How Well Will You Age? Take
our quiz.
Every day we’re faced with a zillion small choices: Go to sleep early, or watch one more episode of that Netflix drama. Call an old friend to catch up, or cruise social media. Of course, no single action will guarantee a long, healthy life or doom you to an early grave. But those little daily decisions do add up, and over the long term they can make a difference when it comes to both your longevity and your health span, the amount of life spent in relatively good health.
Scroll through this theoretical “day in the life” and select the option that best fits your typical day. Not every situation will apply perfectly, but think about which choice you’d be most likely to make. This isn’t a formal scientific assessment. The goal here isn’t to assign you a “good” or “bad” score, but to help you understand the central factors that shape the way we age and how long we live.
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Good morning! You wake up feeling:
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You have a chunk of time before you have to be anywhere, and hopes of sneaking in a workout, so you:
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Breakfast time! You pick:
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You look over your calendar and realize it’ll be a busy day. You feel:
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You have to give a presentation to a big group. Afterward, you get a mix of positive and constructive feedback. You feel:
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You get a stressful phone call that throws you off emotionally. How will you process?
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For lunch, you pick up a:
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While you wait for your food, a friendly stranger strikes up a conversation. You:
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You have a few free minutes before a meeting or appointment. Are you more likely to:
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The 3 p.m. slump hits. You think moving your body might help you wake up, so you:
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You feel you’ve spent too much of the day sitting down. You decide to:
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Choose your dinner:
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Reflecting back on the day, you feel:
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You’re beat. Time for bed. Describe your sleeping environment:
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Your head hits the pillow and you:
Dana G. Smith is a Times reporter covering personal health, particularly aging and brain health.
