Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Your Job May Help You Live Longer

I read in amazement today in the papers today that the work we do may actually prolong our lives. We have been so concerned about diet and exercise to keep a healthy life that we forgot the one big important thing in our lives... our job.

Studies have shown that stress is one of the major contributing factor of cancer. And where do we get the most amount of stress from? Our jobs.. we spent a good part of our lives at work and therefore exposed to stress very often unless of course you enjoy the work that you do.

I also reckon that Singaporeans are exposed to more stress as we stay in high rise buildings. Research have shown that all of us have a personal space and we are in stress when this personal spaces are invaded. Personal spaces are imaginary boundaries that our sub-conscious mind have drawn out, and we are in stress when that space is invaded. Imagine an old lift, have you ever noticed which button in the lift is usually the most worn out? Its the close button. Nowadays our lifts have buttons that are embossed and this effect is rarely seen. But at those old HDB or commercial building's lifts the close button is usually most worn out.

Why? Well, the lift ain't exactly the biggest space and if a second person gets into the lift with you, your personal space gets smaller when more and more people gets into the lift the space gets even smaller, eventually it gets invaded. To prevent that from happening, most will want to shut the lift doors first before anybody else gets into the lift.

Studies have also shown that for drivers this personal space extends outwards when you are in the car. That is why when someone cuts you too close or tailgates you, you cannot take it, your personal space have been invaded. So if the next time the driver in the car you are in gets really flustered, just understand its an invasion of a personal space.

If being in a car extends your personal space then I can also assume that being at home you also have a personal space extending beyond the walls of your flat, right? That is why when your neighbours upstairs accidentally drop marbles you go insane. We are at stress when we are at home too and that is why the newspaper had once reported that 2 out of 5 Singaporeans will contract cancer in a couple of years time.

So how do we extend our personal space at home then? Many opt to keep their doors close when they are at home just so they know they are kept private in their own personal space. But if you knew your neighbours then your personal space can be reduced as they are friends not strangers. Being with friends personal spaces can diminish altogether. We can sit at a table with friends almost having shoulders touching each other but when we are in a cinema with a stranger next to us we feel uncomfortable. So if your neighbours are your friends will that not create less stress? I usually leave my door open at home. I say hi to my neighbours when they come home. We celebrate a birthday at home, we cut up some cake and pass it to them. They do likewise. We go overseas we buy something small for each other. They make sure my letters and newspapers are kept when I am away. I feel safe having neighbours like that. They are friends.

So things can be done at home, but what to do in the office? Do something you love.. cliche but true. Manage the stress or your job may eventually kill you..

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