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For ~400k years, we’ve not changed. However, in an age with declining birth rates, fewer social interactions, and the rise of artificial intelligence & robotics, where are we headed as a species?
In edition #104, we figure out why birthrates are dropping.
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LAST WEEK’S TRIVIA❓
Coach DC: Answer B ✅
The painted plastic liners in glass bottle caps shed microplastics into the beer when opened (134 MPs/L)
THIS WEEK’S 🧐
What’s the biggest barrier to having (or having more) kids today?
👁️ OVE’S GUIDE TO
DECLINING BIRTHRATES
🌍 How we got here
Fifty years ago, the great fear was overpopulation. Books like The Population Bomb warned of mass famine. Even into the 1990s, most people assumed the world population would spiral forever upward.
But as Hans Rosling reminds us in Factfulness: fertility falls naturally when people get healthier, wealthier, and more educated. More women finish school, more families live in cities, child survival improves, and birth rates drop.
Today, instead of “too many mouths,” the issue is too few workers. And unlike famine, which technology and farming overcame, demographics move slowly — once birth rates fall, they are very hard to reverse.
Imagine a future with fewer kids
📉 Top 10 countries/regions where fertility is falling fastest
(Total Fertility Rate, births per woman — people are replaced at ~2.1)
🇰🇷 South Korea – 0.72
🇹🇼 Taiwan – 0.87
🇭🇰 Hong Kong – 0.90
🇨🇳 China – ~1.0–1.1
🇯🇵 Japan – 1.15
🇪🇸 Spain – 1.19
🇮🇹 Italy – 1.20
🇨🇦 Canada – 1.33
🇩🇪 Germany – 1.46
🇺🇸 United States – 1.60
📈 Top 10 countries where fertility is still high or rising
(Mostly Sub-Saharan Africa & South Asia — sources: UN World Population Prospects 2022)
🇳🇪 Niger – 6.7
🇹🇩 Chad – 6.4
🇸🇴 Somalia – 6.0
🇨🇩 DR Congo – 5.9
🇲🇱 Mali – 5.8
🇳🇬 Nigeria – 5.3
🇦🇴 Angola – 5.2
🇦🇫 Afghanistan – 4.4
🇵🇰 Pakistan – 3.4
🇪🇹 Ethiopia – 3.0
(Even these numbers are lower than 20 years ago; Niger was over 7.5 just two decades ago.)
Global Population Projections
🧠 Why It’s Happening
Older parents: First-birth age – 🇺🇸 ~27.5 | 🇨🇦 ~31.6 | 🇯🇵 ~31.0
Metabolic health: Obesity, diabetes, and underweight disrupt ovulation & sperm.
Food quality: Ultra-processed diets hurt fertility; Mediterranean diets help.
Environment: Pollution, PFAS, BPA, and heat stress reduce conception odds.
Lifestyle: Poor sleep, high stress, smoking, vaping, and alcohol lower chances.
Work stress: Long, unpredictable hours discourage family planning.
🏢 Workplace Wellness Matters
✅ Predictable schedules
✅ Secure jobs with stability
✅ Affordable childcare + housing
✅ Work-life balance
✅ Peace of mind = confidence to start families
🚨 Why Care?
Declining fertility reshapes society:
Fewer workers → labour shortages & slower growth
More elderly → higher dependency ratios & aging societies
More taxes → younger generations pay for pensions & healthcare
Rise of algorithms & robots 🤖 → automation fills gaps, but not the warmth, creativity, or care that humans bring
💡 Closing thought
For decades, the worry was too many people. Now the challenge is too few babies, too late in life, in too toxic an environment.
The answer? Wellness. Healthier bodies, healthier workplaces, healthier societies.
🧠 MINDFUL SESSION
CHILD READY CHECKLIST
Becoming a parent isn’t just about timing — it’s about readiness in body, mind, and environment. Think of this as your wellness tune-up before life’s biggest adventure. This session is designed to be mindful, practical, and a little fun: check the boxes, track your progress, and notice where you can improve.
🎮 How to Start
✅ Step 1: Read through the checklist below.
🎯 Step 2: Score yourself this week — 1 point per check.
🏆 Step 3: Aim for 12+ points = “Baby-Ready Wellness Pro.”
📥 Step 4: Download the printable version to keep on your fridge or share with your partner.
✅ Give Ourselves a Better Shot (Your Checklist)
ℹ️ Daily Habits
☐ Keep caffeine ≤200 mg/day (~1 coffee or 355 ml cup)
☐ Limit or quit alcohol, nicotine, vaping, and cannabis
☐ Sleep 7–9 hours nightly
☐ Eat Mediterranean-style meals (veggies, legumes, fish, olive oil)
☐ Cut back on ultra-processed foods, sugar, and soda
🗓️ Weekly Moves
☐ Exercise 150–300 minutes (moderate) or 75–150 (vigorous)
☐ Add 2+ strength sessions
☐ Stretch daily (10–15 minutes)
🏠 Environment Reset
☐ Use glass/steel for hot foods (no microwaving plastic)
☐ Filter water if PFAS are a concern
☐ Avoid hot tubs/laptops on laps if male
☐ Keep home cool during heat waves
🏥 Medical & Safety
☐ Get STI testing before trying
☐ Update necessary vaccines
☐ Review medications with your doctor
📥 Download the PDF
Download & keep it on your fridge, phone, or share it with your partner👇
⚡Mindful prompt: Each time you check off an item, pause and notice the clarity it gives you. This isn’t just about fertility — it’s about building a healthier you for any stage of life.
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You’re why I spend hours researching and crafting these editions so you can read more OVE’s Guide and help make more people.
Until Next Edition,
Coach DC
OVE’S GUIDE 👁️
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your circumstances. Overman Perspective Inc. does not provide medical or licensed advice. Please get in touch with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.