9 Habits That Keep Life from Falling Apart

In any natural process, entropy within a system gradually increases over time. In other words, things start falling apart.

We can observe this in our bodies, which, as they age, begin to break down and become more prone to various diseases and disorders.

Thankfully, our bodies constantly counteract entropy through processes like repair, regeneration, and maintaining homeostasis. This pushback against disorder allows many of us to enjoy long, healthy lives before entropy runs its full course.

Entropy doesn’t just affect our health; it’s evident everywhere. As institutions age and grow larger, they begin to decay. In daily life, our homes get messy. Without time to reflect, our thoughts become jumbled and confused.

Most of us are happier and more at ease in an ordered environment. Entropy is not our natural state. In fact, various teachings, such as Christianity, center on the hope that the world will one day be restored to order and all entropy will be halted.

While we cannot ultimately defeat entropy in this lifetime, resisting it is a worthy pursuit with significant benefits.

Those who fight entropy tend to live longer, enjoy more peaceful environments, and have stronger relationships. The rest of this article outlines nine ways you can address the gradual creep of entropy in your own life and how to devise a plan to resist it.

Challenge yourself physically. As we age, our bodies naturally become weaker and face decay. However, research suggests that we can slow this process through regular movement and physical exertion. A body that moves and does hard things stays younger for longer. This is the overwhelming evidence from most studies.

Resolve to be a lifelong learner. In our youth, we learn constantly, whether at school, in our careers, or while raising families. However, after these initial stages, it’s easy to grow stagnant. We stop learning because we aren’t forced to, and our minds, like our muscles, grow weaker. It doesn’t have to be this way. By resolving to be a lifelong learner, you can increase your odds of maintaining a sharp, active mind for many more years.

Fuel your body with the best foods. There is a strong link between diet and long-term health, and even our daily well-being is impacted by what we eat. A 2020 analysis in The BMJ showed a direct link between our mood and dietary habits. If you eat junk, you are fueling entropy both in the short and long term.

Care for your neighbors. Neighborhoods can decline if their members grow older or stop looking out for each other. Regardless of age, we can make a difference by forming relationships with neighbors and offering to help when needed. It’s important that everyone is known and that people of all ages live among each other so the young can help the old, and the elderly can pass on their wisdom.

Make time for regenerative sleep. During sleep, our body not only rests but also renews itself. Many regenerative processes that fight entropy occur while we sleep. Poor sleep can cause numerous health risks and a lower quality of life. Therefore, it’s crucial to create a healthy, consistent sleep environment that gives your body the deep, restorative sleep it needs.

Meditate on what is beautiful and true. Bad ideas and wrong information are prevalent in the world, and growing wiser with age is not inevitable. To grow wise, we must be intentional with our thoughts, filling our minds with what is true and beautiful. Anchoring ourselves in these things helps prevent our thoughts from being tossed about like waves.

Prioritize staying in touch with friends. Relationships do not grow stronger on their own. Without effort and intentionality, we are on a collision course with loneliness and its associated problems. Make time for friends and keep in touch with those you care about.

Cultivate satisfying daily routines. In a busy and distracted world, it’s crucial to control our time. Over time our schedules can become filled with what is easiest or most urgent. The best way to protect against this entropy is to fill your days with predictable and satisfying routines. These habits ensure that you use your time well and keeps your worst days from dragging you down.

Develop a way to stay organized. Raising children can make a home disorganized and chaotic. The combination of daily living and our tendency to take the path of least resistance means things often get left where they were used. To live in a serene and orderly environment, develop a systematic approach to organization. Two simple ways to start are putting things back when you’re done and setting aside time each evening to reset your home.

At one level, fighting entropy in all its forms is the ultimate human project. By building institutions and cities, raising families, cultivating relationships, and taking care of ourselves, we demonstrate that entropy doesn’t always prevail. It’s hard work, but it can bring deep purpose and satisfaction to our lives.