If you’re reading this you are probably already somewhat aware of netlogx’ dedication to cultivating an environment that is healthy for its team members. Our three interns have been tasked with writing three tips revolving around a routine you can try to implement into your daily life.
The last few years of the pandemic have seen a rise of productivity as workers have been able to work remotely. However, this type of work can also be taxing if you don’t have a proper work life balance. If you’re dealing with insomnia, it can be tempting to use that time to work through the night. You might as well be productive if you can’t sleep, right? In reality this sort of lifestyle isn’t healthy, and it’s important to still rest even if you can’t get to sleep. Resting even without sleep still helps your organs and muscles relax. This isn’t to say that resting your eyes is a substitute for sleep, but it has been proven that it gives some crucial energy back for new tasks even if you can’t get in your full eight hours.
In today’s day and age, we rely on painkillers to ease pain, but why? Some could argue that we value convenience more than long-term solutions: I argue that it is because we live in a society that focuses on mitigating problems rather than addressing the root causes. This ties into my stretching tip. I had neglected stretching when I first started to lift heavy and it came at a cost. I had developed uncomfortable lower back pain for months. Painkillers helped with the pain short term but after much pain I researched common causes of lower back pain and after trial and error I figured out that I had a very tight hamstring. The remarkable thing was that after stretching my hamstrings my back pain was gone. Stretch regularly, emphasize it as if it were lifting or doing cardio.
Over the last few decades, red meat consumption has become one of the most cited health and environmental concerns in the world. Harvard Health Publishing estimates that Americans on average consume five servings of red and processed meat a week in the form of beef, pork, lamb, etc. products. Likewise, it is important to understand that as Imperial College London notes – other than advocating intensive legislative reform – the single biggest impact an individual can have against climate change is limiting our meat/dairy consumption. There’s also extensive data showing excessive red meat consumption can lead to higher risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and premature death. Ultimately, it’s not about ending red meat consumption, just reducing it.
All of this being said, it’s clear that no matter how you find yourself taking care of your health, may it be taking time for deliberate rest, stretching your muscles to decrease your pain, or lowering your red meat consumption to benefit both yourself and the environment, there is no one way to lead a healthy lifestyle. Just as this blog shows, the amalgamation of several small and unique but consistent steps can make for the most well-balanced life.
