Psychology Tutor: Mentor (PSI) Psycho-Social Incarnation

This tutor is in a health groove at the moment as she has the flu (condolences to those who have lost loved one’s due to the swine flu). Winter has arrived in Tropical North QLD and this is the season where I get ill very easily (perhaps I was a frog in a past life…?). Economically speaking, getting sick seriously disrupts my sustainability.

Economics

Dean Dad over at Inside HigherEd reminds us that, “a healthy and educated population is more productive than a sick and ignorant one”.

He points out that in the USA (and I must point out that this occurs in Australia too) that the high costs of health care are funded by taking away from investment in education. Education has been noted to enhance a nations GDP and to better provide economic equality.

Dean Dad emphasises the benefits of investment in education and health simultaneously for the results they bring (i.e., quality), rather than for the economic benefits (the ‘pay off’).

Ergonomics

Ergonomics can be really helpful in easing the stress of poor health, for me it can also be a western form of feng shui and yoga philosophy, depending on your choices…

In the West we have lost much of the flexibility in our hips (hip rotator and hamstring muscles) due to sitting in chairs. My computer chair is now a low platform platform that allows me to sit cross legged, in a variety of lotus poses or to squat.

My lower abs get a workout as well~ and I have to say that my lower spine and upper neck pains (I have OA) have decreased considerably since I have used this method. It’s all in the re-learning to not “tuck tail” or to round my back.

8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back by Esther Gokhale & Susan Adams provides a wealth of insights to back care and the art of sitting (as well as other body activities).

Another book I am keen to be reading is The Chair: Rethinking Culture, Body and Design by Galen Cranz who incorporates a wholistic approach to environmental design that is also inclusive of ergonomics, architecture, industrial design and social sciences.

Be aware of seat to desk height to not only support your back while typing up those assignments, but to maintain healthy wrists. Carpal tunnel syndrom may occur when the median nerve is continually compressed by the wrist bones due to pressure caused by the angle of the wrist whilst in use.

It is important that the wrist be kept straight when you using your mouse and keyboard. I am considering resting my wrists with a product from Breadou~ just for the fun funky look! It is also important to look after your eyesight.

David over at Random Neuron Misfires provides some technical (and not so technical) information about monitor refresh rates and fatigue. Particularly he reports on the benefits of not using the CRT screen and instead opting for an LCD monitor.

There are also suggestions about the type of lighting to use whilst on your computer.

Enhance I sourced an oldie but a goodie over at Go College titled How to Beat the Freshmen 15 While I did put on weight when I started uni myself it was becasue of a radical lifestyle change. Prior to uni I was an unemployed vegan who had the time to attend yoga, prepare non-processed food and to strike a pose after each meal.

Attending university without a car (a half hour walk to and from the bus stop; ran out of energy for the 30km round trip by push-bike each day) and holding down a part-time job as well as attending class and finding study time did not leave a lot of time for at-home food prep.

Air-conditioners in classes were set to temperatures suited to people in business suits and stockings so I ate to just be able to refuel the energy used to keep me warm and concentrating (in the tropics many of us still go barefoot or at least wear sandals or thongs along with light cotton clothing).

And besides~ there was the stress! Cortisol being released and latching onto any sugar I happened to partake of. Now my life is still very busy with long hours, but with a much more Buddhist approach to stress (I only have one thing to do at any one time), no air-conditioning and a home-based business.

Any travel (to casual jobs etc) is by push-bike with a trailer attached for the fresh fruit and vegies from the local markets, whilst enjoying the plentiful balmy sunshine in the paradise I am so very blessed to be living in.

Some suggestions for de-stressing, please visit: Urban Monk and The Change Blog

And for nutrition, try the selection of blogs over at Health Castle

In conclusion, as a student it is worth your time and energy to invest in your health. There are short-term and long-term benefits, and along the way you will be positively influencing many other lives. Help yourself, help your country~ stay healthy.

Share your ideas and experiences about being a healthy student…

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