An Alternative to Counting Sheep, Butter’s Bad Rep, and More

Premier Issue | April 11th, 2025

Good morning! I’m covering the latest healthspan news and offering up budget-friendly tips to help you pounce on five essential actions this week. Please share this email with your favorite people to help our community grow. Let’s pounce on life’s possibilities together!

Brightly colored graphic representing the Pounce Pot five essential actions for achieving vibrant longevity and an active pro-aging attitude and increasing healthspan

1. Boost Your Brain

You don’t need to become fluent in a foreign language to positively impact your brain health. As Harvard Health notes: “It’s the constant repetition of working to improve, and not the quest for mastery, that can have the greatest impact” on brain health. Learn more ➪

Did you know that you can play Wordle, Sudoku, and other New York Times top-rated, brain-boosting games for free without a subscription? I tackle the Mini Crossword and Connections (my all-time favorite) every morning.
Play now ➪

2. Connect & Thrive

If you need to buy a gift for someone special, like a graduate, consider gifting a shared experience instead. Through four studies, researchers found that receiving experiential gifts created stronger relationships than material ones. Learn more ➪

Short on ideas? Try these ➪

3. Harness Hidden Powers

A recent study reveals that stable, moderate sleep patterns are linked to better health, while inconsistent or short sleep trajectories pose risks to physical, cognitive, and social well-being. Learn more ➪

Tired of counting sheep? Practice cognitive shuffling instead: Try it tonight ➪

4. Fuel Your Journey

Well, it’s been on again, off again, on again with butter. And now…it looks like it’s off again. Learn more ➪

Looking for a butter substitute? Try these ➪

I don’t know about you, but suddenly, all I can think about now is warm, buttery croissants topped with melted butter. I never said this was going to be easy. Perhaps we can begin by reducing our butter intake. Baby steps…

5. Stay Active

We all want to know: Does walking build muscle or not? I think you’ll enjoy this well-researched article: Learn more ➪

The Mayo Clinic suggests playing a walking bingo game to keep things interesting. Next time you go for a walk, look for objects that start with A, B, C, D…. See more ideas ➪

POUNCE PICK OF THE WEEK

After four friends asked me if I had read Let Them, and then another friend actually mailed me a copy, I knew this book had to be fabulous.

And it is. I read it in two days. It’s one of those rare books that shifts your entire world. “An a-ha! light-bulb moment,” as Oprah calls it in her recent interview with Mel. I call it a perfect way to help harness your hidden powers by notching down trying to manage everything and everyone around you. Trust me on this one. Read it.

Pounce on it!

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Thank you for reading this issue of The Weekly Pounce! I’m delighted to welcome you into our growing community of Pouncers! Hit reply to send your feedback, suggested news links, or essential action tips. This issue was written and edited by Laura Lee.

The information in this newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only. While we strive to share the latest research and insights, this information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your personal healthcare provider before making major changes to your health regimen, and never disregard medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here.

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