Introducing: 101 Years

Welcome to the aging well beat

Hello! I’m so happy you’re here. Welcome to 101 Years! 

Let me introduce myself: My name is Alexa Mikhail, and I’m a health and wellness reporter at Fortune in New York. 

Since joining the magazine’s inaugural health and wellness team in July 2022, I’ve become fascinated with aging well, workplace wellness, mental health, longevity, and the science of happiness. How can we sift through all the noise in the wellness space (hello: bed rotting trend, hot girl walks, and cold plunges) and prioritize our health while enjoying our lives? There’s no one silver bullet. I’m trying to figure it all out, too. 

For once, how can we not fall short of our New Year’s resolutions? How can we make new friends in middle age? Why do we hit the midday slump at work? Will we live beyond 100 … and do we want to? We all want to find novel ways to age well and feel happier, healthier, and more energized. The stories I cover delve into these questions and stem from the conversations you’re having with friends and family at the dinner table. 

I’ve always wanted to find a way to share the behind-the-scenes of my stories and my thought process. 101 Years will do just that—highlighting my latest work, research, and interviews across aging well and longevity, including the intersection of relationships, the workplace, and more. I’m excited to talk more about why I copied Kim Kardashian and, yes, underwent a full-body MRI, as well as discuss the key lessons I’ve learned from the world’s leading researchers on feeling happy as we age (spoiler: stop bailing on your friends).  

So why now? 

Working in health and wellness these last few years has been eye-opening, to say the least. Mental health issues are continuing to rise. Workers are chronically burnt out and stressed. And we are collectively facing a loneliness epidemic, deemed a public health crisis by the U.S. Surgeon General last year. Simultaneously, we are living healthier, longer lives. 

We are at a pivotal time as more people engage with phrases like mental fitness, psychological safety, and health span versus life span. It’s no surprise. We know that our productivity and success rely on how we age, care for ourselves, and maintain social ties. 

Every other week, I hope to leave you with actionable insights to feel more grateful, engaged, and rejuvenated. I’ll also recommend my favorite health and wellness podcast episodes, books, articles, and more. 

I’d love for you to subscribe, join me on this journey, and email me any questions or ideas! 

3 things that are bringing me joy this month:

• NYC is hitting the high 60s, and the sun is out! (It’s the little things) 

• I cooked a new recipe (Shoutout NYT Cooking) 

• A friend and colleague and I hosted our first in-person event for Fortune’s Young Professionals employee resource group this week 

2 stories I’m reading or listening to:  

• Listening to The Mel Robbins Podcast: Want to Be Happier Right Now? 

• Listening to Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s Chasing Life show: Biohacking…or BS?

1 aging well hack: 

• Try the Surgeon General's 5-for-5 challenge to feel less lonely: “For one minute every day, think about someone you’re grateful for. Next, message them and tell them in whatever way you wish. Do this each day for five days.” Read more 

See you soon,

Alexa Mikhail

Health + Wellness Reporter, Fortune Magazine

alexacmikhail@gmail.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexamikhail/