Life is full of little experiments we can learn from. Throughout the rest of this book, you will find a Renewal Lab at the end of each chapter. There, you become the researcher if you wish. Your mind, your body, and your life become your personal laboratory where you can try out practical applications of telomere science or behavioral science and learn ways to change your daily life to enhance your cellular health. In most cases, the Renewal Labs have been directly linked to better telomere length, and in all cases they are associated with better physical or mental health. (You can find the relevant studies in the book’s Notes section, which begins here.)
When we say “laboratory,” we really mean it. They’re experiments, not written-in-stone commandments. What works best for you depends on your individual mind and body, your preferences, and your stage of life. So give them a try—perhaps only one or two at a time. If you find one that works for you, focus on it for a while, until it becomes a habit. If you practice any of these Labs regularly, they should enhance your cellular health as well as your daily wellbeing. Studies have found that lifestyle changes can have an effect on telomere maintenance (that means increased telomerase or telomere length) as soon as three weeks to four months. Remember, as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Don’t be too timid or squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”