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Daily Edition • Wednesday, May 13

This Daily Habit May Improve Surgery Recovery

A busy city crosswalk with pedestrians blurred in motion, surrounded by buildings and greenery.

A.C./Unsplash

Made for Walkin’: Getting your steps in every day is associated with quite a few positive health outcomes, including lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and type 2 diabetes. New research suggests another potential benefit of walking more: a decreased risk of complications after surgery.

The Study: Researchers analyzed data from 1,965 participants in the National Institutes of Health’s All for Us research program. They found every additional 1,000 steps a patient took after surgery was associated with a reduction in risk of developing post-op complications (by 18%) and being readmitted to the hospital (16%). It was also associated with a 6% shorter hospital stay.

The Takeaway: Doctors want you moving ASAP after surgery, largely to prevent dangerous blood clots from forming. The idea that you might have fewer complications, too, could encourage people to move more. The researchers recommended incorporating wearables in the recovery plan for patients to track their steps and their progress.

Keep in Mind: The study found correlation, not causation, so it’s unclear if feeling better made patients walk more or if walking more made them feel better. Get the OK from your doctor before trying any post-surgery fitness.

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Your Go-To Linen Pants for Comfort and Style

Model wearing white linen outfit with brown sandals on the left and black shoes on the right, styled with sunglasses.

Courtesy: Quince

Ever feel like your summer clothes are actually making you sweat more? It’s usually because synthetic blends like polyester trap heat against your skin, making you feel sticky before you even leave the house. Linen does the opposite. The 100% European Linen Pants from Quince are naturally breathable, keeping you cool, comfortable, and stylish.

Made from premium European Flax, the relaxed fit and elastic waistband are designed for maximum comfort while easily elevating your summer closet. With classic shades like Flax and Bayberry Olive — plus patterns like Gingham and Stripes — you're sure to find a pair you love. They’re the kind of pants you’ll reach for again and again, especially when the humidity hits.

See The Shades

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Mindfulness

You're Probably Less Self-Aware Than You Think

Two hands reaching towards each other through a glass surface, with a blurred background of trees.

Nijwam Swargiary/Unsplash

Mirror Mirror: Most of us assume we know ourselves pretty well. But research suggests that about 95% of people believe they're self-aware while only around 12% actually are. And the people most confident in their self-awareness tend to be the least accurate about it. Part of the problem is that we keep inconvenient truths just outside our line of vision, which makes it harder to follow through on the habits we want to solidify. Fortunately, self-awareness is like a muscle, and there are ways to make it stronger.

How to Do It: The most practical starting point is tracking your behaviors. People who monitor what they're eating or how they're sleeping consistently report being surprised by their own patterns. When you catch yourself falling short of where you want to be, it helps to lean into self-compassion rather than self-criticism. People higher in self-compassion reportedly show lower stress and greater resilience. So try swapping “why” questions for “what” questions. “What's getting in my way?” generates actual insight. “Why can't I do this?” mostly makes you spiral.

The Benefits: People with stronger self-awareness report higher levels of happiness and self-esteem and are more motivated to change their habits.

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SPOTLIGHT

Body Electric

Smiling woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a button-up shirt, touching her hair against a light background.

MANOUSH ZOMORODI
Journalist, Author

Courtesy: Manoush Zomorodi

For the most part, the conversation about screen-addiction has revolved around the mental effects — attention-shredding, mood-changing, and anxiety-inducing. But what about the hours of sitting and physiological changes we don't notice because we're too busy in Slack? A growing body of research indicates technology's most harmful health effects lie in the mechanics of a sedentary, screen-focused day.

Manoush Zomorodi, an NPR journalist who has spent a decade researching these problems, is taking the lead on this. Her 2017 book Bored and Brilliant argued that constant phone-checking was consuming the boredom needed for creativity. The next question was, what is it doing to our bodies? This led her to Columbia physiologist Keith Diaz, and together, they ran a 2023 citizen-science study of more than 20,000 NPR listeners.

What they found became the basis of her new book, Body Electric. Five minutes of walking every half hour led to reductions in blood sugar, blood pressure, fatigue, and bad moods. The bigger argument to make is that small tweaks to your day-to-day can offset what screen time subtly costs us. In a wellness space that loves big changes, Zomorodi makes the case for smaller ones that actually fit into your day.

FOLLOW | READ | WATCH

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Quick Picks

Clean Eats — People who eat these foods have a lower risk of liver disease.

Off the Grid — Can a digital detox actually make you healthier?

Calm & Clear — This is what our staff reads every morning to stay sharp on news, finance, economics, and investing.*

Sweet Spot — This is how many hours of sleep you need for peak brain health.

Fitness Test — Here’s how to train to do your first pull-up.

^*Indicates a brand partnership

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Stuff We Love

Otherway

Two jars of dietary supplements, "Mag Drift" for relaxation and "Methyl Rise" for energy and focus, on a neutral background.

Courtesy: Otherway

Like I mentioned in the intro, I’m not exactly what you’d call adventurous when it comes to adding supplements to my diet. I’ll use creatine, sure. Maybe. If I remember. But for the most part, I stick to the basics: sleep, diet, and exercise. The one exception? Otherway.

Otherway’s supplements are designed to support methylation, one of those quiet, behind-the-scenes processes your body relies on every day to help regulate things like cellular energy and mood-related pathways. Methyl Rise is built for daytime focus and steady energy, while Mag Drift is designed for winding down at night. What I appreciate about both supplements, and the brand as a whole, is that they don’t pitch themselves as a shortcut or a biology hack. They’re built around a simpler idea: give your body the nutrients it needs to help important systems do their job.

— J.D., Editor

Learn More

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What We're Cooking

Spanakopita

A slice of spinach pie with flaky pastry on a white plate, accompanied by a fork and a glass of water.

Courtesy: Allrecipes

Serves: 6 | Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

This Greek spinach pie features delicate layers of crispy phyllo dough wrapped around a rich spinach-ricotta filling — which is also packed with savory flavor from onions, fresh herbs, and feta. The phyllo sheets are layered and brushed with oil to create a light, flaky crust to complement the hearty filling. Easy to assemble and baked until golden, this herby, cheesy pastry comes together as a warm and satisfying vegetarian dish that’s perfect as an appetizer or a light lunch.

Get The Full Recipe

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Effortless Summer Looks in Breathable Linen

Everything feels lighter in summer — your wardrobe should, too. Quince’s Linen Collection has you covered with breathable dresses, button downs, pants, and tops designed for effortless style. Whether you’re packing for a Euro summer or a quick weekend getaway, Quince makes it easy to build a look that keeps you cool and makes you feel your best, even on the hottest days.

See The Collection

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HEALTHY HABIT

Look Far, Not Just Near

At least once an hour, look at something far away — across a room or out a window. Your eyes spend most of the day focused close-up. This quick reset reduces strain and gives your brain a break, too.

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Final Thought

A lone surfer rides gentle waves with mountainous cliffs in the background under a hazy sky.

You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.”

– Rabindranath Tagore, Wit and Wisdom of Gandhi, Nehru, Tagore

Carlos/Unsplash