How To Play the Long Game of Life

My last letter was about the long view of health—a reminder that what you don’t build now, you end up chasing later. ⏳

Here are a few things that have made the biggest difference for me.

Make It Easy to Do the Right Thing 🧩
If it’s complicated, it won’t last. The long game favors simplicity. The easier something is to integrate into your day, the more likely it becomes part of your life. Baby steps, as they say. It really works to add one small thing to start.

I used to hit the weights hard when I was younger. No more. Now I grab 10–25 lb dumbbells and move in all directions. I have a TRX strap mounted to the wall, and between the two I’m covering enough muscle groups that I feel strong bending, turning, and lifting. It takes about 12 minutes. I’ll stretch for another 8 minutes, and that’s it.

One bench. Two dumbbells. About 20 minutes total. Sometimes I throw on a podcast. Other times I treat it as a form of meditation, focusing entirely on the muscles as they work and resist.

It’s simple, and as a result I do it almost every day. Mind power helps when I’m not in the mood—I tell myself repeatedly that I love this… until I do.

Think in Years. They Come Fast. 📅
This changes perspective, especially once you’ve lived enough to see it. Fridays seem to come around faster than they used to. That elevates my efforts. I want to keep hiking those 2–3k climbs in the Columbia Gorge for as long as possible.

A short walk every day matters. Turn it into a walking meditation by focusing on the bottom of your feet.

Eating a better meal today. Give your body a break from constant eating helps too. Stop eating by 5 pm and don’t eat again until 9 or 10 the next day—or longer if you can. The first day is always the hardest.

And for me, supporting my body daily is part of that long view. That’s why I never head out without my RS400® Red Spinach—it’s one of those simple things that helps me stay consistent over time.

Protect What You Build 🛡️
Own it forever.

As you begin to feel better, you’ll be rewarded with more energy and clarity. It's a real thing.

It's not just about adding positive habits—it’s also about noticing what drains you and quietly works against your progress. Poor sleep, ongoing stress, and inconsistent routines can undo what you’ve built. Use it or lose it is also a real thing.

The long view includes building slowly and steadily and being protective of your progress so that your efforts compound.

To your health,

Richard Perry

Chef & Founder, NutriGardens® 🌿