7 healthy ways to raise a leader's performance (and lifespan)

Jim Farrer March 11, 2021

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The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that America is going through its longest sustained decline in life expectancy in a century. Further, according to the American Psychological Association, millennials are the most stressed generation. Additionally, if in 2017, 49 percent of CEOs were so stressed that they struggled with mental health conditions, what might the percentage be during nationwide lockdowns?

While pastors have traditionally enjoyed long lifespans, Dr. Elmer Towns asserts that in more current times, "ministers have more stress, more burnout, more problems, more temptations, more tasks, and more expectations than ever before."

There is also special pressure, since only two of the top 25 largest denominations are experiencing growth in membership.

In these seasons of despair and uncertainty, J.R. Briggs introduces what he calls a new four-letter "F-word" for churches and pastors...Fail. See his book Fail (2014).

While both businesses and churches are facing uncertain times, let us be clear that our God is the "God of Hope" (Romans 15:13).

Below is a compilation of research that demonstrates some fairly simple ways to enhance the leader's longevity and productivity.

1. Journaling power

A study by Francesca Gino at the Harvard Business School showed that group members undergoing technical training increased their performance by more than 20 percent by spending just ten minutes a day writing in a daily journal. (BBC.com 12/12/19)

2. Hanging out with friends

The General Social Survey asserts: "The average American has only one close confidante…." CEOs and pastors are typically "Lone Rangers" and reluctant to share their frustrations and troubles with others.

In the 1950s and 60s, Italian immigrants living in Roseto, Pa. were found to have very low rates of heart disease even though they had moved away from their Old World Mediterranean diet to eating sausages cooked in lard, and drinking excessively. Plus, the men smoked large stogies, and many of them worked in slate mines subjected to dust and gases.

The key to their health seemed to be that they gathered regularly on porches and in clubs for long conversations, and felt contented. This "Roseto Effect" diminished with sub-urbanization when many moved away from their close-knit streets. Thus the neighborly connections decreased.

3. Maintaining cognitive function

A six-year study of 600 persons over the age of 60 published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (March 12, 2019) found that eating a half plate of cooked mushrooms of various types per week reduced the odds of having mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by 50 percent. MCI is a stage prior to more serious dementia.

According to the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, a large China Health Nutrition Survey, collected over 22 years, found that eating two teaspoons of nuts daily improved brain/cognitive function by up to 60 percent compared with those who did not eat nuts.

4. Weight loss via your nose

Research published by Prevention in 2018 reported that people who "smelled green apple, banana, or peppermint several times a day lost an average of 30 pounds in six months."

5. Weight loss without much effort

Author Timothy Ferriss in The 4-Hour Body (p.107) shares these tips. A few minutes before eating, do 60 to 90 seconds of exercises such as standing wall push-outs, squats with no weights, or jumping jacks. Ninety minutes after eating do a second round of these simple exercises.

According to research compiled in The Power of 5 by Harold H. Bloomfield, MD and Robert K. Cooper, PhD, exercising after the evening meal "has been shown in some studies to increase your calorie-burning by 30 percent to 50 percent for at least 3 hours following the meal" (p.123).

6. Two supplements for heart health

Harvard Medical School followed 22,000 male physicians with histories of cardiac disease. Those who were given 50 milligrams of beta-carotene every other day "suffered half as many heart attacks, strokes and deaths as those taking placebo pills. No heart attacks occurred among those in the study who received aspirin along with beta-carotene." This is the same amount of carotene that Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, "the father of aerobics" and a pioneer in disease prevention, used. (The Power of 5 p.246-247)

7. Importance of raising immunity

Integrative physicians would recommend a long list of nutrients to support good health. Dr. David Brownstein notes that in the recent viral pandemic, "I didn't hear one health official comment on the role of the immune system in controlling COVID-19." This spring he treated 107 patients diagnosed with the rampant virus. He began with oral vitamins A, C, D and iodine. If symptoms did not reverse, he gave higher dose vitamins intravenously.

Brownstein sums up his results: "They all felt better within seven days. And nobody died. We had some very sick older patients in that study group, and statistically we should have had 10 mortalities." (Newsmax.com 7/22/20)

Brownstein concludes: "Now is the time to build the immune system so that it's ready to respond to any attacking pathogen."

Studying medical research results is important, but should always be accompanied by consultation with one's own medical practitioner before implementation.

Certainly, as Psalm 139:14 (KJV) reminds us, we are "fearfully and wonderfully made."

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Jim Farrer is the founder of Vital Signs Church Consulting and a member of the Society for Church Consulting. A broadly-trained church consultant, Jim is also a veteran of ministry positions in Canada and the U.S., he has trained leaders from 18 denominations and led seminars and coaching sessions nationwide. His articles have been published in the Journal of Evangelism and Missions and the Great Commission Research Journal. You can reach him by e-mailing revup1@yahoo.com or calling 814 629-5211. Learn More »

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