I'm a trauma surgeon turned longevity CEO. I get up at 5 a.m., avoid snacks, and keep my phone out of my bedroom.

Dr. Darshan Shah said doing the small things consistently had the biggest impact on his personal health journey.

Madeline Tolle for BI

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dr. Darshan Shah, the 53-year-old founder and CEO of longevity clinic Next Health, who's based in Malibu, California. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I've been a physician for 30 years. For the first three quarters of my career, I did all sorts of surgeries, from trauma and emergency surgery...