Health
'Pendulum lifestyle' could be key to juggling daily challenges
For those who are feeling “stuck” or overwhelmed while striving for work-life balance, some experts recommend adopting a “pendulum lifestyle.”
Coined by Dr. Jeffrey Karp, Ph.D, a professor of biomedical engineering at Brigham & Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School in Boston, the pendulum lifestyle is defined as a “concept that acknowledges life’s natural ebb and flow, and empowers you to thrive amidst the swings.”
“Rarely are we in balance … it’s just unrealistic and an anxiety-inducing expectation,” the doctor told Fox News Digital in an interview.
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Seeing the world as a pendulum fosters a more compassionate mindset and alleviates the pressure to be perfect, Karp said.
For those who are feeling “stuck” or overwhelmed while striving for work-life balance, some experts recommend adopting a “pendulum lifestyle.” (iStock)
With this approach, people can take small steps to “swing the pendulum,” enabling them to feel more emotionally, mentally and physically “balanced” during the day, according to the expert.
This could also empower individuals who feel “stuck” when facing daily challenges, he said.
“Looking at nature, there are so many cycles, so many things that are kind of going back and forth, like night and day …. changes of seasons, and the waxing and waning of the moon,” noted Karp.
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The pendulum lifestyle involves daily “self-check-ins” where the person gauges their physical, emotional and mental energy levels, Karp said. They can then take immediate steps to move their levels in a positive direction toward the ideal balance.
“If we can visualize everything on a pendulum, we can think, ‘What’s the one step I could take today to bring the pendulum a little closer to where I want it to be?’” he said.
With this approach, people can take small steps to “swing the pendulum,” enabling them to feel more emotionally, mentally and physically “balanced” during the day. (iStock)
For example, a person who has low physical energy could visualize a pendulum with the lowest energy on one side and the highest energy on the other.
He would then do a “self-check” to identify where his energy level lies on the pendulum and what small steps could move it closer to the ideal balance point, Karp said.
“True well-being doesn’t lie in perfection or consistency, but in our ability to navigate the ebb and flow of life.”
That might mean taking a 10-minute walk, doing some jumping jacks or performing a few stretches to move the pendulum to a higher energy level position.
“This empowers the person and reminds them they are not stuck,” Karp said.
Taking a 10-minute walk, doing some jumping jacks or performing a few stretches can move the pendulum to a higher energy level position, the expert said. (iStock)
On the flip side, if it’s late at night and a person needs to wind down, she might engage in a calming exercise like meditation or listening to relaxing music as a way to swing the pendulum to a level more conducive to sleeping, the expert advised.
The pendulum lifestyle can also serve as a mood-booster, Kelp said. When someone is feeling down, watching a funny movie or practicing gratitude can help shift the pendulum.
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The approach could also help launch forward momentum if someone feels “stuck” in life, the expert said.
“When you start to realize that you’re not limited to being at that spot on the pendulum, but can take a step forward and be intentional, it’s just so empowering,” he said.
The daily check-in process could help individuals identify when they are feeling in less than tip-top shape and find ways to swing in a better direction, one expert said. (iStock)
Dr. Molly Sherb, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a licensed psychologist at Mount Sinai in New York City, commented on Karp’s concept of a pendulum lifestyle.
“When you start to realize that you’re not limited to being at that spot on the pendulum, but can take a step forward and be intentional, it’s just so empowering.”
She agreed that the daily check-in process could help individuals identify when they are feeling in less than tip-top shape and find ways to swing in a better direction.
“That might include getting better sleep or eating a healthier breakfast … to help you wake up with a better bandwidth tomorrow,” Sherb said.
Progress, not perfection
Dr. Christopher Fisher, a psychologist at Zucker Hillside Hospital Northwell Health in Queens, New York, said the pendulum lifestyle could help those who feel pressured to achieve a perfect work-life balance.
“The pendulum of life’s experiences – whether emotional, cognitive or physical – is one of the truest expressions of what it means to be human,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“True well-being doesn’t lie in perfection or consistency, but in our ability to navigate the ebb and flow of life,” he told Fox News Digital.
Sherb agreed that the essence of the pendulum lifestyle is that it’s not always possible to strike that 50-50 equal balance.
Adopt a constructive viewpoint and ask yourself what positive changes or routines can help you achieve a more optimal level on the pendulum path, one expert advised. (iStock)
“It’s about constantly tuning into yourself … and seeing which parts of your life might need you more at certain times,” she said.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, but a more tailored approach based on what you need and what people in your life need from you.”
4 steps to implementing the pendulum lifestyle
Karp shared some specific strategies for adopting the pendulum approach.
1. Perform a head-to-toe check-in each morning
Ask yourself how you are feeling emotionally, physically and mentally. What parts do not feel at a 100% level?
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2. Make any necessary adjustments
Based on your self-check-in, consider changing your routine to accommodate your energy level or take simple steps to help move the pendulum in a positive direction, Karp suggested.
3. Be compassionate and curious
If you feel off-balance, Karp said to recognize that as part of the natural pendulum swing and to embrace it with self-compassion rather than shame and criticism.
“It’s about constantly tuning into yourself … and seeing which parts of your life might need you more at certain times.”
Adopt a constructive viewpoint and ask yourself what positive changes or routines can help you achieve a more optimal level on the pendulum path, he advised.
4. Understand your pendulum swings
It could be helpful to ask yourself specific questions, such as the following.
“What factors helped contribute to a state of feeling balanced?”
“What factors contributed to feeling off-balance?”
“What small changes can I make today to foster a sense of better balance?”
“How did I respond to feeling imbalanced and was it effective?”
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Above all, Karp said, it’s important to remember that finding balance is a “lifelong journey.”
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This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Bunnie XO, the wife of country singer Jelly Roll, is discussing how a weight-loss medication may have led to her experiencing a “dark” depression.
During an episode of her podcast “Dumb Blonde,” Bunnie, whose real name is Alyssa DeFord, revealed that she had been taking a new drug by Lilly called retatrutide (reta), which is currently in late-stage trials and not approved by the FDA.
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Bunnie, 45, confirmed that she received her dose from a “reputable wellness center” in Nashville, and felt sick within the first week. Within two weeks, she noticed she looked and felt slimmer. In the fourth week, she increased her dose by one unit, which is when she noticed the “mental numbness.”
“I literally got sent into the worst suicidal depression that I’ve had since 2020,” she said. “I’m talking like it scared me so bad. I didn’t think I was going to make it through the two weeks. Like I was praying to God.”
Bunnie XO, the wife of country singer Jelly Roll, is discussing how a weight-loss medication may have led to her experiencing a “dark” depression. (Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images)
The podcaster shared how she had “no emotion” and couldn’t listen to music that would typically “bring me joy.”
“You could see like my eyes were black,” she said. “I just drove in silence because I just couldn’t handle anything. It was either overstimulating or it was to the point where it just stole my joy. I had no joy, like nothing to live for. It was so dark.”
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After 20 days off the drug, Bunnie reported that her joy is “finally” returning, calling the experience a “battle.”
“My story is not what’s going to happen to you,” she shared with her listeners. “There’s so many people who are taking reta and love it and all that. But something happened with me.”
“My story is not what’s going to happen to you,” Bunnie XO shared with her listeners. “There’s so many people who are taking Reta and love it and all that. But something happened with me.” (Taylor Hill/WireImage)
Indiana-based drug-maker Lilly confirmed in a statement to Fox News Digital that retatrutide is an “investigational molecule that is legally available only to participants in Lilly’s clinical trials.”
“No one should consider taking anything claiming to be retatrutide outside of a Lilly-sponsored clinical trial,” the spokesperson wrote. “This was not a Lilly product, and the company continues to warn the public about the potential dangers of fake medicines.”
“This was not a Lilly product and the company continues to warn the public about the potential dangers of fake medicines.”
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel reacted in an interview with Fox News Digital, warning that retatrutide should not be taken while it has still not received FDA approval unless it is part of a clinical trial.
“This drug is new — known as a triple agonist (GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptor agonist),” he said. “[It] has been linked potentially to depression and suicidal thoughts, as have the GLP-1 drugs, where some studies have shown increased psychiatric risks, so there is a potential link here.”
What is retatrutide?
The drug has received the nickname “GLP-3” because it targets the three hormones, which experts suggest could lead to more substantial weight loss.
Lilly announced results from its phase 3 trial TRIUMPH-4 in December, which tested retatrutide’s effect on weight loss and other health conditions.
“GLP-3s” are positioned to “approach bariatric surgery level outcomes,” although it doesn’t come without risks, one expert said. (iStock)
Participants with obesity and knee arthritis who took a 12-mg dose of retatrutide saw an average weight loss of 71.8 lbs (28.7%) at 68 weeks.
“We believe retatrutide could become an important option for patients with significant weight loss needs and certain complications, including knee osteoarthritis,” a Lilly spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Seven additional phase 3 trials for retatrutide are expected to wrap up in 2026. The drug could see FDA approval in 2027, according to GoodRx.
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Despite limited data availability on the drug, the medication could also be applied to treat other conditions like type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, cardiovascular risk reduction and metabolic dysfunction, according to GoodRx and other experts.
Siegel confirmed that retatrutide’s side effects can be similar to other GLP-1s, including gastrointestinal symptoms and other rare reactions like pancreatitis, gallstones and heart arrhythmia.
Retatrutide could lead to more substantial weight loss for some patients, according to experts. (iStock)
Philip Rabito, M.D., a specialist in endocrinology, weight loss and wellness in New York City, shared in a previous interview with Fox News Digital that this new class of weight-loss drugs is positioned to “approach bariatric surgery level outcomes” — although it doesn’t come without risks.
“The novel glucagon‑agonist component introduces less‑understood long‑term safety considerations, so it is imperative that patients are followed closely by healthcare professionals experienced with this class of medicines, with cautious, stepwise use, despite the impressive efficacy,” he cautioned.
The mental health connection
The potential link between mental health symptoms and weight-loss drugs is most likely due to the impact on the brain’s reward system, according to Siegel.
“Dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine affect mood and appetite, reduce cravings and can have a positive effect on mood, but also can be negative,” he said. “Somewhat unpredictable.”
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Dr. Peter Balazs, a hormone and weight-loss specialist in New York and New Jersey, noted that any presentation of significant depressive symptoms, particularly those including “psychotic features and suicidal ideation,” requires a full clinical evaluation.
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“It is essential to understand the patient’s complete medical and psychiatric history, including other medical conditions, precise weight change dynamics, concomitant medications and psychosocial stressors,” he said. “Major depressive episodes are multifactorial — attributing them to a single agent without this context is premature.”
Patients should be screened for mental health complications before taking weight-loss medication, experts suggest. (iStock)
Any individual experiencing these symptoms should “seek immediate professional help,” Balazs said.
“We are still learning about the psychiatric effects of these medications, even the ones that have already been approved,” he added.
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Bunnie’s age would typically place her in the perimenopausal stage, which can include “significant fluctuations” in reproductive hormones like estrogen, Balazs noted.
“Estrogen has well-documented neuroprotective and mood-stabilizing effects,” he said. “Its decline can render the brain more vulnerable to stress and dysregulation, potentially precipitating or exacerbating depressive episodes.”
Hormonal changes can impact mood when on a GLP-1 drug, according to experts. (iStock)
Obesity can also cause hormone shifts and inflammation that can interfere with normal brain function, sometimes affecting mood and emotional balance, the expert noted.
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Balazs stressed that experts should be “vigilant” in monitoring symptoms of people taking these medications.
“Until a protocol is established, patients outside clinical trials should not inject these medications,” he cautioned. “Dose and dose-related responses can change the whole experience.”
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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is launching a study on whether radiation from cellphones could harm Americans’ health.
“The FDA removed web pages with old conclusions about cellphone radiation while HHS undertakes a study on electromagnetic radiation and health research to identify gaps in knowledge, including on new technologies, to ensure safety and efficacy,” HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
The study is part of a strategy report released last year by President Donald Trump’s MAHA Commission, Nixon added.
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The report urges officials to address electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure stemming from the widespread use of cellphones, Wi-Fi routers, cell towers and wearable, such as smartwatches.
In 2018, the National Institutes of Health did a study concluding there is “clear evidence” that high exposure to radio frequency radiation (RFR) was associated with cancer in male rats.
The HHS has launched a cellphone radiation study to investigate whether electromagnetic radiation is harmful to people’s health. (iStock)
“In our studies, rats and mice received RFR across their whole bodies. By contrast, people are mostly exposed in specific local tissues close to where they hold the phone,” said senior scientist John Bucher at the time.
Bucher added, “The exposure levels and durations in our studies were greater than what people experience.”
The study did not investigate the RFR that is used for Wi-Fi or 5G networks.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told USA TODAY on Friday that “electromagnetic radiation is a major health concern,” adding that he is “very concerned about it.”
A spokesperson for CTIA, the mobile carrier industry trade group, told Fox News Digital there is no credible evidence linking wireless devices to health problems.
“The FDA removed web pages with old conclusions about cellphone radiation while HHS undertakes a study on electromagnetic radiation and health research to identify gaps in knowledge, including on new technologies, to ensure safety and efficacy,” said an HHS spokesperson. (iStock)
“Radiofrequency energy from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, mobile phones and wireless infrastructure has not been shown to cause health problems, according to the consensus of the international scientific community and independent expert organizations around the world,” said the spokesperson.
The World Health Organization has noted on its website that research shows “no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies.”
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In the U.S., cellphones must comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) limits on radiofrequency (RF) exposure.
The FCC uses a metric called specific absorption rate (SAR), which tracks how much RF energy the body absorbs. To be sold in the U.S., mobile phones and similar wireless devices must be tested and certified to ensure that they do not exceed 1.6 W/kg (watts per kilogram), averaging over 1 gram of tissue.
In the U.S., cellphones must comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) limits on radiofrequency (RF) exposure. (iStock)
The FCC states on its website that there is “no scientific evidence currently establishing a definitive link between wireless device use and cancer or other illnesses.”
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However, the agency does share ways that Americans can reduce exposure — such as shortening the amount of time spent on wireless devices, putting a phone on speaker or using an earpiece “to reduce proximity to the head and thus head exposure.”
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The FCC also recommends increasing the distance between wireless devices and the body, and texting instead of talking when possible.
Fox News Digital reached out to HHS and NIH for additional comment, as well as several major cellphone carriers.
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