US vs UK

This morning NPR was reporting some interesting study results that showed that British folks are considerably healthier than us Americans.

Roland? Marian? You’ve won this round.

The report then suggested a few reasons why. Obesity and lack of exercise were mentioned, but what really hit home was stress. The piece talked about busy schedules, high work expectations, and general nonstop mayhem. I fear that I am very much falling into that sort of stressful lifestyle. But, to be honest, I’m not quite sure how to relax. I’m going to meditate on this one awhile and see if I can increase self calmness. I think that could be a major thumbs up to mental health down the road. Props to NPR for planting the seed.

18 thoughts on “US vs UK

  • 5/3/2006 at 8:12 am
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    Stress, I study psychology and had to do an exam all about Stress, now that’s stressful. I only have 7 more days of School left until I go on study leave and do my final exams, then off to university in september. I am feeling a lot of stress right now, and think I have not been included in this data collection, in fact all 17/18 years old were probably not included, as we are all stressed. good times

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  • 5/3/2006 at 8:19 am
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    Stress seems like a cop-out… i think unhealthy living is the culprit. I’d give the report a lot more props if it didn’t give everyone that easy out. Myself included, clearly.

    I’d need to see some hard proof that the UK is less stressfull than the US.

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  • 5/3/2006 at 9:03 am
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    Sport (ultimate in my case) is a good way to relax. Hard physical exercise combined with having to focus on what you’re doing (making it different from going to the gym), followed by socialising(/drinking/partying) with your team-mates is a great way of helping yourself forget about work (and other stressful stuff). After a good ultimate session I may be bruised, aching and exausted, but I am generally in a very good mood and feeling very relaxed/chilled out.

    On the other hand, if you already do something like that, some time alone at home reading/listening to music/playing computer games (not all at the same time) is a nice way to chill out for an hour or two.

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  • 5/3/2006 at 10:06 am
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    Funny thing is…I do all three of those at the same time to relax. How bout that Roland?

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  • 5/3/2006 at 10:51 am
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    Well, you’re a better multi-tasker then me I guess :)

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  • 5/3/2006 at 11:33 am
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    I’m also less stressed.

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  • 5/3/2006 at 3:00 pm
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    I think it’s because of how car-centric America is. The average working American drives 396 hours per year (thanks google!). Driving is high stress and no exercise. That’s a big part of it right there.

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  • 5/3/2006 at 3:41 pm
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    I’m gonna go ahead and… disagree with you there.

    The American workstyle is much different and much higher pressure than the British style. People come in earlier and stay later and push themselves in an effort to “get ahead”.

    The car thing is a factor, sure but sound like you’re trying to make it public enemy #1.

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  • 5/3/2006 at 3:44 pm
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    You could relax by doing less… Mr.Kung Fu, Grad Class, Multiple Guitar Lesson, Acclaim Fixing Guy. I think that you’re going to get the Acclaim to 100k by giving up 5 years of your own life.

    I think China will be a good break just because you won’t get to do all those things except I’m assuming you’ll take the travel guitar.

    I need pictures of you meditating with your guitar by a chinese river or something.

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  • 5/3/2006 at 7:02 pm
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    I was going to make a comment along these lines. It’s a big generalisation, of course, but I think Brits are generally a lot slacker/more laid back when it comes to work. Americans have a strong work ethic which is good to a point, but I think Brits are more chilled out about it (in that we don’t take work so seriously (which again is only good to a point)). “Working to live instead of living to work”, and all that.

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  • 5/3/2006 at 8:45 pm
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    Disagree? On the internet?! NEVER!!!

    I hate cars.

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  • 5/3/2006 at 9:47 pm
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    Don’t be slave to your schedule. That’s as stressful as anything else. How bad do you feel and how worked up do you get when you miss one of your scheduled activities? Come home some day, crack a friggin’ beer and watch some friggin’ TV for once! And while you’re at it, eat something that’s not fiber. Ah, the Zen of the couch potato… ohmmmmmmmm…

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  • 5/4/2006 at 5:44 am
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    “The world should be a fluffy couch….”

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  • 5/4/2006 at 6:47 am
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    Well then….I must be British. I totally have that outlook on work. Do I stay late at work sometimes, yes. Do I take longer breaks sometimes, yes. I’m totally somewhere in the middle there.

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  • 5/4/2006 at 6:50 am
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    Or maybe buy something completely frivolous and selfish. you only live once…unless your playing Halo on your brand new Xbox…then your have multiple lives. Very short bullet ridden lives. Give yourself a junk allownance. Money that you can spend on anything you want and can’t get mad at yourself for. even if its $100 a paycheck. it will help. trust me.

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  • 5/5/2006 at 11:42 pm
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    Though, to be fair, a lot of that health differential is becuase of Kurt.

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  • 5/8/2006 at 6:13 am
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    We are rarely together Sander. Oh wait…maybe thats it. he is going through Kurt-Withdrawl. Man thats gotta be worse than quitting coffee, or smoking. I feel for you man.

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