Earlier this year, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) introduced a new philosophy designed to bring clarity to a question that continues to challenge both health and exercise professionals: What daily habits matter most for overall long-term health? We created the ACE 7 Core Drivers of Healthy Living to provide a simple, evidence-informed framework that reflects what decades of research and real-world experience tell us about sustainable healthy living.
The timing is intentional. Rates of chronic disease, burnout, poor sleep, and mental health challenges remain high, even as information about health has never been more abundant. People are overwhelmed. ACE recognized the need for a clear, practical model that cuts through the noise and highlights the foundational behaviors that drive long-term well-being.
The 7 Core Drivers are:
- Move More, Move Well – Engage in regular physical activity and exercise that supports strength, mobility, and long-term vitality.
- Nourish Your Body – Choose balanced, healthy nutrition patterns that fuel daily living and overall well-being.
- Prioritize Restorative Sleep – Get quality sleep that promotes recovery, cognitive function, emotional balance, and immune health.
- Strengthen Your Stress Resilience – Use effective coping skills and strategies that support emotional well-being and adaptability.
- Build Supportive Connections – Cultivate positive relationships, community and belonging that enhance motivation and health.
- Make Safer, Informed Choices – Make decisions that reduce health risks and promote long-term well-being.
- Cultivate Purpose and a Growth Mindset – Clarify personal purpose and values, and foster a mindset that supports consistency, resilience, and lasting behavior change.
Each driver represents a category of daily behavior that meaningfully influences physical, mental, and emotional health. While none of these concepts are new in isolation, what makes this philosophy powerful is how it brings them together into one integrated framework.
Why should people care? Because these drivers address the root causes of many preventable chronic conditions. Physical inactivity, poor nutrition, inadequate sleep, unmanaged stress, and social isolation all contribute to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, anxiety, depression, and more. By focusing on these seven areas, individuals and healthcare providers can shift from reactive disease management to proactive health promotion.
Importantly, these drivers are interconnected. Poor sleep increases stress and reduces motivation to move. Chronic stress influences food choices and cardiometabolic health. Social connection affects mental resilience and even inflammation. Improvements in one area often create positive ripple effects across the others. This systems-based perspective aligns with what health and exercise professionals understand: the body and mind do not operate in silos.
Accessibility is central to this philosophy. The 7 Core Drivers are not reserved for elite athletes or those with abundant resources. They are designed for anyone seeking to live a healthier life. “Move more” may mean standing and stretching between meetings. “Strengthening stress resilience” could begin with five minutes of mindful breathing. “Making informed choices” may involve understanding personal risk factors and seeking appropriate screenings. Small, consistent actions matter.
Crucially, this framework extends beyond structured workouts. While exercise remains vital, overall well-being also depends on sleep quality, stress regulation, daily routines, mindset, and social connection. Expanding the conversation beyond physical activity reflects a more holistic and realistic approach to health and one that acknowledges the complexity of modern life.
The 7 Core Drivers framework is not just for exercise professionals. Trainers can use them to guide client programming, but healthcare providers, employers, and individuals can adopt them as a shared language for well-being. When we simplify the message without oversimplifying the science, we empower more people to take meaningful action.
In a world saturated with health advice, the 7 Core Drivers offer something refreshingly clear: a practical roadmap for daily living that supports lifelong health.
Sabrena Jo
Sabrena Jo, PhD, is Senior Director of Science and Education at American Council on Exercise.
