Bucking the trend of always adhering to healthy living practices, a few weeks ago I was in the Pacific Northwest for a guys’ getaway following the strict diet of bagels, bacon, and beer. I was hesitant to fully embrace the college-style cuisine, fearing to be a lethargic mess from the fiber-less foods. But knowing this was only to be a temporary experience, I joined in the festivities and consumed plenty of each.
To my surprise, instead of being the predicted zombie, I felt pretty good each day.
Any attempt to live like this during the work week would have me sitting next in line to visit Mr. Reaper. Bread would have lulled me to sleep and cheap beer would have flared my erosive heartburn. Bacon and I have always been good friends, however.
The trip to Washington state wasn’t the first time noticing the increased resilience to unhealthy behaviors. On previous vacations, I’ve felt similarly and pondered why my body seems more invincible, functioning on less sleep and still being productive with all of the garbage sloshing around in my belly.
Further contemplating this contrast between work and vacation, I landed on a difference being the physical setting and mindset.
The common denominator
Being away from work seems to be the common denominator for the increased tolerance to a less than optimal lifestyle. And it’s not just my body’s increased acceptance of foods that occurs when I’m away from the office. My body odor smells different, I have fewer mild headaches, and I have less shooting stars in my vision (if I look at a computer screen too long, specifically the screen at my work desk, I have flashes of light that shoot through my vision; maybe I should get that checked out…)
I’m not the only one that can withstand more unhealthy excursions during vacation, though. Tying together years of observation among my family members, I noticed that whenever we go to our vacation home in Northern Michigan, ironically, as our consumption of pastries increased, our normal bodily complaints decreased. Even coworkers with whom I’ve spoke, physical symptoms seem to be more pronounced during work and, after probing, appear to decline with relaxation away from the office.
So why is it that vacation improves our mood and resilience, or maybe the better question is what is work doing to ruin our health?
The unconscious anxiety of work
With most of the people I’ve conversed, few actually state they are overtly stressed. Indeed, I don’t necessarily feel stressed at work but I do feel different, like the weight of a thick blanket is on me—not exactly bothersome but I know it’s there.
Rather than causing an acute stress-response, I believe work puts us in a constant state of unconscious stress. Whether knowing your performance is being continually evaluated, basking in the ambient fluorescent lighting, sitting for hours at your desk in front of a computer screen, or even absorbing all the invisible radio waves from cell phones and WiFi, our workplace may be unconsciously triggering multiple physiological pathways signalling to our body danger is near.
From an evolutionary perspective, humans would avoid stressful threats either by addressing them head on or fleeing; we had the opportunity change our environment and the tense event was short lived. Today however, we are forced to stew in our work place stressors, unable to leave fearing repercussions including unemployment, adding to our subtle levels of anxiety.
But as we remain glued to our desks, there is no actual life-or-death threat in the present moments at work. Instead the threats originate in the mind and grow as we ruminate on them. And since they are born in the mind, whether unconscious or not, we should be able to control them to a certain degree with our thoughts.
In her new book Cure: A Journey Into the Science of Mind Over Body, Jo Merchant, PhD goes on at length discussing how powerful the mind is on the function of the body, affecting not only how we feel, or the synchronization of our gut, but also how responsive our immune system can be. Whether it is the belief that we receiving a medical treatment, as with a placebo, or are chronically immersed in stressful life situations, the mind can either lessen and improve symptoms or cause negative physiological changes fueling disease and depression. Just the thought of happiness or anxiety can begin the beneficial or harmful cascade of signals throughout our body.
While she notes that positive thoughts alone will not cure you of disease, at a minimum, it can boost your outlook on a burdensome situation. The stories provided by Merchant lay out a plausible foundation as to how thoughts and the mind can impact the way we feel and how our body responds in both sickness and health.
Preventing the second arrow
Although stress is unavoidable, we can train our thoughts and reactions to minimize its effects on our body. An ancient Buddhist parable captures this sentiment in what’s known as the Two Arrows of Suffering. When hit with one arrow of discomfort or pain, why allow your mental reaction to cause increased suffering—the second arrow.
If we become trained to the obvious symptoms that result from stress, even unconscious stress, and catch ourselves before the spiraling of negative mental thoughts occur, we may be able to reduce its long term sinister effects.
Awareness and breathing are two great ways to notice how you feel and blunt the effects of acute stress. By becoming aware of the sensations that arise whenever our anxiety begins to increase, what is fueling the thought can be actively cut off. One way to build stronger awareness is through meditation which trains the mind to focus its attention and become aware of the body, the mind, and other routine sensations.
Slow, methodical breathing is another tool which help can regulate the negative physiological responses of stress. By breathing in slow, rhythmic cycles, the activation of the fight-or-flight system can be controlled, slowing heart rate and anxiety levels.
While these activities can assist in a more acute setting as anger or worrisome feelings arise, one of the most powerful tools to reduce anxiety and unconscious stress is to have a deeper sense of importance and purpose in your life.
Your one true priority
The most important reason why being on vacation and away from work contribute to improved mood and energy is that lesser responsibilities fade and true priorities come into focus. Whether it is enjoying the company of great people or experiencing new adventures around the globe, vacation allows you to tap into what you love in life, letting all other tasks fall aside. With this increased focus and alignment to your true priority, like polishing a gemstone, your mood and health begin to shine.
My one true priority in life is my health. I love my family & friends and want to give back positively to our world but if my body is not able to support what I care about (or even what needs to be done as a responsible productive citizen), I will have failed to achieve my goals.
At this point, you may ask how a diet of bagels and beer align to my priority of health. I neglected to mention that during my trip to the Northwest, I also laughed plentifully, hiked the lush green Olympic Mountains, swam in the bone-chilling Pacific Ocean, and drank amazing Ethiopian coffee, all of which contributed to my health & wellness and boosted my feelings of happiness and connectedness with the world.
While I hope your health is a top priority too, it is paramount to become aware of what gives you the most meaning in life, and that you prioritize it above all. Doing so will let the other stressful arrows of life bounce right off.
Rather than let a job deteriorate your health or pull you away from what you most value, determine your true priority and embody the vacation mindset every day and live happily knowing your health is under one less threat.
The Healthy Pharmacist 
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