One hundred and sixty minutes. That is the amount of time I spent cycling this past Monday. That particular day was also one of the days that I had the best sleep in months. Within the last year I have been incredibly active.
This year marks my first year of working onsite as opposed to remotely since my move to Europe. I always thought I would be satisfied with doing things from the comfort of my home and at my own pace. I was often made to feel, from comments by friends, that having such a convenient job and so much flexibility was priceless. It meant that I had the ability to balance work and running a home thoroughly to my liking, a concept that seems inconceivable. In actuality, being so isolated forced me into having a routine, which made me feel that limited amounts of social interaction weren’t totally necessary to be productive, nor essential for a balanced life.
We have become so accustomed to soaking up news articles, movies and social media communication that we sometimes fail to recognise that there is hardly ever a two-way dialogue. Fundamentally, you are always left there with your own thoughts with no one with whom to process everything you have taken in. It has become such a trend to want to be on your own 24/7. Indeed, in person socializing, which can be troublesome to organise, at times can come off as a chore.
However, despite working consistently for the last four years, I have realized it is so incredibly easy to become mentally lazy. Human interaction is necessary for you to refresh your understanding and experiences of what it truly means to be connected and only then can you appreciate the latter.
According to Harvard Women’s Health Watch, “Dozens of studies have shown that people who have satisfying relationships with family, friends and their community are happier, have fewer health problems, and live longer.” In addition to this, it is said that individuals who lack social contacts on a consistent basis are more likely to have heightened stress levels and inflammation; this can influence the performance of the brain, for example, its blood flow. One can buy all the latest anti-aging products, wear and eat the most organic and free trade items, but what does it all matter if one isn’t healthy enough to appreciate it?
It is easy to not draw a parallel between being social with people and improving your health, as many of us were raised to be believe only doctors and medication do that. Time is the most precious gift we have, and we must learn to use it wisely to ensure our overall happiness as opposed to temporary convenience. Take time to recharge, and importantly to connect as this too is part of maintaining a holistic balanced diet.
