bythemethod.com blog

In a recent study of Police in the U.S.A. it was discovered that the stress of the job was having a detremental effect on the health of the officers. The study factored out social and lifestyle differences between the Police and the general populace and found that lifestyle did not account for the difference in life expectancy. It was later discovered that it was the influence of stress that was causing the trouble.

You can read more about it here:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090630132017.htm

In a recent study scientists have discovered that those older people who exercise regularly tend to have ‘healthier’ brains than those that don’t.

You can read about this story here:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090629132254.htm

One of the problems with professional sports people is that they seldom understand what it feels like not to be fit. When you are not fit any amount of exercise can be painful and exhausting. I well remember the first time I went running after a long absence from the sport. I could only run about 200 yards and then I have to give in and walk back home. I felt sick, dizzy, embarrassed, unhealthy, desperate, etc. I’m glad I kept going – although even now it’s pretty hard work.

Of course sports people feel this kind of thing as well but I think there is a difference. I’ve had both experiences in my life and I know that somehow the sickness and exhaustion that comes when you are pushing yourself as a fit person is different to that of when you are unfit.

I want to encourage you if you are just starting out to get fit.

First – some of us do understand what you are going through and we know that it is not easy. I may not know you personally but believe me that I have great admiration for anyone who makes the effort to get fit – especially if you are very unfit.

Second – understand that the pain you experience is a part of the process of getting fit. Don’t give in when it hurts (if you are worried about the pain then seek medical help – it’s wise to get checked out). The pain you feel from first starting to exercise will get less. Somehow the pain can almost become a pleasure when you get past that first part.

Third – don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s great that you are now getting some exercise.  When you first start out you should be very proud that you are making those first steps – don’t be put off by any lack of progress instead be happy you are exercising.

I’m proud of you – keep it up.

I was sad to hear the news about Michael Jackson today. I’ve grown up having him around and it’s going to be strange now that he is gone.

I’ve heard lots of people describing how he had a tortured life but I tend to think a little differently. I think he had quite a lot of happiness and success in his life.

We all have things that we wish were different. Things that have gone wrong or where others have treated us badly. Some of us have to face much tougher times than others but that should never be an excuse for giving up or letting your life collapse into something tortured and sad.

I’ve sign Michael smile and laugh on more than one occasion – in fact I guess most of the time he has come across that way. His friends always talk very highly of him – people who are miserable and sad tend not to have too many friends.

Of course his death was full of drama just like the rest of his life.

He was a very gifted musician who found satisfaction when he was on the stage. He got to realise his own dream.

Now the problems are passed and I hope he has found peace.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

JAMA (Journal of American Medecal Association) have published a report indicating that the vast amount of media available to young people is having a bad effect on their health. In particular it points out various areas of concern, namely:

• Violence – Research on media violence and its relationship to real-life aggression is substantial and convincing. Young persons learn their attitudes about violence at a very young age and, once learned, those attitudes are difficult to modify. Conservative estimates are that media violence may be associated with 10 percent of real-life violence.
• Sex – Several longitudinal studies have linked exposure to sex in the media to earlier onset of sexual intercourse. The media represent an important access point for birth control information for youth; however, the major networks continue to balk at airing contraception advertisements at the same time they are airing unprecedented amounts of sexual situations and innuendoes in their primetime programs.

You can read more about it here:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090602111814.htm

• Drugs – Witnessing smoking scenes in movies may be the leading factor associated with smoking initiation among youth. In addition, young persons can be heavily influenced by alcohol and cigarette advertising. More than $20 billion a year is spent in the United States on advertising cigarettes ($13 billion), alcohol ($5 billion), and prescription drugs ($4 billion).
• Obesity – Media use is implicated in the current epidemic of obesity worldwide, but it is unclear how. Children and adolescents view an estimated 7,500 food advertisements per year, most of which are for junk food or fast food. Contributing factors to obesity may include that watching television changes eating habits and media use displaces more active physical pursuits.
• Eating Disorders – The media are a major contributor to the formation of an adolescent’s body self-image. In Fiji, a naturalistic study of teenage girls found that the prevalence of eating disorders increased dramatically after the introduction of American TV programs.

CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personell Development) have issued guidlines towards reducing stress in the workplace.

You can find the leaflets here:

http://www.cipd.co.uk/subjects/health/stress/_lnstrswrk.htm

The guidance has been produced in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive and Investors in People.

A recent study has shown that having close friends helps people to feel better about themselves and the world.

You can read the research here:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090602171941.htm

It seems that your gran might have been right after all because it seems that happiness is not related to success in work or with having lots of money. In fact achieving goals does bring happiness but only when those goals are related to: growing as a person; having loving relationships; contributing to your community. Wealth, fame and good looks just won’t do it.

A new study by three University of Rochester researchers demonstrates that progress on these fronts can actually make a person less happy.

You can read more on this at:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090514111402.htm

On a training day this week I was challenged over what personal effectiveness actually means. What does it mean to be personally more effective? I think this was an important question that forced me to think things through again about what I think personal effectiveness is all about.

You see the person asking the question had spent a lot of time working with her team to get them to be more effective in the workplace. They had examined proceedures and how they interact with customers etc, they had even spent time working out what paperwork was not necessary. All of these things are very valid ways of making an organisation more effective.

However I want to say that personal effectiveness goes much deeper than simple proceedures. I could teach you how to use your time more effectively but unless you see the point in manageing that time you won’t adopt the system. I could spend my time spelling out a system for goal setting but unless you understand that goals are important you won’t bother setting any.

Often we get so would up about the system that we forget the purspose of the system.

I happen to think that systems are very important (read this blog to find out more) but if all we do is slavishly follow the system then we lost sight of why we follow the system which will render the system useless.

I’m often asked why it is that people start self improvement full of entuhsiasm but after a short while they just give in and go back to the same old ways. The answer lies deeper than the system. The system is just a means to an end but unless you are fully committed to the end the system is pointless.

Which leads me back to my question about personal effectiveness. I believe personal effectiveness begins with knowing yourself. You have to know what motivates you and what doesn’t. You need to understand your values, your hopes, your dreams. Without knowing your self you will never find a system that will make you more effective.

A study undertaken in Finland has demonstrated that transition times in schools can be very difficult for children even leading to ’school burnout’. Girls are more susceptiable than boys.

There could be all kinds of reasons for why this is and it may not be a new thing but just proof of something that has always happened but it does have implications for education. A good self image seems to be the best antidote to the problem.

You can read more here:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090514111359.htm