Personal Reflection: Time, Change, and the Will to Begin
We recently had a dedicated family reunion—something we hadn’t done in over a decade . Relatives flew in from every direction: the South, the West Coast, the East. It was three generations under one roof, from toddlers to grandparents. There were walks in nature, long conversations, plenty of laughter—and food, lots of food.
Woven into the joy was the awareness of mortality.
Almost ten years ago, I was training for half-marathons and road races. I was hooked on my Garmin—the data it gave me was both a tracker and a motivator. Over the years, I’ve switched between wearables, always looking for more capability: sleep tracking, body temperature, VO₂ max. Different phases of life call for different features.
These days, I enjoy long walks with the dog and deeply value movement. But I’ve found myself in that familiar stage: contemplation.
I want to reintroduce consistent high-intensity workouts and strength training three times a week.
I know the benefits. I’ve read the studies. I’ve coached others through this.
And still—change, even informed, well-intentioned change—is hard.
That’s where the five stages of behavior change come in:
Precontemplation – not yet thinking about changing
Contemplation – thinking about it, but not quite ready
Preparation – planning and setting intentions
Action – actively making changes
Maintenance – building and sustaining a routine
Right now, I’m somewhere between contemplation and preparation. I’ve noticed my heart rate variability trending lower, recovery scores dipping on high-stress days, and daily step counts fluctuating more than they used to. Nothing alarming. But it could be better.
And that raises the question: What can I do now to improve my healthspan and protect my brain health and mobility for the years ahead?
Do I need the data front and center—those little daily check-ins—to hold me accountable?
Do I need to track it more intentionally to take the next step?
Or is the awareness itself enough to finally shift me from planning to doing?
That’s the question wearable tech, predictive models, and personalized nudges are trying to answer—not by telling us what to do, but by making the invisible visible. And meeting us at the moment we’re ready—even if just barely.
Because whether you’re 27, 47, or 87, the goal isn’t to track your way to a better life—
It’s to live it, fully and on your own terms.
Between now and next,
Mamata
Photo: Layers of joy, color, and time—honoring generations, milestones, and the beauty of being together.
#Wearables #BehaviorChange #DigitalHealth #ProactiveCare #HealthData #PreventiveHealth #Accountability #Healthspan #Longevity #HealthTech #RealLifeHealth #ContemplationToAction #FutureOfCare #PersonalizedHealth
https://web.uri.edu/cprc/transtheoretical-model/about/
https://medicine.llu.edu/academics/resources/stages-change-model
