busy bees

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by all the health news and advice out there?

I do, but it is my job to read it, then synthesis it to offer a streamlined synopsis to clients.  We live in an epic time where there is more to do, try, see and more to read than ever before. Technology offers us plenty of advantages but also it entices many of us to multi-task  ALL. DAY. LONG.

Which brings me to the topic of smart phones. I recently took the plunge and invested in a smartphone. I loved it right off the bat! But I found in the beginning every time I had a spare moment I would reach for it. See, I knew this would happen, which was part of my resistance to getting one. Being without one for the last couple of years has offered me a front row seat to how everyone is looking down, down at their little information bot.

One day I was in a restaurant with a friend, we showed up during a rush and found a back corner spot to post up in. We were chatting up a storm. When there was a tiny lull in our engagement I listened to our surroundings and thought, wow it is really quiet. I figured everyone had cleared out.  Low and behold when I turned around to look, the place was full of occupied 2 and 4 top tables. Everyone was eating and looking at their phones. I thought  this was totally crazy town. This is just one of many experiences I have had that exposed me to the addictive nature of these devices.

Convenient information and social media stimulates the reward system in our brain, that very spark will keep us coming back for more and more. I think it is awesome that there is so much incredible information at our fingertips but the question I have to ask is, does it truly benefit us? Or does it offer a sensory overload and create more stress? Does it make us ‘busy’ all the time?  Are you in sensory overload mode?

The scariest part of smartphone use is that their ultimate convenience wards off our curiosity to know about the affects of radiation on the brain & body. Have you ever thought about all those electromagnetic waves around us ALL the time? It’s pretty wild. These waves absolutely have an effect on the body and we need to be aware of this. The blood-brain barrier is compromised by over exposure of these convenient waves, allowing toxins to permeate this crucial barrier. Now there is plenty of conflicting information out there about the safely of cellphones and wifi. Historically though, there have been plenty of popularly used items that ended up having serious health affects, like cigarettes and cars. My intuition combined with some solid research has lead me to limit my exposure and buck up my daily health protocols…

There are ways to limit exposure-

Do not have the phone in your bedroom while you sleep or turn it off over night

Use speaker phone

Do not keep your phone on your body all the time

When you go outside, leave your phone behind.

Create a ‘no phone’ rule during meals

Create work boundaries

….and if you are a parent try your hardest not to let your children compete with a smartphone for your attention.

TAKE BREAKS, the world will still turn

If you cannot fathom adopting any of the above recommendations then you need to arm your body with the tools to keep it strong and heal itself.  This means busting stress and eating well. Note that that chronic multi-tasking and information overload causes stress. Chronic stress leads to inflammation which is the root of many diseases.

If you have some extra time, do not be scared of peace & quiet.

So, can we have our cake and eat it too?  As long as it is not at the expense of others OR our health.

2012 is prime time to take charge of your health and healing.  There are more toxins, distractions and stress than ever before. Are you too busy to take time out for self care and your health?  Need a hand, be in touch, it is my specialty.