should be doing your best to sleep 7-8 hours, but don’t beat yourself up if you can’t always do that. If you can’t sleep 7-8 hours a night, do your best to catch up on it, and try to start maintaining a consistent sleep schedule so you can prevent sleep debt!

Getting 8 hours of sleep each night is just one of the top ten health myths and practices our members said they believed in.

We’re just getting started with our health myth debunking series.

Stay tuned for upcoming blog posts where we're going to talk about more common health myths and if they’re even true!

Sleep your way to optimal health

All of the sleep stages are important to our health and well-being, with deep sleep being the most essential for staying healthy and feeling well-rested. If you're concerned you're not getting enough deep sleep, consider speaking with a healthcare provider or participating in a sleep study.

Evidation Members can earn points for tracking self-care activities such as walking, sleeping, food intake, and more. Download our app today to get started.

According to the CDC, over 37 million people in the United States have diabetes. As many as one-fifth of these individuals don’t know that they have it. These facts make it a serious health concern.

While the tools available to people with diabetes have improved significantly in recent years, a diabetes diagnosis still impacts most aspects of life. If you're someone who’s affected, you’re probably wondering whether or not you’re going to pass the condition on to your kids. In other words, you want to know, “Is Type 1 diabetes genetic?”

To answer this question, you’ll want to take a closer look at diabetes, the different types and how they develop.

How many types of diabetes are there?

Doctors diagnose three types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes only affects pregnant people and typically clears up after the baby’s birth. It happens when the body doesn’t make enough insulin to meet the mother’s needs during pregnancy. This occurs in 2 to 10 percent of pregnancies each year.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type, making up 90 to 95 percent of all cases, per the CDC. In this type of diabetes, the body’s cells don’t respond to insulin properly, so the body makes more of it to compensate. This condition is known as insulin resistance. Over time, the body can’t keep this up, and blood sugar levels increase.

While Type 1 diabetes is sometimes called juvenile diabetes, it appears in people of all ages. This form of diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t make enough insulin, if it makes any at all. Blood sugar builds up in the bloodstream since insulin isn’t present to help the cells absorb and use it.

What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?

While both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes affect a person’s blood sugar, they’re quite different in how they do this.

In someone with Type 1 diabetes:

• The body can’t create insulin properly.
• The condition is an autoimmune problem.
• Symptoms develop quickly.
• The only treatment is to take insulin.
• There is no cure.

In someone with Type 2 diabetes:

• The body can’t use insulin properly.
• Weight and diet are contributors.
• Symptoms develop slowly.
• Treatment involves lifestyle changes and medications or insulin.
• There's no cure, but it can go into remission.

What causes Type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to destroy cells in the pancreas that make insulin. However, doctors have not identified all of the elements that cause this illness.

Several factors determine if someone is at a higher risk for Type 1 diabetes. They include:

• Having another autoimmune condition
• A family history of Type 1 diabetes
• Genetic components, including variants of specific HLA genes

In addition, people usually have a trigger that causes them to develop Type 1 diabetes. Triggers include certain problems during pregnancy, exposure to viruses, and specific climate factors, such as living near the ocean or at a higher altitude. However, no one knows why only some people develop Type 1 diabetes when these triggers are present.

What percentage of Type 1 diabetes is genetic?

Because doctors can’t pinpoint the exact cause of diabetes, it's impossible to say that a specific percentage of cases result from genetics. Doctors know that predisposition to Type 1 diabetes is passed down through families, but they can’t use this information to predict which children will develop it.

Instead, consider the risk of passing diabetes on to your child if you are an adult who has it. Here are some facts about the odds of passing Type 1 diabetes on to your child:

• Fathers have a 1 in 17 chance of passing the condition on to their children.
• Mothers who have children before age 25 have a 1 in 25 chance of passing it on to their children.
• Mothers who have children after age 25 have a 1 in 100 chance of passing it on, and the general population faces the same level of risk.
• Parents who are diagnosed with diabetes before age 11 have twice the risk of passing it on to their children as parents of the same age who were diagnosed later.
• Children who have two Type 1 parents have 1 in 4 odds of developing Type 1 diabetes.

While it’s clear that someone with Type 1 diabetes can pass it on to their child, many people develop the condition without any known relatives who have diabetes. Because of these variances, tracing the Type 1 diabetes inheritance pattern isn’t easy.

Can you prevent Type 1 diabetes?

There’s nothing you can do to prevent Type 1 diabetes. Living a healthy lifestyle, having more activity in your life, and eating nutritious foods are all good choices to make, but they can’t stop you from developing an autoimmune disease.

However, these steps can reduce your likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes, so they are worth considering.

If you want to gain better control over your health, Evidation can help. Track your steps and sleep or log your meals with your favorite app. Next, connect it to Evidation and get rewarded for healthier choices. You can also participate in health surveys and research, including research into Type 1 diabetes.

Download the app today.

Many researchers generally agree that personality is made up of 5 different traits: 

• Conscientiousness (organization, productiveness, responsibility)
• Extraversion (sociability, assertiveness; its opposite is Introversion)
• Agreeableness (compassion, respectfulness, trust in others)
• Openness (intellectual curiosity and creative imagination)
• Neuroticism (tendencies toward anxiety and depression)

Some people may have very high or low levels of any single trait, but most of us fall somewhere in-between.

What is agreeableness?

Agreeableness describes how trusting, selfless, modest, and willing to follow rules someone is.

• Those with high levels of agreeableness tend to be considerate and polite in social interactions. They prefer to resolve conflict by working together or letting things go, and find it easy to trust people and feel compassion towards others. 
• Those with low levels of agreeableness tend to express themselves directly and bluntly, even if it might start an argument. They are more likely to enjoy competition, and less likely to trust others’ intentions. 

Why does agreeableness matter for health and health decision-making?

Agreeableness may relate to some health behaviors. For example, people who are more agreeable may be less likely to engage in certain risky behaviors, including drunk driving and smoking.

However, when it comes to other behaviors (such as physical activity) and overall health outcomes (such as disease or lifespan), there’s no clear scientific evidence on whether agreeableness helps or hurts your health. 

Overall, agreeableness is not strongly related to health outcomes, but people can use their knowledge about their level of agreeableness to focus on healthy habits. 

We recently offered our members the opportunity to take a survey to see where they fall on the spectrum for agreeableness. If you’re an Evidation Member who took the survey and received your agreeableness results, read on to understand what a high or low score may mean for your health. If you’re not a member and want to see results like these, download the Evidation app.

I scored low on agreeableness. What could this mean for my health?

If you’re low in agreeableness, you may be more likely to react negatively to stressful experiences. With this in mind, consider finding healthy methods of managing stress if you haven’t already. 

For example, you could try finding time to relax with meditation or deep breaths, take opportunities to talk with people you trust about how you’re feeling, or find physical activities that you enjoy.

Alternatively, as someone with a lower level of agreeableness, you may perceive yourself to be at higher health risks than someone who is higher in agreeableness. This, along with the trait itself, may translate to being more likely to self-advocate for your health by asking questions, disagreeing with recommendations that you feel may not be right for you, and seeking second opinions.

I scored high on agreeableness. What could this mean for my health?

Being higher in agreeableness may relate to a lower likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors, such as drunk driving. You may also be more likely to engage in healthy coping strategies when you’re stressed, such as seeking social support or reframing a stressful situation positively. 

In certain situations, however, people who are highly agreeable may be too trusting or willing to compromise. For some people, this may result in feeling unheard or like it’s hard to speak up to your healthcare provider. 

Some ways you can practice advocating for your health include:

• Preparing a list of questions before your next healthcare appointment
• Tracking your symptoms between healthcare appointments, so you can share a record of how you’ve been feeling with your provider
• Do some research about your condition, symptoms, and treatment options before your healthcare appointment. This may help you better understand terms your provider might use or treatments that might be recommended to you.

Want to receive more personalized health insights? Complete cards daily in the Evidation app and, if you haven’t already, connect a compatible health app. 

Don’t yet have an Evidation account? Download the app today!

Researchers generally agree that personality is made up of 5 unique traits: 

• Conscientiousness (organization, productiveness, responsibility)
• Extraversion (sociability, assertiveness; its opposite is Introversion)
• Agreeableness (compassion, respectfulness, trust in others)
• Openness (intellectual curiosity and creative imagination)
• Neuroticism (tendencies toward anxiety and depression)

Some people may have very high or low levels of a trait, but most of us fall somewhere in-between. 

What is extraversion?

Extraversion describes how outgoing, adventurous, and dominant someone is.

• Those with high levels of extraversion tend to feel energized in large groups and enjoy being the center of attention. They are more likely to be thrill-seekers and the life of the party. 
• Those with low levels of extraversion tend to be less social or outgoing. They think carefully before speaking, enjoy time alone or with a few close friends, and are less likely to take part in thrill-seeking activities. 

Why does extraversion matter for health and health decision-making?

Extraversion is associated with both healthy and unhealthy behaviors. For example, though people who are high in extraversion may be more likely to smoke or engage in distracted driving, they also tend to be more physically active. 

Personality is only part of the picture–that is, being high in extraversion doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a distracted driver. Additional factors, including genetics and your environment, come into play to affect health behaviors. 

We recently offered our members the opportunity to take a survey to see where they fall on the spectrum for extraversion. If you’re an Evidation Member who took the survey and received your extraversion results, read on to understand what a high or low score may mean for your health. If you’re not a member and want to see results like these, download the Evidation app. 

I scored high in extraversion. What could this mean for my health?

If you’re high in extraversion, try using what you’ve learned about your personality to help you improve your health behaviors. For example…

• If your social activities often involve drinking or smoking, try finding other activities, such as concerts or hikes, that you and your friends may enjoy. 
• As someone who is more extraverted, you’re likely to already be physically active. Make sure to keep that up! 
• Individuals who are extraverted are more likely to enjoy thrill-seeking experiences. Find healthy and exciting experiences, such as fun runs, to keep yourself moving and motivated. 

I scored low in extraversion. What could this mean for my health?

If you’re low in extraversion, you may want to focus on keeping up your relationships. Research has found that social relationships may be just as important for a long and healthy life as not smoking, and even more important than being physically active! 

Of course, physical activity is also important. If you haven’t already, you may want to find methods of physical activity that fit your personality and that don’t drain you both physically and socially. 

You’re probably less likely to enjoy team sports or running clubs, for example, and more likely to enjoy walks with close friends, swimming, or small group activities. If you don’t have a routine yet, try out a few small-group or solo activities to see what you like. 

Want to receive more personalized health insights? Complete cards daily in the Evidation app and, if you haven’t already, connect a compatible health app. 

Don’t yet have an Evidation account? Download the app today!

According to the CDC, walking is the most popular form of aerobic physical activity. 

From maintaining a healthy weight to strengthening bones and muscles, walking is a powerful way to take care of your body.

And many of us have heard that we should aim for 10,000 steps a day to really see health benefits.

But is there truth to this?

Or is it just a myth? 

In today’s article, we’ll be diving deep into the concept of whether 10,000 steps a day is the magic number for health or not. We’ll share where this idea comes from, whether it truly is the magic number, and more. Keep reading to learn the truth!

Where does the 10,000 steps a day idea come from?

Whether you heard it from a friend, or read it on a fitness app, this message has been circling the health community for some time now. 

‍But here’s the truth. 

There doesn’t appear to be any scientific data that 10,000 steps a day is the optimal goal for health.

In fact, the whole idea might actually stem from an old marketing strategy used by a Japanese Pedometer company in the 1960s. The idea came from a marketer, not a doctor.

Does that mean it should be thrown out? No, the 10,000 steps a day idea has started a renewed interest in being active, and that’s always a good thing.

How long does it take to walk 10,000 steps?

If you’re wondering how to get 10,000 steps in a day, the first question to ask is how to fit in the extra time to increase your average steps per day. Knowing how long it takes to get those steps is helpful.

The answer to this question depends on how long your stride is and how quickly you can walk. 

On average, people take 100 steps per minute. This is a pace of about 3 miles per hour, which is a fast walk. If you can keep up that pace for the entire 10,000 steps, then it will take 100 minutes, or 1 hour and 40 minutes, to walk it.

How many miles is 10,000 steps?

The number of miles you’ll cover with 10,000 steps is going to vary based on how long your steps are. Someone with a long stride is going to cover more ground in their 10,000 steps than someone with a shorter stride. A child will cover less ground with 10,000 steps than an adult because of their smaller stride. 

That said, for the average adult, 10,000 steps is about 5 miles or 8 kilometers. If you’re trying to add to your average steps per day by adding walking exercise, knowing how many steps are on your walk is helpful. If you take a 2-mile walk to increase your step count, you’ll likely be taking 3,000 to 4,000 steps on that walk.

Because of the variance in the number of miles you'll cover by walking 10,000 steps a day, measuring steps is more effective than measuring distance. You'll receive the benefits of increased walking, including increased flexibility, increased blood flow, better heart health, improved balance and increased range of motion, as long as you're striving for that 10,000 mark, even if your distance falls short of the 5-mile average.

Keep in mind that 10,000 steps is a goal that works well for many people, but it’s not the best goal for every person. The benefits of walking more happen if you increase your energy expenditure, even if 10,000 steps a day is out of reach. 

Is 10,000 steps really the magic number?

One study followed 2,110 adults with an average follow-up of 10.8 years. During this study, people taking at least 7,000 steps a day compared to those taking less than 7,000 steps a day had a 50% to 70% lower risk of mortality.

This doesn’t give any evidence that 10,000 steps is the magic number. But it does indicate that more exercise is better than less. 

‍So is 10,000 steps the magic number or not?

Amanda Paluch, a lead researcher studying the link between how many steps people take and cardiovascular disease, led a team that analyzed seven earlier studies that followed participants who wore step counters and tracked their cardiovascular health.

They brought all the studies together for a more diverse sample. They found that as the number of steps increased, the risk of cardiovascular disease decreased. 

But the message isn’t that 10,000 steps is the magical number.

‍The message is to move more.

Paluch goes on to explain that just increasing your steps incrementally could be helpful to your cardiovascular health. So, we shouldn’t get caught up in a set goal of 10,000 steps or any other number. 

There is no “all or nothing” when it comes to the benefits we get from walking.  

How many steps a day should you be getting?

So how many steps should we be getting every day?

‍Anything below 4,000 steps a day is considered a low level of physical activity. So, if you’re regularly walking less than that, and if you aren’t limited by mobility or health conditions that prevent you from walking more, it might be a good idea to step up your step count. 

But that doesn’t mean you have to push for 10,000 each day. 

Certain health benefits from walking are prevalent way before we reach 10,000, especially for those who are inactive or have low levels of activity. 

Here’s the takeaway.

‍The number of steps you should take each day depends on several factors. 

Your age, health, present fitness levels, and fitness goals can all directly affect the appropriate amount of steps you should be aiming for. 

The CDC’s recommendations for the amount of physical activity you should aim for are based on your current fitness level. 

There are 4 levels of aerobic activity the CDC refers to:

• Inactive - this means that there’s no extra physical activity taking place besides the basic movements required for daily life. 
• Insufficiently active - this is when someone does a moderate amount of exercise. Either less than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week. 
• Active - this is the equivalent of someone doing 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week. This is the key guideline target range for healthy adults. 
• Highly active - this is when someone does more than 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. 

‍But what does moderate-intensity exercise include? 

Moderate-intensity is anything from brisk walking to house and yard work. This means we can achieve 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity by walking. 

And according to the American College of Sports Medicine, 7,000 to 9,000 steps a day may be the equivalent of the recommended 150 to 300 minutes of activity each week.

If you’re inactive or insufficiently active, it may be challenging to work towards a goal of 7,000 to 9,000 steps right away. It might be best to slowly work your way up. 

As time progresses, and you begin to learn your physical capabilities, you can start to aim for a particular number. 

If you deal with certain health conditions, it may be best to consult with a healthcare professional to learn about precautions you should take.

How to add more steps in your day

‍

Taking more steps in your day might seem like a hard thing to do, but there are actually many ways you can incorporate more walking into your daily life. By adding a few small steps now, you’ll find the count on your fitness tracker increasing substantially. Here are a few ideas:

• Take the stairs - avoiding elevators and escalators or anything that decreases how much you walk could be a great way to naturally add more steps into your day.
• Walk with a dog or friend - taking some time out of your day to walk your dog can be a great way to clear your head while also adding in more steps and getting your dog to exercise. And if you don’t have a dog, it might be a great chance to spend some time with a friend and catch up!
• Park further away or walk rather than drive - whether you’re taking a trip to the grocery store or meeting up at a friend's house, taking time to take those extra steps either by walking or parking further away from your destination might be a great way to add more steps into your daily routine.‍
• Listen while walking - If you’re going to listen to music or a podcast, take a walk while you do. This will add more steps to your day, and you’ll still get to listen to what you enjoy.
• Walk while watching TV - If you’re in the habit of watching TV to unwind at the end of the day, consider adding some walking. Walk in place, or load the show onto a tablet or phone to watch while on the treadmill. You’ll log a lot of steps during a one-hour show.
• Get up earlier - Getting up 15 minutes earlier to take a short walk before starting your day could add 1,000 to 2,000 steps to your daily routine, depending on how quickly you walk. Again, little changes add up over time.
• Walk while you wait - If you're waiting for an appointment, step to a quiet corner and walk in place, or pace the hallway. Any time you’re sitting without something you need to do, consider walking instead of sitting.
• Talk on the phone and walk - If you need to take a phone call, put on a Bluetooth headset and walk the neighborhood while you talk. This is another instance when you don't need to just sit, but can get some steps in while you’re doing something else.
• Change your entertainment - Instead of choosing to play on the computer or watch TV, use your free time to explore your local park or farmer’s market. Active, outdoor activities will help you log more steps, even while having some fun.

The key is to find little places to add steps to your day. In just 10 minutes, you can add 1,000 to your step count. All it takes is a little creativity. 

In addition, try to break up your walks. Don’t try to get all of your steps in one epic walk. Instead, find 10 to 15 minutes at a time where you can walk, and you’ll find the process feels easier, even when the outcome is the same. Quick walks and workouts almost always feel less overwhelming than longer ones.

After looking for small places to add steps to your day, you may start noticing the benefits of increased activity. If you want more, consider these more detailed steps. 

1. Get into a routine

Having a routine is the key to being more active. Once you’re in the habit, you’ll find it easier to get a higher step count each day.

The researchers at MIT found that the cue-routine-reward system is highly effective at building neurological connections that make something into a habit. To do this, you need:

• Cue - The cue is something that triggers the thought to work out. For instance, if you want to work out in the morning, your morning alarm could be your cue. Tie the activity into the cue regularly until it becomes a habit.
• Routine - Next, make it a routine. The routine is a habit or action that you do every time to make sure you’re active. Then, do the activity, such as taking your walk. Consistency is the key to making this a habit.
• Reward - The reward is something tangible that makes you feel good about doing the activity. Sometimes, all you need is the endorphins your body makes. However, some people need a more tangible reward. Don’t reward yourself with something unhealthy, like dessert, but rather something that further supports your routine, like new workout clothes after being consistent for a month. Another option is to use Evidation, which will put your rewards on autopilot. Our members earn rewards for the steps they take.

If you go through the cue-routine-reward cycle multiple times, you’re likely to build a habit. Soon, walking will be something you're so used to, you don't even think about it, and you're getting your steps in on a more regular basis.

Habit stacking can also work well. To do this, stack your walking habits with something you already do every day. Since the first item is already a routine, you'll be able to add the new one more easily.

For instance, if you sit and listen to a podcast daily, grab some earbuds and listen while you walk. You’ll add up steps more quickly and not have to add something new to your daily routine.

2. Start small and build

One of the reasons many people find starting new exercise routines challenging is they try to start too big. Instead of taking on a large goal, start with increasing your steps in small increments each week, until you see yourself with a large jump in the number of steps you’re taking.

Before you begin, get a step tracker to log your daily steps on an average day. Aim to increase 1,000 steps a week until you reach your personal goal, whether that’s 5,000 steps, 7,000 steps or 10,000 steps.

Start with adding an evening or morning walk, using the routine building system mentioned above. Once that’s a habit, add another walk at another time of day. Soon you’ll be closer to reaching your step goals by building a little at a time.

3. Build walking into your workday

Are there places in your workday where you can be active?

This doesn't have to look like taking a mile walk on your lunch break. It can be small changes that add steps to your day and reduce the amount of time you spend sitting at your desk.

For instance, instead of sending an email to your coworker, can you walk across the office to talk in person? When you have a one-on-one meeting, if it doesn't require a computer, have the meeting while you and your coworker take a walk.

4. Grab a friend

You’ll be more likely to stick with your walking goals if you do it with a friend. Having a friend will be an accountability piece, and you’ll find the walking more enjoyable as you socialize.

While the goal of getting more steps doesn't have anything to do with intensity, you might find that you walk faster and get more cardio in along with your steps, and you track more in a shorter period of time. Check out more ideas for increasing your cardiovascular health while you’re also working to increase your steps.

How many steps per day should I walk to achieve better health?

To sum it up, there’s no evidence or research that shows 10,000 steps is the optimal walking goal for health. In fact, the magic number of steps for one person may be different from another’s.

But that doesn’t change the fact that more steps could be better. What’s true is that walking more carries many health benefits. 

If you’re getting 2,000 steps a day, increasing to 5,000 steps is going to improve your strength and cardiovascular health. But if you add a beneficial yoga routine to your exercise routine, and get fewer steps, you’re still getting increased health benefits.The key is to get more active.

Although we shouldn’t get caught up in the number of steps we should be taking, we can strive to get better each and every day, one step at a time.

Whether that means you aim for 6,000 steps a day or 5,000, there’s no standard number that every single person should be aiming for. It changes based on several factors. These factors include:

• Your current fitness and activity level
• Other activities you do to stay active
• Health conditions you might have

To determine the best step count to aim for, talk to your doctor, and then start walking!

Remember, 10,000 steps may be a bit of a health myth, but it has shed light on the fact that society lends itself toward sedentary living, and being more active is beneficial to your health.

This is just one of the many topics we’ll be tackling in the coming months. Be sure to watch for future articles where we’ll be breaking down more common health myths. 

We’ll be speaking on topics like whether apple cider vinegar can help you lose weight, and if an apple a day really does keep the doctor away! 

Stay tuned for more!

Start getting rewards for tracking your steps with Evidation

At Evidation, we’re here to help you get the rewards you need to get active and take better care of your health. We make it easy and fun to stay active, and let you earn cash at the same time.

Evidation connects with multiple step-tracking apps to reward you for making positive changes to your health. Whether or not you choose to reach for 10,000 steps a day, you can get rewards for making active choices. Sync your step tracker with Evidation, and start earning points you can redeem for cash.

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Many researchers generally agree that personality is made up of 5 unique traits: 

• Conscientiousness (organization, productiveness, responsibility)
• Extraversion (sociability, assertiveness; its opposite is Introversion)
• Agreeableness (compassion, respectfulness, trust in others)
• Openness (intellectual curiosity and creative imagination)
• Neuroticism (tendencies toward anxiety and depression)

Some people may have very high or low levels of any single trait, but most of us fall somewhere in-between.

‍What is conscientiousness?

‍Conscientiousness describes how organized, determined, and likely to follow norms and rules someone is. 

• Those with high levels of conscientiousness tend to work hard to achieve their goals and complete tasks they’ve started. They also tend to get higher grades in school and perform better in many jobs, but are more likely to experience perfectionism and fear of failure. 
• Those with low levels of conscientiousness tend to act spontaneously instead of making plans. While they may be a bit disorganized, they’re also more likely to be flexible with decision-making, and able to bounce back from setbacks. Overall, they may find it easier to look at the big picture than pay attention to details. 

‍Why does conscientiousness matter for health and health decision-making?

‍Research has found that people who are high in conscientiousness tend to live longer and healthier lives. Why? Because they tend to be rule followers, people who are high in conscientiousness are more likely to follow health recommendations. 

‍For example, on average, conscientious people drink less alcohol, eat healthier diets, and are more likely to wear seat belts.

Conscientious people may also have healthier coping mechanisms–that is, ways to deal with negative life events–than people who are less conscientious. 

For example, conscientious people are more likely to try to solve a difficult problem (e.g., going for daily walks to reduce cholesterol) than to use an emotional escape (e.g., watching television to distract from thoughts about cholesterol).

We recently offered our members the opportunity to take a survey to see where they fall on the spectrum for conscientiousness. If you’re an Evidation Member who took the survey and received your conscientiousness results, read on to understand what a high or low score may mean for your health. If you’re not a member and want to see results like these, download the Evidation app. 

‍What does my conscientiousness score mean for me?

Although research has found that conscientiousness relates to mental and physical health, having a low score doesn’t mean you’re necessarily going to have poor health just as having a high score doesn’t mean you’ll never be ill. 

No matter what your level of conscientiousness, you can use what research has uncovered about personality and health to improve your own well-being. 

If you’d like to increase your conscientious behavior for better health, aim to set small, achievable goals. Below are some tips you may find useful: 

• Reflect on how to avoid or overcome obstacles. Imagine your desired future self and think about the obstacles you may face in becoming that person and how you might be able to overcome them. For example, if your goal is to become a less distracted driver, an obstacle might be that you’re tempted to look at your phone whenever you see an incoming message. One way to overcome this obstacle might be to set your phone to “do not disturb” when driving so that you can’t see the alerts and are reminded to break the habit of looking.
• Create “if-then” plans for handling situations related to your health goals. For example, if you want to reduce your tobacco consumption, your if-then plan may be: “If I crave a cigarette, then I’ll take a five minute walk instead.” 
• Track your progress and celebrate small victories. For example, if your goal is to walk more, set a small, specific, and achievable goal: “I’ll walk for 5 minutes every morning after I finish my coffee.” As your walks become a habit, increase the time, but be careful not to let missed walks discourage you–you can pick up again tomorrow!

…and don’t forget, start small to set yourself up for success!

Want to receive more personalized health insights? Complete cards daily in the Evidation app and, if you haven’t already, connect a compatible health app. 

Don’t yet have an Evidation account? Download the app today!