Inside Out
How we neglect our wellness
By Cory QuirinoPhilippine Daily Inquirer
Those little acts of neglect or omission can certainly wreak havoc on our health in the long term, even if our short-sightedness justifies it with “Just for today.” Guilty or not?
While workaholics champion this crusade in order to get the job done, partyphiles will probably party more, sleep less.
Many companies pride themselves in a work ethic of being on call 24/7.
Some may consider this admirable, but enlightened business leaders advocate wellness in the workplace. This calls for the “don’t bring your work home” policy.
Slave-driving bosses expect that their employees be at their beck and call even at odd hours of the night. In the end, that’s your call (no pun intended).
How much sleep? Well, ask that of a call-center officer. Their world has been turned upside-down. The answer is simple. If you wake up feeling exhausted, that should give you a clue as to your sleep requirements.
Bingeing partygoers are another story. Partying nightly from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. seems to be the fad. And if you are a non-alcoholic, you will be missing out on the fun, say the heavy drinkers. Alcohol is a much-abused substance, just like caffeine. And both could be misused by driven individuals to stay awake or to relax.
While alcohol is considered a party drink, it is a depressant. And mixing it with drugs can only cause health complications, maybe even death.
Jeff is a 30-year-old career man who finds it hard to say no to his friends after 6 p.m. There was a time when he was out for five consecutive nights. On the sixth night, he came down with the flu. Tiring yourself to have fun will translate to exhaustion and a depressed immune system.
Balance play time with family and work time. It’s for your own good. Finally, learn how to say no when your health is at stake.
Wallow in misery
Think of the humble carabao, wallowing in mud. While psychiatrists say 48 hours is the maximum amount of time you can wallow in your own sorry state, extending the deadline will only make you feel worse.
Snap out of it by splashing cold water on your face, exercising or just plain keeping busy.
One sure way to stop you from feeling bad about yourself is to lend a helping hand to somebody who needs it. Doing good is one the best antidotes to misery.
There have been too many success stories about people who were down in the dumps, and eventually ended up “on top of the clouds.”
Take the case of Annie, a once-married woman whose husband abandoned her and their two kids. Penniless after he withdrew support, she was forced to get a job. She could have kept herself paralyzed with bitterness. Instead, she took her life in her own hands. Today she has a flourishing business in insurance.
Grumpy is good
This would officially identity you as one of the seven dwarves. Some are so used to wrinkling their foreheads all day long that a permanent crease is visibly marked between the eyebrows. Take a look at yourself. If a line or two is beginning to form, stop the sour face. It’s not only unsightly, but also indicative of the state of your inner being.
Now, think about how much better you will feel if you had an agreeable mood. You will feel lighter, and what is more important, others will respond to you in a more positive way.
When down, take an upper. An upper could mean many things—from a pill or a shot of alcohol to a bowl of chocolates. So who’s counting? There’s you. You can fool others, but not yourself.
Suffering a low could encourage you to sublimate the feeling to another overwhelming sensation. So, no matter how bad it may get, think before plunging into anything dangerous to your well-being, self-esteem and health.
When you are down, you feel that you are entitled to compensating for that rotten feeling. So, gobbling up a whole gallon of ice cream will not make you feel any better. In fact, the result could be indigestion and high blood sugar.
And what about shopaholics? They pile up bills and max out their credit card limit like there’s no tomorrow. And the sinking feeling will worsen when the bill arrives.
Another pitfall is justification by substitution, when you replace an emotional low for an emotional high which could in the end lead to a rebound effect on your love life.
Happiness is, according to some interpretations, the ability to be content with what you have. And, I might add, who you are.
Affirm today: “I am good enough”
Love and light!
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Tags: Health , Lifestyle , Mind and Body , wellness
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