I’m 61 years young.

My mother and her mother both died of Alzheimer’s.

Up until my mom was diagnosed in 2018 (she lost her battle in 2022), I didn’t take particularly good care of myself. I ate what I wanted. I exercised when I felt like it. I didn’t give much thought to the long game.

Then Hurricane Harvey rolled into Houston in late August 2017. Our house didn’t flood, but large parts of the city got more than 50 inches of rain. During those days of waiting and watching the weather, I came across an article online. The title was something like “What I’ve Learned from Running One Mile Every Day for 250 Days.”

I remember thinking, “I could do that.”

I already rode my bike, walked, and ran occasionally. So on August 29, 2017, I decided to run at least one mile every single day for the rest of my life — or at least until I hit triple digits.

Some days I run one mile. Some days two or three. I’ve never gone more than three and a half (a 5K) because I have to run again the next day. I’ve run in Houston’s brutal heat and humidity. I’ve run when it was 22 degrees. I’ve run in the rain. I even accidentally ran through a thunderstorm once because the forecast was wrong.

That daily mile has become one of the most consistent things in my life.

When my mom’s health began to decline, I had a conversation with her neuropsychologist. I asked the question that had been sitting heavy on my heart:

“My mom has late-onset Alzheimer’s. My grandmother died of the same thing. Is this genetic? Is there anything I can do that might lower my own risk?”

His answer was straightforward. There are no guarantees, he said, but there are things within our control.

Diet. Exercise. Sleep.

He encouraged me to keep running daily. Stay away from heavily processed foods. Get enough quality sleep. Read books that stretch the mind. Keep learning.

I took that advice seriously.

Current research continues to support what he told me. Multiple studies (including large lifestyle intervention trials) show that a combination of regular physical activity, better nutrition, good sleep, and cognitive engagement is associated with better cognitive function and lower risk of decline. Exercise in particular has strong links — people who stay physically active tend to fare better on measures of brain health. Sleep matters more than most of us realize; short sleep is repeatedly tied to faster cognitive aging. None of this is a magic shield. Genetics still play a role. But we are not powerless.

Here’s where this connects to productivity.

I don’t know many highly productive people who neglect their physical, mental, or spiritual health for long. When the body is run down, the mind follows. Energy drops. Focus scatters. Decision-making suffers. The capacity to show up well for the people and work that matter shrinks.

Taking care of yourself is not selfish. It is stewardship.

Your body is the only vehicle you get for this life. When you treat it with intentional care, you have more energy to pour into your work, your family, your calling. Productivity is not just about systems and to-do lists. It rests on a foundation of being well enough — physically, mentally, and spiritually — to use those systems consistently.

So here’s my encouragement to you today:

Don’t wait until January 1. Don’t wait until next week. Don’t wait until you “feel like it.”

Start today.

You don’t have to run a mile every day like I do. If you haven’t been active, talk to your doctor first. Begin with a short walk. Improve one meal. Protect one extra hour of sleep. Read something that challenges your mind. Learn one new thing.

Small, consistent actions compound.

I’ve now run well over 7,500 miles in the years since that decision in 2017. The streak continues. Not because I’m special, but because I decided one ordinary day to start — and then I kept deciding.

Your health is largely up to you.

What are you doing, actively and consistently, to take care of yourself?

I’d love to hear. Leave a comment below. Maybe I’ll learn something from you.

If you’re an executive, HR leader, or entrepreneur who wants clearer focus, better energy, and systems that actually work without burning you out, I’d be glad to talk. Book a free Clarity Call here.

Here’s to taking care of the one body and mind you’ve been given — so you can serve well for the long haul.

Mister Productivity