GLUTTONS
We're getting fatter. Obesity levels are rising – over half of the population of the UK are overweight or obese and 1/3 of the world's population are overweight and figures are set to increase. Apparently we take on an additional 580 calories a day in snacks alone. When I look back at family pictures from the 70's, everyone is super skinny. Not so any more. What's changed?
Choice and convenience. Too much and too easy. We're constantly being bombarded with clever marketing about food and it's becoming increasingly difficult to exert the willpower to stop ourselves grabbing a flapjack at 11 and a mocha and having a chocolate bar for mid afternoon snack and a pack of crisps with a pint (or 2/3) after work. Having so much choice and having it so readily available, means, unless we're mindful of these choices, the quality of the food we ingest is also going to be another major factor for growing our waistline and increasing the risk of illness.
The Quick Fix
Fast food and the quick fix solution are what we are choosing over having considered and quality alternatives. As well as having an impact on our food choices - the immediate fix for taking on new information has also meant we're ingesting far more info in the form of tweets, emails, RSS feeds, SMS, IM's - and with our news and updates coming through as small, easily absorbed chunks - we're gorging ourselves without any real thought about the value or quality of this information and the impact it has on our lives.
Everyone is working faster, cramming more into a day - trying to keep on top of the work / live balance and have enough energy to get it all done. We're going to make ourselves ill if we don't take more time to rest and reflect. We need to stop, look up from what we're caught up in, take some deep breaths and really think about what we're absorbing. Do we really need that flapjack – at a massive 440 Calories, high in both sugar and fat? No. Do we really need Facebook notifications or Twitter updates and emails distracting us from a family meal or something equally important. No.
Calming the mind
I found that my attention span was getting shorter and my thoughts jumping around too much to allow any greater thoughts for creativity to flow - all as a result of having constant bombardment from my iPhone and other connected devices. I've now turned off all notifications on computer and smart devices, removed myself from every newsletter subscription that isn't required, changed email settings to only check when I want to check them and will regularly switch to 'do not disturb' or even leave my phone switched off when at meal times, in a social environment or working on something that requires focus like reading a book, watching a film or generally relaxing. I avoid looking at any trashy newspapers/magazines/fanzines or blogs at all and do not watch TV. I have adblock installed on my computer and will only limit myself to certain times when I can 'surf' the internet.
Apparently, the time it will take to reset my mind in order for it to operate once again at a calmer level, will take some months to reset. A holiday will help but it's a lifestyle change that is required for setting up the mind to function well and I'm sure this is something a vast proportion of the population need to be doing too. Many are completely unaware of the lasting effects that bingeing on fast food and quick-fix information will have on their wellbeing and the more I see, hear and read about - the more I can observe it happening on a grand scale.
Choice and convenience. Too much and too easy. We're constantly being bombarded with clever marketing about food and it's becoming increasingly difficult to exert the willpower to stop ourselves grabbing a flapjack at 11 and a mocha and having a chocolate bar for mid afternoon snack and a pack of crisps with a pint (or 2/3) after work. Having so much choice and having it so readily available, means, unless we're mindful of these choices, the quality of the food we ingest is also going to be another major factor for growing our waistline and increasing the risk of illness.
The Quick Fix
Fast food and the quick fix solution are what we are choosing over having considered and quality alternatives. As well as having an impact on our food choices - the immediate fix for taking on new information has also meant we're ingesting far more info in the form of tweets, emails, RSS feeds, SMS, IM's - and with our news and updates coming through as small, easily absorbed chunks - we're gorging ourselves without any real thought about the value or quality of this information and the impact it has on our lives.
Everyone is working faster, cramming more into a day - trying to keep on top of the work / live balance and have enough energy to get it all done. We're going to make ourselves ill if we don't take more time to rest and reflect. We need to stop, look up from what we're caught up in, take some deep breaths and really think about what we're absorbing. Do we really need that flapjack – at a massive 440 Calories, high in both sugar and fat? No. Do we really need Facebook notifications or Twitter updates and emails distracting us from a family meal or something equally important. No.
Calming the mind
I found that my attention span was getting shorter and my thoughts jumping around too much to allow any greater thoughts for creativity to flow - all as a result of having constant bombardment from my iPhone and other connected devices. I've now turned off all notifications on computer and smart devices, removed myself from every newsletter subscription that isn't required, changed email settings to only check when I want to check them and will regularly switch to 'do not disturb' or even leave my phone switched off when at meal times, in a social environment or working on something that requires focus like reading a book, watching a film or generally relaxing. I avoid looking at any trashy newspapers/magazines/fanzines or blogs at all and do not watch TV. I have adblock installed on my computer and will only limit myself to certain times when I can 'surf' the internet.
Apparently, the time it will take to reset my mind in order for it to operate once again at a calmer level, will take some months to reset. A holiday will help but it's a lifestyle change that is required for setting up the mind to function well and I'm sure this is something a vast proportion of the population need to be doing too. Many are completely unaware of the lasting effects that bingeing on fast food and quick-fix information will have on their wellbeing and the more I see, hear and read about - the more I can observe it happening on a grand scale.
I'm sure there will be a change coming about one day soon - either naturally as people tire of being 'connected' 24/7 or governments and working organisations will realise their workers are sick and unproductive and will implement some new rules and regulations.
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