Business Times of Edmond, Oklahoma February 2020 - Page 4

From the Editor
Healthy Living in Edmond
T
o the Readers:
We all know someone who is
having difficulty in life. Maybe they
had a trauma-filled childhood, or maybe
they had some other situation or event
as an adult that has caused them post
traumatic stress.
Sometimes its all about choices and we
have the ability to control the outcome, but
other times things get out of control or the
situation is brought on by circumstances
and the outcome is out of our control.
When we are in these situations, we need
to ask for professional help.
Mental health is more important today
than ever. It takes the spotlight in several
of our articles for the February “Healthy
Living” issue of The Business Times.
The things we can control include our
fast pace of living, our use of technology,
and the unhealthy choices we sometimes
make. These can mix — creating conditions
prime for a more severe mental problem.
Before its too late, we need to reassess our
choices.
My favorite advice in this month’s
magazine comes from Dr. Peter Stanbro’s
list for balancing one’s life. He simply says,
“Unplug, unplug, unplug.”
Stanbro said, “We have generations of
people who live life vicariously online and
it’s at a near-pandemic level for kids,” he
said. “It’s unhealthy and it’s changing the
way that we — as a country, as a nation,
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February 2020 | The Business Times
and as a planet — think and operate. There
needs to be less electronics and more
outdoor activities — fresh air, sunshine,
play, exercise, ride a bike, do a puzzle —
anything else besides being in front of a
screen.”
In order to be healthy we must relate
in person with other people, and one of
the best locations to do so is an outdoor
environment.
At The Business Times and The Edmond
Sun we are constantly working with, and
receiving, information concerning public
health. As the new year progressed, we
began receiving topical information — some
of which came from the National Alliance
on Mental Illness.
James Bost, executive director of NAMI
Oklahoma, used the same terminology as
Stanbro to say a good resolution for the
new year is to unplug from social media.
Bost said, “Social media is a great
way to stay connected but can also
create a disconnection. For some, social
media feeds only create more anxiety
or depression. Comparing your life to
someone else is simply unrealistic. Taking a
break for a few hours a day might give you
the time to connect with others and even
focus on your own self-care.”
And it’s not just the personal
comparisons which can take place, but also
the misinformation causing confusion and
strife, both personally and professionally.
Who really wants to be the person
conversing at the water cooler spreading
misinformation?
As you read this month’s issue of
The Business Times we hope you will find
something of use to keep you, your family,
your coworkers, and your friends healthy.
If you do find you are struggling with
something, don’t be afraid to ask for
help.
Sincerely,
MARK CODNER is the editor of
The Business Times of Edmond