You’ve likely heard the terms lifespan and healthspan. If you’ve never heard of joyspan, read on to find out why unlocking it may just be the key to positive aging.
Dr. Kerry Burnight is a gerontologist on a mission to shift our collective mindset about aging. After hearing her speak earlier this year, I read her book Joyspan, The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half. It is by far the best book on positive aging I’ve read.
In simple terms, Burnight explains the theoretical background gleaned from her work as a gerontologist. She reinforces the theory with real-life stories of people she has worked with. What really sets this book apart from other self-help books is Burnight’s practical and actionable advice. And it’s all supplemented by assessment checklists and tools that can make an immediate impact in your life.
Why joyspan matters
If the term joyspan is new to you, it helps to look at it in relation to lifespan and healthspan.
Lifespan refers to how long we live. Healthspan is how long we live in good health. Joyspan is how many years we enjoy living. It’s about living better, not just longer.
Dr. Burnight demonstrates a clear connection between lifespan, healthspan and joyspan.
Movement, sleep, nutrition and social connection are cornerstones of healthy aging. Research shows people with higher levels of joy move more, sleep better, eat healthier and have stronger social connections.
Joyspan influences lifespan by strengthening social connections, improving resilience and coping, and slowing cognitive decline. It also influences healthspan by lowering cortisol levels, improving immune function, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Understanding joy
Many people confuse joy with happiness. Happiness can be fleeting and often depends on external factors. Joy, on the other hand, is a deeply felt, enduring experience of contentment, gratitude and meaning regardless of our external circumstances.
Dr. Burnight asserts that joy doesn’t just happen. It’s something we must choose and can actively pursue.
Four key elements of joyspan
The Joyspan Matrix condenses various science-backed elements of thriving into four essential actions:
- Grow represents our determination to continue developing as a person. It includes things like humour, personal and spiritual growth, and intellectual curiosity.
- Connect is about our dedication to building relationships with other people.
- Adapt focuses on our desire and ability to adjust to life’s inevitable challenges, including elements like resilience, courage, humility, and forgiveness.
- Give relates to our willingness to share ourselves to enrich the lives of others. It’s all about meaning, purpose, legacy, and generosity.
When we actively choose to pursue a joyful life, we can improve each of these elements through our daily actions and behaviours. Dr. Burnight’s book offers many practical suggestions to help increase our joyspan.
If you read just one book on healthy aging, make it Joyspan. Actively pursuing more joy in your life will change the way you approach aging.
When you’re ready to develop a plan to grow, connect, adapt and give in your next chapter, contact me to chat about how I can help.
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