April 10 2019 – Context
Today I’d like to talk a little bit about context. Ya, I know it doesn’t seem like a topic one could really sink their teeth into, but in my view its THE topic that needs to be discussed if we’re to make headway in playing the long game on this health and wellness journey. So let me tell you about a study I read years ago. I don’t remember the specifics really, but the point is very clear in my mind still. The researchers essentially surveyed a few hundred people to determine what types of activities the average person feels are priorities in their lives. The purpose of that survey was entirely to create the list. People prioritize work, family, friends, home repair, sports, leisure time activities, travel, exercise, healthy nutrition, hobbies, books, movies, desserts, sex, drinking with buddies, etc. The list was extensive and long. The second part of the study was to present that list to several thousand more people and ask them to rank them in order of importance in the lives. So, what’s the most important thing to you on that list all the way down to the least important. The findings were fascinating. Men typically don’t prioritize anything to do with their personal well being until after item 6. Women rank themselves lower than item 9. So for men there are 6 things in our lives that will always get in the way of good nutrition, exercise, sleep, meditation, stress management practices, etc. 6 things that will consistently disrupt and sabotage our efforts to stay in shape and live a long and healthy life. For women, there are 9 things. The 6 or 9 things are different for everyone, but we’ve all got them. Very few of us will prioritize ourselves over a multitude of other things.
Work is important. No one will argue that. A clean house and tidy yard are important. Again, no argument here. All of the 6 or 9 things we tend to prioritize ahead of our health are important. But think about the reality that 761 people face every day in Canada – a life altering diagnosis from a physician due to chronic and preventable illnesses. It’s the diagnosis of an incurable and premature chronic condition that will cause most of us to reflect back on the priorities we’ve set for ourselves throughout our adult lives. Its those 6 or 9 things we found so important before that we can not enjoy now because we’re suffering from chronic illness. When you get that diagnosis, which of those 6 or 9 things would you wish you could have reprioritized to prevent what you’re now facing? That’s context. What seems important today no longer does when you apply some context to it. Context is what drives priorities. What, when you get that deadly diagnosis, would you be willing to give up for just a little longer with your family? Or a little longer to travel and see the world? Or a little longer for whatever gets you going?
The World Health Organization has stated that 84% of deaths in the western world today are premature and preventable. In Canada in 2018 there were 278,000 deaths. Simple math tells us that, therefore, 233,520 people in Canada could have lived longer and suffered less. And what are the things that prevent these deaths?? Better nutrition, stress management, exercise, sleep. Place this context into the conversation with yourself when prioritizing your time. What is so important to you today will be quickly taken from you tomorrow if not better prioritized with those health practices.
So, what are you willing to prioritize ahead of your health?? And which of those can you shove down the list just a little bit to get some of those health practices a little higher?
Work is important. No one will argue that. A clean house and tidy yard are important. Again, no argument here. All of the 6 or 9 things we tend to prioritize ahead of our health are important. But think about the reality that 761 people face every day in Canada – a life altering diagnosis from a physician due to chronic and preventable illnesses. It’s the diagnosis of an incurable and premature chronic condition that will cause most of us to reflect back on the priorities we’ve set for ourselves throughout our adult lives. Its those 6 or 9 things we found so important before that we can not enjoy now because we’re suffering from chronic illness. When you get that diagnosis, which of those 6 or 9 things would you wish you could have reprioritized to prevent what you’re now facing? That’s context. What seems important today no longer does when you apply some context to it. Context is what drives priorities. What, when you get that deadly diagnosis, would you be willing to give up for just a little longer with your family? Or a little longer to travel and see the world? Or a little longer for whatever gets you going?
The World Health Organization has stated that 84% of deaths in the western world today are premature and preventable. In Canada in 2018 there were 278,000 deaths. Simple math tells us that, therefore, 233,520 people in Canada could have lived longer and suffered less. And what are the things that prevent these deaths?? Better nutrition, stress management, exercise, sleep. Place this context into the conversation with yourself when prioritizing your time. What is so important to you today will be quickly taken from you tomorrow if not better prioritized with those health practices.
So, what are you willing to prioritize ahead of your health?? And which of those can you shove down the list just a little bit to get some of those health practices a little higher?
Natural High Fitness is located at
the Okotoks Recreation Centre.
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Okotoks, Alberta
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Okotoks, Alberta
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Okotoks, AB
T1S 1B5
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