For many years, health advice has focused on clear targets for exercise, diet, and sleep. For many people, however, these goals can seem overwhelming.
Researchers have therefore examined what happens when the focus is instead placed on very small changes in daily routines.
According to a large international study published in the scientific journal The Lancet, researchers analyzed data from around 135,000 adults across several countries.
The aim was to understand whether small adjustments in activity levels and sedentary time can make a difference to long-term health.
Also read: These choices in your 20s and 30s may shape your health for the rest of your life
Small changes with measurable effects
The study shows that even just a few extra minutes of movement per day are associated with lower mortality.
The effect is most pronounced among the least active groups in the population, who often do not follow traditional health recommendations.
The data also indicate that reduced sedentary time in itself plays a role.
This means that health is not only about exercise, but also about how the rest of the day is spent.
Also read: Elon Musk believes death is a design problem - and it can be fixed
Professor Aiden Doherty of the University of Oxford believes the results provide a more realistic picture of how health can be improved at the population level, according to The Irish Times.
Supported by other research
Another study, published in eClinicalMedicine and conducted by researchers from the University of Sydney, supports this conclusion.
It looks at small improvements in sleep, diet, and physical activity combined.
It is not major lifestyle changes that make the biggest difference for most people, but rather the sum of small choices repeated every day.
Also read: How to eat more greens without changing your diet
Sources: The Irish Times, The Lancet, and eClinicalMedicine.
Also read: Bill Gates concerned about rising child mortality