Most of us are familiar with the word lifespan—it’s the measure of how long we live. It’s a number, a timeline, a biological clock ticking from birth to our final breath. Then there’s healthspan, a term that’s gained traction in recent years. Healthspan refers to how long we stay healthy, active, and independent. It’s not just about living longer, but living well.

But there’s another word—less common, but deeply important—joyspan. Joyspan refers to how much joy we feel as we age. It’s not about the number of years we live, or even how physically fit we are. It’s about the quality of those years.

Because let’s be honest: why would we want to live longer if we don’t feel any joy?

Joyspan invites us to ask a different kind of question—not “How long will I live?” but “How fully will I live?” It’s a shift in perspective.

Dr. Kerry Burnight, a gerontologist who has spent decades studying what makes aging meaningful, offers a powerful insight: Living a long life does not automatically mean living a good life.

Dr. Burnight outlines four key practices that help increase joyspan. Let’s explore each one, not as a checklist, but as an invitation to reflect, adapt, and grow.

🌿 1. Keep Growing and Learning

Growth doesn’t stop at retirement. In fact, many people find that their later years offer a unique opportunity to explore new interests, deepen their understanding, and expand their horizons.

Trying new things—whether it’s learning a language, picking up a musical instrument, or simply reading about a topic you’ve never explored—keeps the brain engaged. It sparks curiosity. It creates a sense of vitality.

The brain thrives on novelty. And joy often follows close behind.

🤝 2. Give to Others

Generosity is a powerful antidote to stress and loneliness. When we give—whether it’s our time, our attention, or our wisdom—we create connection. We feel useful. We feel seen.

Volunteering at a local food pantry, mentoring a younger person, or simply offering a listening ear to someone who needs it can elevate mood and reduce anxiety.

🔄 3. Adapt and Be Resilient

Aging brings change. That’s inevitable. But how we respond to change—that’s where resilience comes in.

Maybe driving to the grocery store isn’t feasible anymore. That’s frustrating, yes—but it’s also an opportunity to learn something new, like using a delivery service or asking for help. Maybe playing competitive tennis is no longer possible. That doesn’t mean the joy of the game is lost—it might just shift into coaching, teaching, or watching others play.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 4. Foster Connections

Humans are wired for connection. We thrive in community. We need each other. In-person connection—like sharing a meal, joining a book club, or attending a local event—can be deeply nourishing.

🌅 Closing Reflections

Joyspan is not a destination—it’s a journey. It’s woven into the fabric of daily life, waiting to be noticed, nurtured, and celebrated.

As we reflect on what it means to live fully, let’s remember that joy doesn’t have to be loud. It can be quiet, steady, and deeply felt. We may not control how long we live. But we can choose how we live.

So wherever you are in your journey, may you find joy in the ordinary, meaning in the everyday, and connection in the spaces between.

Why Joyspan Is the Secret to Aging Well - GoH

'Joyspan' Is the Opposite of Burnout—How to Grow Yours

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Hey friends, welcome back to the podcast—where we walk, talk, and occasionally scroll our way through wellness, one episode at a time. Today we’re diving into social media. Is it good? Is it bad?

Now, if you’re an older adult—or someone who loves one—this episode is especially for you. Because while social media often gets painted with the same brush as teenage angst and influencer drama, it’s also become a lifeline for many older folks navigating retirement, isolation, and the search for meaningful connection.

But let’s not sugarcoat it. Social media has a dark side. I’m talking about the mental health toll it can take—especially when it becomes a mirror for comparison.

Studies have shown that young people who spend hours scrolling often end up feeling worse about themselves. They compare their bodies, their lifestyles, their relationships to curated, filtered versions of other people’s lives.

But here’s the twist: social media can also be a powerful tool for older adults. It can combat loneliness, foster community, and even spark creativity.

Let’s talk about the elephant in the chat room: comparison.

You know that feeling when you see someone’s vacation photos and suddenly your backyard barbecue feels lame. That’s the comparison trap.

But here’s the good news: awareness is power. Once you recognize the comparison trap, you can step around it. You can curate your feed to include uplifting content.

Now let’s flip the script. Because while social media can be a source of stress, it can also be a lifeline.

For older adults, especially those living alone or far from family, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok have become virtual gathering places.

Some examples of how to use social media for good:

1. set a virtual family dinner where you set up your phone and eat with far flung family
2. join a virtual club
3. play games
4. make future plans
5. send a 'thinking of you' text

“Let’s bust a myth, shall we? The myth that we’re too old for tech

There’s this lingering idea that older adults just ‘don’t get’ technology. That social media is for the young. The truth is, older adults are not only capable of using social media—they’re reshaping it.

Social media has opened up new avenues for friendship—especially for older adults who may be navigating retirement, relocation, or loss.

Of course, not every online interaction is sunshine and daisies. But with a little digital savvy you can navigate the noise and find your people.

Let’s get real, social media can be a double-edged sword. On one side, it offers connection, creativity, and community. On the other, it can stir up anxiety, comparison, and information overload.

So let’s talk boundaries. You don’t have to be online 24/7 to stay connected. In fact, studies show that limiting screen time can improve mood, sleep, and overall well-being.

So What do the Experts Say....

Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, has spoken extensively about the epidemic of loneliness, especially among older adults. He’s called it a public health crisis, right up there with smoking and obesity.

So what’s the takeaway?

Social media isn’t inherently good or bad. It’s a tool. And like any tool, it depends on how you use it.

Social media is a mixed bag. It can be a source of stress—or a source of joy. It can isolate—or it can connect.

For older adults, it holds incredible potential. To combat loneliness. To share wisdom. To build community.

Thanks for spending this time with me.

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Hello friends, and welcome back to the show.

Today, we’re tackling a topic with a dramatic name—Sedentary Death Syndrome—but I promise you, this is not a fear-fest. It’s a clarity conversation. It’s about understanding what long stretches of sitting do to our bodies and brains as we age.

“Sedentary Death Syndrome,” or SeDS, isn’t a formal diagnosis your doctor writes in a chart—it’s a term researchers and health educators began using in the early 2000s to sound the alarm that physical inactivity is quietly fueling many chronic diseases and premature deaths. In other words: the modern, chair-bound lifestyle is not neutral—it's erosive.

I want you to imagine two dials on your life dashboard. One dial is exercise—that weekly walk, the class at the Y. The other dial is sedentary time—the hours we’re sitting, reclined, or not moving much. Most people only think about the exercise dial. But here’s the kicker: the sedentary dial matters independently. You can go for a brisk walk in the morning and still spend 9–10 hours sitting—and that sitting still drives risk.

This episode is your invitation to turn both dials—gently, consistently, and joyfully.

Part 1: What “sedentary” really means (and why it’s different from “not exercising enough”)

Sedentary time means low-energy, sitting or reclined behaviors: TV, computer, reading, long drives, scrolling on your phone, long lunches, long meetings. It is not the same as simply “skipping a workout.” You can meet exercise guidelines and still accumulate long, uninterrupted sitting time that harms metabolic health, circulation, and muscle.

Think of the body like a smart hybrid car. When we sit for long stretches, the “idle mode” is on: blood sugar control worsens, fat-burning enzymes go quiet, muscles stiffen, and pressure builds in the back, hips, and neck. Messages between the gut and brain slow. Even our mood can flatten.

The big risks, simply explained

• Heart and blood vessels: Long, uninterrupted sitting raises blood pressure and impairs how our blood vessels relax. That’s part of why breaking up sitting—even with light walking—can lower blood pressure within a single day.
• Blood sugar and insulin: Imagine your muscle as a sponge that soaks up sugar from the bloodstream. When we sit for hours, that sponge hardens. Short “movement snacks”—1–5 minutes every 30 minutes—make that sponge springy again, lowering after-meal glucose and insulin.
• Muscle and bone: Inactivity accelerates sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss). Less muscle means weaker balance, slower walking, and higher fall risk. Sedentary older adults show higher fall risk in population studies.
• Longevity: Large cohort studies consistently link more daily steps and less sedentary time with lower mortality—especially in older adults. In one study of women with an average age of 72, mortality dropped substantially around 4,400 steps/day and plateaued near 7,500. Translation: you don’t need 10,000 to gain real benefit.
• Prolonged sitting bouts: It’s not just how much you sit; it’s how you sit. Long, unbroken bouts—60–90 minutes at a stretch—are especially risky.

Sitting risks: How harmful is too much sitting? - Mayo Clinic

13 Reasons Why Sitting Too Much Is Bad for Your Health

Sitting for long periods causes health problems - Sanford Health News

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