STOP AND LOOK AROUND
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"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it." - Ferris Bueller.
In the 1986 motion picture Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Ferris (played by Matthew Broderick) decided to take his senior ditch day from high school a little early. He convinced his friend Cameron and girlfriend Sloane to join him in a day of pure enjoyment. Throughout the movie, he always stayed one step ahead of his parents, sister, and the school principal. Although Cameron was anxious about being caught, Ferris relished the day with his friends. Eventually, Cameron released his frustrations about life long enough to stop and look around. Blue Zones author Dan Buettner calls it downshifting (#3 of the Power 9 lessons).
Buettner defines downshifting as taking time to relieve stress. The author tells us that slowing down will reduce the stress response and help us live longer(2012, p. 284). How so? During a perceived threat, the body enters the fight or flight mode and releases hormones that trigger the inflammatory response. Inflammation helps us heal from acute physical injury and illness (i.e., the flu). However, chronic inflammation can result from chronic stress, something very prevalent in Western society. We are more like Cameron than Ferris.
Buettner notes a theory developed by Italian endocrinologist Dr. Claudio Franceschi. Franceschi found a connection between chronic inflammation and age-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's. He (Franceschi) stated further that engaging at a slower pace (downshifting) will, in theory, check the inflammation and associated diseases (2012, p. 285). Let's look at some of the routines that the longest-lived engage "to shed stress" (2021, p. 23).
· Okinawans: The Okinawan people begin their day in quiet reflection to remember their ancestors. Before dinner, several will gather to socialize (in some cases, hours before the evening meal).
· Ikarians: The Ikarians set aside time to take a nap. The Spanish and Italian people also take a siesta. Not long, but just enough to power through the rest of the day.
· Sardinians: The Sardinians gather daily in the streets at 5 p.m. for a "happy hour." This hour is about meeting with friends to laugh at themselves and each other (2012, p. 63).
· Adventists: The Adventists celebrate the Sabbath from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. They suspend the regular weekly activities (work, schoolwork, and organized sports) and shift the focus to togetherness. Be it a community meal or hiking with their family (2012, p. 284).
As we move through our discussion of Power 9, you will begin to see how the lessons learned from one will benefit or enhance the "power" of the others. Downshifting is a great example. Here are some slow downs you can try.
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· Be intentional. Begin by enjoying what you eat. I am guilty of bypassing the taste buds by eating too fast. I have yet to shake this military and firehouse conditioning. What helps me to slow down is good conversation, laughter, and tasting the food I eat. In their absence, I resolve to put the fork or spoon down between bites. We will learn about the 80/20 rule of eating later and how slowing down assists in this endeavor.
· Enjoy the little things in life. Buettner noticed how many of the longest-lived just stopped to survey their land. During this pause, they gained a better appreciation and gratitude for all they have in the present. The adage goes, " Every once in a while, take time to stop and smell the roses." During my firefighting days, one shared activity was to raise the bay doors, watch the storms, and listen to the pouring rain - mesmerizing. We never spoke during those few stolen moments before we received a call for assistance because of said storms.
· Get out in nature. If or when things become chaotic, take a 30-minute walk to soothe your nerves. This activity helps you to downshift and move naturally.
· Take a technology break. Set aside your phone and computer to separate from social media. I used to keep my phone glued to my hip during the evening hours. I now place the phone on the kitchen counter at least 15 feet from where I sit. It is incredible how stress levels decrease during this daily moratorium.
Even though we will never be able to take the senior ditch days like Ferris Bueller (he had at least nine in his senior year), we can establish a routine that builds in "downshift" moments. Start small, stop, and look around. Until next time -
Namaste,
Tim
References
Buettner, D. (2012). The Blue Zones (2nd ed.). 9 Lessons For Living Longer from the People who've lived the longest. Washington, DC: National Geographic.
Buettner, D. (2021). The Blue Zones Challenge. A 4-Week Plan for a Longer, Better Life. Washington, DC: National Geographic.