As I consider the cultures we create, I am thinking about how healthy those cultures are, and the elements that create a healthy culture. Health has been a focus of mine recently as I learn to use countless new tech tools that monitor my activity and diet. In many ways, these tech tools are teachers to me--I'm learning a lot about healthy foods and best activities for healthy living. I'm enjoying this new learning even though I often feel clumsy as I navigate new activities and routines.
What are the elements of a healthy culture? How do you promote those elements in your life and the lives of those you live, work, and socialize with?
There are some obvious elements to a healthy culture which include public safety, adequate rest, positive social connections, good health care and nutritious food. Yet, when we consider each of those topics with detail, we'll likely find that there is good work to do.
Adequate rest
Good sleep is essential to good health, yet in too many aspects of our culture good sleep is not a priority. Too-late meetings, loud neighborhoods, uncomfortable homes, and inhumane expectations can counter a good night's rest which makes people irritable and unhealthy. We should do what we can to help ourselves and others get the rest they need to be as healthy and happy as posible.
Nutritious foods
Too many food companies spend lots of marketing dollars promoting gross, unhealthy foods and drinks. We need to work against that bogus influence as much as possible by finding ways to promote nutritious foods everywhere in our homes and communities.
Positive social connections
What can we do in our own lives, the lives of the work places and organizations we belong to, and in the community to foster positive social connections? Do we have places for those social connections to occur? Do we make time for those connections? This is another vital aspect of healthy living.
Safety
What do we do to ensure our own safety and the safety of others?
We can all contribute to a healthy culture in many ways, and when the culture is healthy, people are healthier and happier. This matters.