Robb Wolf is a former biochemist, a health expert, and author of "The Paleo Solution" and (more recently) "Wired to Eat". Robb is also a consultant at the Naval Special Warfare Resiliency Program.

Favorite Success Quote

"Fear is the mind eater"

Key Points

1. Understand that We are Hard-Wired for a Different Time

One of the biggest problems facing the human race in 2017 (especially those of us living in developed countries) is not terrorism, global warming, or political turmoil… It's evolutionary mismatch.

As a society, we are becoming fatter, more depressed, more anxious, and less social than we have ever been and it is killing us.

Obesity is at an all time high, suicide continues to be a leading cause of death (especially among men), more people than ever before are reliant on anti-anxiety and depression medication, and the general populous feels more disconnected than ever before.

The simple reason for this is that we are not designed to live in this world.

We were designed to walk dozens of miles each day, catch our own meals, live in a close-knit tribe, have regular sex, raise children and die.

And nothing could look more different from how we evolved to live than how we are currently living in 2017.

While there are dozens of books written on this topic and plenty of solutions to the problem, my goal here is simply to acknowledge what's going on so that you properly understand the situation and realize that there is hope.

Things can change and you can live a healthier, happier, more vibrant life than ever before… But you first have to address the problem.

2. Understand the Importance of Bio-Individuality

Even though we understand the problem (evolutionary mismatch), the solution isn't as cut and dry as one might assume.

While there are certainly axiomatic principles that can help you level up your health in record time (follow your circadian rhythm, eat more real foods, and exercise more) the specifics are actually highly bio-individual.

What works for one person will not necessarily work for another, because every body is different.

Your body responds to substances, sleep patterns, forms of exercise, and supplementation differently from your best friend's body which responds differently from his girlfriend's body.

This means that you must adopt a very scientific approach to your health.

No, you don't need to go full Tim Ferriss and test hormone levels every night and sleep with crazy wired machines attached to your head.

You just need to realize that achieving perfect health is an individual journey and requires experimentation and testing.

Try out different methods and techniques and see what works for you.

3. Take Time Each Month to Serve Others

Many of you are feeling lost and off purpose.

Many of you feel lonely and disconnected.

And one of the primary reasons for this is that you are disconnected from other people.

Most of us live our lives in a box where we are constantly focused on ourselves, our problems, and our goals.

And few of us are ever willing to take a step back and get outside of that box, causing us to feel like we are on the journey alone.

If you want to break out of this box, reconnect with others, and gain some perspective on your problems, then I highly recommend that you take some time each month to go volunteer and serve others.

This isn't just a philanthropic thing.

Loneliness has been linked to a number of different diseases and problems. So much so that some studies claim lacking a real social circle is worse for you than smoking a pack a day.

When you get out of your bubble and go serve those who are in a worse spot than you are, not only will you connect with like-minded individuals and improve your circle of friends, but you will also reframe your problems and stresses, allowing you to handle the challenges of everyday life in a much more effective manner.

I know that this particular piece of advice might seem a little "out there" but I challenge you to give it a go.

All it takes is a few hours a month, and not only will you be doing good for others, but you might just find your own life changing in the process.

4. Surround Yourself with People Who are Smarter than You

One of the first steps to becoming a more successful in all areas of your life is to surround yourself with people who are better than you in every area of life.

If you want to improve your bank account, get around millionaires.

If you want to improve your body, befriend competitive athletes.

If you want to improve your love life, go hang out with the town "Casanova".

When you are intentional about surrounding yourself with the right people, you will find every area of your life accelerating.

They will be able to point out your blind spots, call you on your bullshit, and elevate your thought processes to an entirely new level.

Jim Rohn said it best, "You are the average of the five people you spend your time with most." So be damn selective about who you are spending your time with.

5. Increase Your Income and Decrease Your Expenses

While it might seem strange to include financial advice in an article and interview with one of the world's leading health experts, this one piece of advice could actually have a bigger impact on your health than anything else we've discussed so far.

How?

Because quite simply, money freaking matters.

When you are broke, living paycheck to paycheck, your life is harder, plain and simple.

That isn't to say that you can't be happy, but rather that your overall quality of life is drastically diminished when you lack financial resources.

When you are stressed about money, your cortisol levels will shoot through the roof, you will feel like you have less time to spend with the people that you love, you will not be able to afford the food, supplements, and gadgets that can take your health to new levels, and you will not have sufficient time to rest, recover, and recharge.

In other words, you are digging yourself an early grave.

So if you want to optimize your health, your relationships, and your sense of well-being, optimize your income and expenses.

While the number and lifestyle will look different for everyone, a good baseline goal is $75,000/year ($100,000 for those who live in expensive cities).

Even though it might be outside the realm of your imagination right now, it's a very achievable income regardless of your current skills and abilities.

And once you can regularly make this income, while reducing your expenses, and working reasonable hours, you will find that your quality of life elevates to new heights.