Between climate change, pollution, war, gun violence, and erosion of basic human rights, things are looking a little dire right now, and people are getting exhausted, myself included. This post looks at Nervous System Dysregulation as a result of chronic stress, as well as what individuals can do to step back and view the long path of advocacy as a marathon, not a sprint.
Some people don’t want any more kids or any at all, and that doesn’t make them bad people. In fact, it’s a responsible action to consider parenthood options carefully and determine how best to follow through on your choices. In honor of Father’s Day, this post examines the simple process, low risks, and overall environmental benefits of male sterilization, a.k.a. the vasectomy.
As climate change projections become more dire and necessary action lags, younger members of society are stepping up to take control of their future. While it should not be their responsibility to find solutions, it is nonetheless inspiring to see how individual actions create ripple effects that lead to change. Those who will be impacted the most say it is not the time to give up the fight.
I’ve asked some friends probing questions about Catholicism and Objectivism over the last few weeks to make sure I was interpreting Pope Francis and Ayn Rand correctly for the arguments I’m putting forth in this series. But they had some questions for me, which made me realize I had to examine the context of a third person for this series: the author.
Although we know that “Reduce” is the most important component of the Three R’s, it’s hard to advocate for reducing consumption during the biggest commercial holiday of the year. Examining our motivations during the holidays (to understand why we choose to spend our time and money the way we do) can help reduce our consumption and may help improve our mental health as well.
The days are getting shorter and, it’s getting darker earlier. For me and other members of my family, that means seasonal depression is hitting harder and stronger. The cheapest and most effective treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is regular use of Bright Light Therapy (BLT). I’ve noticed a consistent benefit each winter for about a decade. Here’s what you need to know about BLT.
In addition to carving out time for meditation, I’ve been trying to figure out how to create time for play as well. We tend to stop playing as adults, but it keeps us creative, adaptable, and more resilient to stress. The trick for me is finding activities I like that don’t have productive outputs or external standards attached to them.
I have created a ritual for myself: before and after work every day I take 10 minutes and meditate, which helps me calm down, focus my attention, be present, and mentally transition between work and home time. Making it a formal part of my schedule helps to ensure that I do it, and making it clear to my family that I need it helps to keep me accountable.
Getting back from a restorative two-week vacation, I talked a big game about making time for myself on a regular basis. Recognizing that I’m in a job with higher stakes than I’ve ever had before and that my physical and mental health could be at stake if I don’t make myself a priority, it’s time to make good on that claim.
So often in the corporate world we link busyness with value. As a manager, especially in a remote work situation, I try to stress that results are more important than image, and that productivity is a function of self care. Eighteen months into the pandemic, my team practically shoved me out the door for a vacation so I could finally practice what I preach.