Living A Modern Life in Accordance with our Ancestors and Evolution
Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the history of humans and how we got to where we are today. Not just why we are here—that may never be answered—but how we arrived at this point.
We began from humble origins as hunter-gatherers, living in small tribes directly immersed in nature. Life was hard at times—weather, drought, and scarce hunting made survival uncertain. Yet we were deeply connected to our surroundings and supported by tight-knit communities, much like our distant relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos still are today. Those early humans likely didn’t view their lives as “luxurious,” but in many ways, they lived as evolution intended: in rhythm with the natural world.
Why does this matter? Because as time went on—from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age—we developed skills that transformed how we lived. As Yuval Noah Harari notes in Sapiens, humans shifted from hunting and gathering to farming and herding. We built permanent dwellings and began cultivating the land rather than simply living with it. Farming offered stability and allowed us to support more people, but it came at a cost. Instead of hunting, gathering, and playing, our days were filled with repetitive chores to keep the farm alive—an endlessly hungry beast. While this shift brought comfort, it also moved us further from the way we had evolved to live. We may not have been any better off, just different.
From there came the Iron Age, the Classical Era, and eventually the Industrial Age. For most people before industrialization, daily life still revolved around farming or trade. They worked outdoors, used their hands, and ate whole foods. Sunlight, movement, and natural diets were baked into daily survival. It wasn’t glamorous, but a good life isn’t defined by glamour—it’s defined by peace of mind, family, and community.
The Industrial Age changed everything. Cities grew. Corporations emerged. Millions left small family farms for concrete jungles and factory jobs. People spent more time indoors and less time connected to nature. By the 20th century, many still ate whole foods and worked with their hands, but the balance was shifting. Fast forward to today: millions of us spend nearly all our time indoors, sitting at desks, staring at screens, moving less, and eating more processed foods than ever. This is a huge problem.
I’m part of this group too. And while modern life comes with challenges, it has also brought incredible advancements. Medicine, for example, has saved countless lives. Child mortality has dropped. Starvation is no longer the daily threat it once was. We shouldn’t throw away these gifts.
I’m not suggesting we go back to living as hunter-gatherers. That’s neither realistic nor necessary. Instead, the goal is balance—taking the best of the modern world while avoiding its pitfalls. With a little effort, we can reclaim 90% of the benefits of ancestral living without abandoning the comforts of modernity.
Here are some principles I live by:
Eat whole foods. If your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize it, it probably isn’t good for you. Treats are fine—just don’t make them the foundation of your diet.
Get outside, preferably in nature. Modern housing, heating, and air conditioning are wonderful, but don’t spend all day indoors. Walk, sit on a porch, or spend time in a park.
Use technology wisely. Smartphones and social media are powerful tools, but don’t let them control you. It’s okay—healthy, even—to be bored. My best ideas come during phone-free walks.
Prioritize relationships. Family and close friends are essential. See them often if you can. If you don’t have family nearby, create your own community through shared hobbies or groups.
Work with meaning, not obsession. Work gives purpose, but it isn’t everything. No one looks back wishing they had worked more. Money only solves money problems.
I don’t have all the answers, and I don’t claim to. But I believe many of us are suffering because we’ve drifted too far from the way humans were meant to live. When our baseline as humans today is so disconnected from how we evolved, it’s no surprise that anxiety, depression, and chronic health issues are so common.
We don’t need to live in caves. We just need to live closer to the human baseline nature intended. Happiness is, in many ways, a choice—a choice to live in alignment with our origins.
So take a walk outside.
This blog is my way of exploring these ideas further. These reminders are as much for me as they are for you.
