What is the Secret of Life?
While the title may have caught your attention, the actual article unfortunately, does not give the answer. The sheer amount of time humans have been asking that question without a consistent answer likely proves there isn’t one, certainly not one that is universal. However, we can use this question to think about our own health and wellness.
A good place to start is by looking at our own environment. We live in a very interesting world. While in many ways we (urban Americans) have immensely more material goods than most others and certainly more than those of past generations, we have created a society for ourselves that is not conducive to good health. In many ways, we’ve made it more difficult to remain free of chronic disease and chronic symptoms. The reasons are complex, but by identifying them, we can make changes which mitigate the negative influences and enhance our chances of successful health. Modifying or removing various stressors I consider “reduction prevention.” Generally this is our preferred method of prevention. In addition to ameliorating our environmental stressors, we can also dig into the reasons why they present our body with challenges and give the body the support it needs to counter them. Instituting treatments to combat such stressors is what I consider “additive prevention.” While adding treatment is almost always secondary to removing negative influences, it is commonly necessary, especially if the stressors are prominent enough, or we cannot effectively undergo enough reduction prevention. Investigation such as this is at the core of integrative and functional medicine.
There is more to life than increasing its speed. ~Mohandas K. Gandhi.
Our lives in 21st century America move fast. Unless we force it upon ourselves, there is no down time.Technology has made it so we are continuously connected, whether we want to be or not.This 24/7 culture permeates into many professions with employers demanding more of our time and brain power; technology gives us the means to easily accept and allow it. Instant response and rapid completion of tasks is now the societal expectation. Furthermore, we put pressure on ourselves to achieve such unnecessary rapidity, regardless of outside influences.Technology, also gives us constant brain stimulation, something our bodies are not well designed for.
Whenever we look at a body stressor, we next look at how we can remove it or at least temper it’s effects.The reality is that for most of us, living in a urban, fast-paced, demanding, technology-driven world is here to stay. Sure, we could quit our jobs, leave our families and wander the globe searching for inner peace; however, it’s probably not a likely scenario.Thus, we try to modify these stressors and support our body to better handle them. As with any lifestyle change, start by setting small goals upon which you can build.
There are many ways to help one reduce technological stressors and check out these 4 simple tips below. Start at least one of these this week and over time, see how many more you can implement. In the comments, let us know other ways you’ve disconnect from technology and found more time for yourself and your family.
- Pick one night each week where phones,TVs, tablets and other technology devices are powered off, even if just for a couple hours.
- Set your phone’s Do Not Disturb function to be one from 8pm to 8a, or another 10-12 hour block.
- Try having your phone on Do Not Disturb for an entire weekend each month.
- Start a regular activity with a friend, significant other, or your entire family that doesn’t involve technology. This might be a regular walk without phones, a board game night a couple times per month, or simply scheduled conversation over a glass of wine with your loved one.
