We’ve all heard the phrase: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” right? Most of us have adopted the principle behind this phrase into our healthcare practices: we take medication when needed; we go to the doctor when we are in pain; we rarely act before something goes wrong. If you think about it, we take better care of our cars than we do ourselves. We get regular oil changes, tire rotations, and inspections for our cars. We don’t wait until there is an indication light saying that something is wrong. Or, when the light is on, we generally act upon it. So if we are so proactive with our cars, why aren’t we proactive with ourselves? Are our cars more important than us?
The reality is that the reactive healthcare system is faltering as it is under-resourced and over-used. Becoming ill is costing you time, money, and energy that could be better spent elsewhere. You can save these resources if you take control of your health, and find proactive preventative ways to handle illness.
Forty to fifty percent of Canadians aged 25-45 feel constantly under stress trying to accomplish more than they can handle. We already know that stress can lead to many physical conditions (i.e. heart disease, diabetes, digestive issues, and sleep disorders). Yet, we often minimize what it can do to our mental health, which can also deteriorate when we are not proactive in handling stress. In fact mental health concerns are the number one reason for disability in Canada. I know that for most of you, this seems improbably. However, I often see it in the people I support, people in crisis stage who were once quite healthy. It doesn’t happen overnight, it comes from a long period of self-neglect.
So, how do we take on stress management? Here are some suggestions for self-maintenance:
1) Don’t offer more rides than you have space for in your “car”. Meaning, take on only the tasks that you have time, energy, and will to handle. If there is a task coming to you that you cannot take on: say no, delegate to someone else, or tell the task giver they will have to wait until you have space for them.
2) Notice your own indicator lights. Are you having difficulty sleeping? Are you snapping at family members more quickly than usual? Take a step back and find out what is causing this. Work through and problem solve how to alleviate the stress from the issue.
3) Be prepared for extreme conditions. Just like snow tires or good windshield wipers, which are not necessary all the time, but are great in times of need. Have your resources available to you at high stress times (i.e. back to school, end of fiscal year, holidays), or don’t take on as much as usual.
4) Don’t treat yourself carelessly during down time. Just like you wouldn’t use your car as an ATV and go off-roading, or do tricks with it on the highway, don’t rely on negative coping mechanisms (i.e. excessive drinking, binge eating, shopping beyond your financial means) when you are in self care mode. It is ok to have fun, and treat yourself, but ensure that these practices are not doing you more harm than good.
We can all agree that our selves are more important than our cars. So, why not show it in our actions. You are worthy of maintaining your self, and being proactive about your wellbeing.
