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Writer's pictureDr. Francis Battisti & Dr. Helen Battisti

The Zone - Volume 54



How does the concept of proportionality fit with self-care? Proportionality is “the fact or

quality of being in proper balance or relation as to size or quantity, degree, severity,

etc.” This question was raised while we were writing this week’s volume of The Zone

and will be addressed throughout this volume.


Continuing our discussion of lessons learned from the research in the Blue Zones, this

week’s lesson is “Wine at 5:00.” Practiced by four of the original five Blue Zones in the

world, and while the health benefits of moderate wine consumption are known, we

believe that the health benefits of this practice go beyond that of the wine. While much

of the research has focused on red wine and its ingredient resveratrol, other wines are

also showing benefits to our longevity and health.


Our interpretation of “Wine at 5” is about learning to compartmentalize or how to

practice proportionalism in one’s life. The global staffing firm of Robert Half found that

remote workers are working longer, spending time in more meetings and having to keep

up with more communication channels than before the pandemic. Additionally, they

found that 70% of the workers surveyed stated that they are working weekends and

45% of the workers were working more hours during the week then they had previously.

Like water, work, if not contained, will go everywhere.


“Wine at 5:00” indicates the conclusion of the workday. For the purpose of this

discussion, the workday is defined as the time proportion of the day dedicated to

“doing.” For the rest of the day, we switch off the “doing” and switch on the “being.”

Being present with self, family, friends, and our environment. This is where

proportionality entered our discussion.


The “Wine at 5” lesson teaches us what the power that the balancing of “doing” and

“being” has on our overall quality of health and longevity. Furthermore, these

centenarians practiced these lessons throughout their life and not only when it was

convenient.

 

Key Takeaways

  • Proportionality is important in all aspects of our life.

  • “Wine at 5:00” is more than just the wine.

  • Too many hours of “doing” just might drown you.

  • “Wine at 5:00” is about moderation.


Best Practices

  • Respect and secure the time proportioned for “being.”

  • Seasonally reassess your “being” time.

  • Connect with others that are near and dear.


Things to Limit

  • Sleeping at the switch.

  • Whine and Jeez.

  • Not keeping your plate proportional.

 

Quote of the Week

Self-Care is, fundamentally, about bringing balance back to life that has grown

imbalanced from too many commitments or responsibilities”


~ Robyn L. Gobin

 

Continual reflection on the lessons learned from the Blue Zones, allows us to maintain a

balance throughout our lifecycle. It is natural to find ourselves overwhelmed and out of

sorts and it is the action of working through it that we achieve mastery of a better life

balance.


Be well,


The paraDocs


Check our Welcome Greeting on YouTube

The paraDocs are Dr. Francis L. Battisti, PhD, Psychotherapist, Distinguished Psychology Professor and former Executive V.P and Chief Academic Officer and Dr. Helen E. Battisti PhD, RDN, CDN, Chief Nutrition Officer, at SpNOD, Health Promotion Specialist, Research and Clinical Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and former Assistant Professor.

We have developed "The ZONE", because that is exactly where you want to be during this pandemic. A place of focused attention to doing exactly what needs to be done to get you to where you need to be. The purpose of The Zone is to provide a nationally distributed weekly mental-health and nutrition tip-sheet during times of change.


If you would like to get copies of The ZONE that you may have missed or if you know someone that would like to start receiving The ZONE, please signup today... It's free and you can unsubscribe anytime.


Permission is given to share with others.


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