The MOST Important Way To Improve Your Health
What is the best change you can make?
What do you think is the single most important change you could make to improve your health?
๐ฌQuit the cigarettes?
๐ธTurn down the cocktail?
๐Put on your running shoes?
๐ก๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ.
The correct answer is: Improve the quality of your relationships.
Relationships MATTER
In fact, people who have great relationships live on average 8 years longer, according to a PLoS Medicine study on โSocial Relationships and Mortality Risk.โ
They are so important to our human wellbeing that during COVID, Icelandโs government asked quarantined citizens who were feeling lonely to go outside and hug some trees.๐ณ
Sounds crazy, right?
But hugging a pet, a person, and yes – even a tree – signals the pituitary gland (a bean-shaped gland at the base of your brain) to release the โlove hormoneโ oxytocin. ๐ค
The release of oxytocin provides a multitude of benefits. Itโs very calming, helps reduce blood pressure and cortisol levels, and helps us regulate our emotions and bond with others.
At work, we want to release this chemical to create strong bonds and trust with our co-workers โฆ but without bear-hugging them to get it!
Here are the first two of what I call the โTen Commandments of Great Work Relationships,โ from my book, โThe Brain-Friendly Workplace.โ
๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ญ: ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐:
The moment you shake hands with someone in real life, oxytocin will be released in both your brains. If you can meet someone in person – it really does help you bond. You donโt have to schedule in person-meetings, but if you choose not to, just be mindful that it DOES have an impact whether you meet in person or not.
๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ: ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด:
When we first meet someone, we feel a warm surge of oxytocin. This softens us up a bit and makes us more flexible and open. But use that moment wisely. Habits are already being established by the second meeting. Make sure they are habits you want to establish.