It’s a strange reality when you think about it. In developed countries, we have access to state-of-the-art gyms, top-tier medical care, and countless online resources teaching us how to live healthier lives. Yet, despite all these advantages, obesity and lifestyle-related health issues are rampant—especially in places like the U.S. Meanwhile, people in ancient societies were often in significantly better physical health. Why is that? How did we get so far off track? And most importantly, what can we do to change it?

The Paradox of Modern Comfort

In the past, daily physical activity was just part of life—walking long distances, hunting, gathering, farming. Today, our lives have become so comfortable that movement is often a choice rather than a necessity. We drive instead of walk, work desk jobs instead of laboring outdoors, and rely on processed convenience foods instead of cooking from scratch.

But comfort comes at a cost. Our bodies are designed to move, lift, and endure. When those fundamental activities are stripped away, our health starts to decline. Add to that the abundance of calorie-dense, highly processed foods, and it’s no wonder we’re facing an obesity epidemic.

Why Are We Losing the Battle?

The human brain is not evolved to thrive in an environment with so much abundance. Instead, it’s wired to function optimally in conditions where resources are scarce. This, of course, ties heavily into our dopamine systems.

In ancient times, if you were hungry, you had to hunt a deer. You would track down the animal, kill it, eat it, and be rewarded with dopamine for your hard work. The effort was necessary, and the reward matched the difficulty of the task.

The ancient human was motivated to work hard because there was no other choice.

Nowadays, many of us can coast by with minimal physical effort—whether it’s grabbing fast food or sitting at an office desk all day. We don’t have to work as hard as our ancestors did to meet basic needs. But our dopamine systems still function the same way. Because we live in a world of abundance, our dopamine-driven reward systems are causing us to resent hard work. It feels unnatural because we’ve gotten used to instant gratification without physical effort.

Understanding this mismatch between our evolutionary biology and modern life is key to tackling the fitness challenges we face today.

Redefining Health in Modern Times

A common question you hear is: “What does it mean to be healthy?” It’s tricky because you can’t generalize health. While human bodies fundamentally function the same way, we all have unique anatomical differences, genetic predispositions, and varying access to resources. So, is there even a universal metric for health? Probably not. Judging everyone by the same standards—like calorie intake, max bench press, or sprint time—could unfairly label perfectly healthy people as unhealthy.

What’s interesting is how intuitively we can often tell if someone is healthy without being able to precisely define what health is. I believe this instinct goes way back. In ancient times, there were no doctors to diagnose diseases, so people had to rely on their ability to recognize signs of health to ensure the tribe’s survival. Our brains may still be wired to pick up on these subtle cues without us realizing it.

So, what’s the takeaway? I believe that if someone optimizes their life to live more like ancient humans did—staying active daily, eating whole unprocessed foods, getting sunlight regularly—they’ll naturally be healthier than the average modern person. Health, then, might just be about aligning our lives more closely with how humans have lived for thousands of years.

How We Can Course Correct

Improving our health and fitness to more closely align with our ancestors’ way of life can be tricky. The modern environment makes it easy to fall into habits that are convenient but ultimately harmful to our health.

Move Every Day

One of the simplest yet most effective changes you can make is to move every day. I highly recommend getting a gym membership and beginning a weight training routine. People today are noticeably weaker than previous generations, and this decline is largely due to our sedentary lifestyles. Incorporating resistance training not only builds strength but also counteracts the loss of muscle mass that naturally occurs as we age.

Do a Habit Audit

One of the first steps is to audit your habits and pastimes. Identify where your lifestyle has drifted away from natural, movement-based living. A big step I recommend is removing screens from your house. That means no Netflix, no video games, no porn. It might sound extreme, but eliminating digital entertainment forces you to find something more productive to do. Ancient humans didn’t have TVs—they played physical games, explored, and engaged socially. Modern screens have made us even lazier than we realize. By cutting them out, you’ll naturally seek more active and fulfilling ways to spend your time.

Rethink Your Food Sources

Stop buying food from mainstream grocery stores like Walmart. Many products sold at these big chains are highly processed, with their natural nutrients stripped and replaced by additives and preservatives. These so-called foods are a major driver of metabolic dysfunction in the U.S. Cutting them out of your diet can lead to noticeable health improvements in as little as a month.

Instead, aim to source your food from local farmers and gardeners whenever possible. Look for produce and meat free from pesticides, hormones, and processing. The idea here is to eat in a way that’s closer to how ancient humans did—whole, unprocessed, and naturally nutrient-dense.

Get More Sunlight

Another crucial element of health that modern life often neglects is sunlight. We spend way too much time indoors, depriving ourselves of one of the most fundamental sources of life and energy. The sun is what brings life to Earth—it gives energy. The sun is energy.

Most people say to get at least 30 minutes per day of sunlight, but I respectfully disagree. Our ancestors were outside all day—hunting, foraging, building, farming. 30 minutes a day seems way too low in comparison. I would aim to be outdoors for several hours a day if you can. The more sunlight you get, the more your body benefits—not just from vitamin D production but also from the boost in mood and mental clarity that comes from being in nature.

People who do not get enough sunlight are often vitamin D deficient and report higher rates of unhappiness and fatigue. Simply spending more time outdoors, soaking up natural light, can have profound effects on mood, metabolism, and overall health. Just being outside regularly can make a significant difference in how you feel.

Teach the Next Generation

The last and most important step in course correction is to teach your children the value of health and vitality. It’s great to learn about health and fitness to improve the quality of our own lives, but if we want to make lasting changes in our society, we have to instill the value of healthy living into the youth.

Children naturally learn from observing the adults around them. If they see you prioritizing movement, eating whole foods, and spending time outdoors, they’ll be more likely to adopt those habits themselves. The goal isn’t just to become healthier ourselves, but to raise a generation that values and practices lifelong fitness and well-being.

Conclusion

We have the tools and knowledge to live healthier lives, yet modern comfort has made it harder than ever to maintain good health. By taking lessons from those who live closer to nature and making small, intentional changes, we can reverse this trend and build a culture of better physical well-being.

What are your thoughts on this paradox? Drop a comment below, and let’s discuss ways to get back on track!