There just aren’t enough hours in the day — a feeling many of us know well when trying to balance work, health, relationships, and hobbies. But according to cognitive scientist and professor Laurie Santos, we may actually have more free time than we did a few decades ago — it just doesn’t feel that way.
A big reason is that our free time is fragmented. Five minutes here or 10 minutes there is definitely less satisfying than an afternoon off, but Dr. Santos argues those small pockets of time are worth noticing — and they add up.
Being a bit more intentional about how you spend those moments — calling a friend, taking a walk, or just taking a break — can help create a greater sense of “time affluence,” or feeling like you have enough time for what matters. Read Dr. Santos’s full interview for more on how small, intentional choices can improve how we experience our time.
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Fitness
Was Everyone Wrong About Ozempic and Muscle Loss?
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It’s a GLP-1 world: Critics of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic have warned for years that rapid weight loss comes at a steep cost: loss of muscle and strength. But a new study suggests the conversation may have gotten oversimplified — at least for people with obesity who are medically indicated to take these drugs.
The Study: In a review of four pre-clinical trials and a proof-of-concept clinical trial, researchers analyzed body composition and strength changes in mice and humans with obesity using GLP-1 medications. While participants did lose some lean mass alongside fat mass, the review found that muscle function and strength were generally preserved.
The Takeaway: Losing weight via GLP-1 drugs does not automatically mean losing meaningful muscle function. For people with obesity, these medications may improve health markers while still preserving physical capability, especially when paired with resistance training and adequate protein intake.
Keep in Mind: The pre-clinical trials used mice as subjects. Additionally, the human clinical trial focused on people with obesity, not people taking GLP-1s cosmetically or outside FDA guidelines. Rapid weight loss without strength training or proper nutrition can still increase the risk of muscle loss.
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Sponsored
A Summer Habit Your Brain Will Appreciate
Courtesy: Babbel
Most of us think about summer as a time to be more active, get outside, or finally take that trip. But it can also be a great time to challenge your brain.
Research has linked language learning to benefits like improved memory and focus, while giving you a skill that can make future travels, conversations, and experiences more rewarding.
Babbel makes it easy to get started with lessons that take about 10 minutes a day, along with podcasts, games, and conversation practice designed to fit into real life. It’s a simple way to keep your mind engaged today while building a skill you’ll appreciate long after summer ends.
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Sleep & Recovery
Why You Keep Waking up at the Same Time Every Night
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You Should Know: The list of health benefits linked to quality sleep goes on and on — but knowing the upsides doesn’t always stop your body from waking up at 3 a.m. That’s because your brain cycles through light and deep sleep stages in roughly 90-to-110-minute intervals, and those lighter stages naturally cluster toward the morning hours. Your body also ramps up cortisol production in the early hours as it prepares to wake you.
Going Deeper: However, the reason you stay awake at this time is a different matter altogether. It’s much harder to fall back asleep if you’re dealing with stress and anxiety, and checking the clock can make that worse by increasing frustration and making your brain more alert. Afternoon caffeine and alcohol before bed can also contribute to fragmented sleep.
Takeaway: Keeping a consistent sleep and wake time can help set your body clock. And if you’ve been lying there for more than 20 minutes, sleep experts say getting out of bed is a better option than staring at the ceiling.
Bottom Line: Waking up in the middle of the night is a totally normal part of sleep. It only becomes a problem when anxiety or stressful thoughts keep you awake.
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Personal Development
How to Fact-Check Your Favorite Wellness Creator
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You’ve Been Influenced: At this point, scrolling social media for health advice has become a given for many of us. This habit can be problematic, however, because social platforms reward creators for being relatable and confident, not for being accurate. As an example, one study showed roughly half of ADHD and autism-related TikTok videos contain information not supported by current clinical evidence — not to mention, deepfake videos impersonating doctors are a real concern.
How to Do It: To assess the accuracy of a health or wellness claim, start with the credentials of the person behind it. Ideally, they should be a licensed clinician in the field they’re creating content about — an MD for medical advice, an RD for nutrition advice, and so forth. Cross-reference claims (especially dramatic ones) with clinical research in peer-reviewed journals and official statements from organizations like the American Medical Association. When in doubt, speak with your own healthcare team to find answers.
The Benefits: Knowing how to filter out misleading health content keeps you informed, and can prevent you from making an inaccurate self-diagnosis that delays real treatment.
Prepare yourself for a crispy, flavor-packed shortcut to falafel heaven: this recipe spreads homemade falafel mixture directly onto pita bread and pan-fries it until golden and crunchy — no deep fryer required. The falafel cooks right on the pita, creating an irresistible combo of crispy edges and soft, foldable bread. Pile on fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickles for color and crunch, and a drizzle of tahini for zing. Fold it up, take a big bite, and enjoy all the classic falafel-pita vibes with less fuss and cleanup.
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This, Not That
The Better Weekend Reset
THIS
NOT THAT
Benoît Deschasaux/Unsplash, Andrej Lišakov/Unsplash
This: Morning Movement Not That: Sleeping Until Noon
Sleeping in occasionally is fine, but huge weekend schedule swings can leave you groggy and throw off your sleep rhythm. Getting up at a relatively normal time and taking a walk outside tends to leave you feeling more refreshed than another three hours in bed.
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Sponsored
New Language. New Adventures. New You.
Taking care of your health isn’t always about big changes. Sometimes it’s about small habits that keep your mind engaged in a steady, meaningful way.
Learning a new language is one of those habits. It challenges memory, supports focus, and gives your brain something new to work with — all while building a skill that can show up in real-world moments later on.
Babbel is designed to make progress feel manageable with short lessons, podcasts, and conversation practice you can fit into a busy day. You could be having real conversations in a new language within three weeks.
Thank you for supporting our sponsors! They help us keep All Healthy free.
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HEALTHY HABIT
Pair a Treat With Something Nourishing
Instead of turning snacks into a moral debate, add something helpful. Have the cookie — and maybe pair it with Greek yogurt, fruit, nuts, or a glass of milk.
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Final Thought
The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer somebody else up.”
