✨ Maintaining Health in a 9-5 World: The Reality of Preventative Care ✨ Lately, I’ve been reflecting on just how much time, energy, and intention it takes to take care of my health and well-being. My wellness practices—journaling, prayer, exercise, meditation, dry brushing and lymphatic activation, using a neti pot, sauna sessions, hiking in nature, taking supplements, and simply resting when I need to—are not just “extras” for me. They’re the essentials for my health and preventative care. And this is just part of it. There’s also massage, acupuncture, breath work, naps, therapy appointments. On top of all that, there are the daily necessities like cooking, meal prep, personal hygiene, cleaning, and getting a solid 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Not to mention finding time for loved ones, hobbies, and creative pursuits. The traditional 9-5 in-person work model simply doesn’t fit with what I need to stay well. The 9-5 assumes we can compartmentalize life into neat little boxes—that we can be highly productive for 8 hours straight, and then somehow find time for health, self-care, and everything else during the remaining slivers of the day. But health isn’t an afterthought. Preventative health means honoring my body’s needs daily—sometimes that means a hike in the middle of the day, sometimes it’s a long nap, and sometimes it’s time spent in acupuncture or a therapy session. Now that I’ve gotten a taste of what it feels like to have my nervous system regulated, to not be in a toxic work environment, I never want to go back. We’re in a post-industrial era, and it’s about time the workplace reflects the high-tech, global world we actually live in. Wellness isn’t a luxury—it’s the foundation for real productivity, creativity, and a fulfilling life. My health practices allow me to thrive, and in return, I’m better equipped to contribute meaningfully. But thriving requires flexibility, presence, and balance—not just squeezing life into a few exhausted hours after the workday ends. We need a new model of work—one that honors our humanity, that makes space for us to truly be well, and that acknowledges that life doesn’t fit neatly into 9 to 5.

Posted by Dr. Emily Kulpa at 2024-10-14 21:18:37 UTC