Hello, this is Zhoushan from the Quality Control Department.
"It's rare for you to take a day off, Shuzan-san."
These are the words my manager, Sakuyama, said to me when I was absent from work one day due to poor health.
That's true. I catch colds every now and then, but I end up bedridden maybe once a year.
Since I was a child, I grew up hearing my father say, "Your illness is your energy." So, it was unusual for me to take sick leave. If you think that your illness is just in your mind, you will naturally forget about your illness.
When physical discomfort continues, your mind tends to become depressed as well.
I usually take care of my health, but since I started working, I have started to think about what "health" means on a daily basis.
So I'd like to share with you the things I usually do to manage my health, both physically and mentally!
Health Management
First, two points about health management.
1. Create a rhythm in your life
It's been about five years since I joined Monosus.
I still have a shift system from when I first joined the company, so I come to work before 10 and leave around 7pm. I'm now on a full flex schedule, but I try not to change my working hours or break times too much. Once I have a set wake-up and bedtime on my work days, I naturally follow a similar rhythm on my days off, so it's less of a burden.
When my rhythm gets disrupted, I adjust my wake-up and bedtimes to gradually get back into shape.
Here is the general rhythm of my life:
- Wake up around 6:30
- Arrive at work around 9:30
- Around 13:00 Lunch
- Leave work around 18:30
- Go to bed by midnight
Once you have decided on the general framework, you can be loose and approximate.
I think the important thing is not to try to act exactly at a set time.
2. Drink water
The source of all things is water...
Have a glass when you wake up in the morning, and always have a glass on your way to and from work, and when you get home.
I also make sure to stay hydrated while I'm at work.
What got me started was when I saw my senior drinking water in one gulp in the kitchen on my way home. I was surprised and asked, "You drink that much?" He replied, "I drink a glass in the morning and when I get home! I feel like it helps circulate the water in my body." So I decided to start drinking water too.
The same water can taste good or not depending on your physical condition that day, so it can also be a barometer of your health.
When I walk around the office with a glass in hand, people sometimes ask me, "What are you drinking?" It's water!! (I mix hot water with water, with the basic ratio being 6 parts hot water and 4 parts water. I've heard that it's best to drink something close to body temperature so as not to cool down your internal organs, so I do that.)
I don't drink a lot of soft drinks.
I wasn't forcing myself to do it, but I started it because I thought it would help improve my physical condition, and it has become a habit.
But I like cola, cider and juice, so I'll drink them once in a while!
Mind Management
Next is mind management.
1. Cherish the things you love
Things I like.
I find it soothing to watch my favorite bassist from the back of the floor at a live house.
Of course I love the songs, but one of the reasons I like them is the humanity I sense from the words the band members speak.
Most of the members are in their 40s, but they travel all over the country performing live all year round, and they play in several bands at the same time, and sometimes they jam with other band members and support them. I'm sure they have to be careful about their health to do all that as a job... When I think about that, I can't lose either. Because if I'm not healthy, I can't come and see them!
I also think that they are able to continue to be active as band members today because of the careers they have built up since they were young. When I think about it, I think that absorbing as much as I can now and expanding my capacity is important for me to live a rich life in the future.
Since I started going to live shows, I've become more conscious of my daily health management so as not to get sick before the next show.
2. Don't think too much at night
I actually love taking walks at night! I also love staying up late,
I usually try to be in bed by midnight.
There was a time when I had a habit of thinking about things at night, and it bothered me a lot.
When I started thinking alone at night, I would have time until morning, but I wouldn't find an answer and would have to think again, falling into an infinite loop. When I talked to a friend about it, he scolded me, saying, "No, you can't think at night. You should think when the sun is out."
I see, God the Sun… I tried to go to bed at night without thinking about anything, and the evil thoughts disappeared, and I was able to think about things more positively than before. God the Sun is truly fearsome.
An object of admiration
One of the people who influenced me was Audrey Hepburn.
I once went to a photo exhibition of Audrey's work. The caption on a photo taken during the filming of a movie said, "She was always in good health, even during the harsh location shooting."
Although our professions are different, health management is a basic but important thing. I remember being happy that I was able to reaffirm and reaffirm through her what I had vaguely thought was important. The photo book I bought when I went to the photo exhibition is my treasure.
Thanks to my mother, I came to like Audrey, and now she is a great support to me.
I have my favorite photo on the top shelf of a cabinet at work. It gives me energy every day.
Listen to yourself
There's more to it if you go into detail, but that's the gist of it.
First, ask yourself questions and listen to yourself.
For example, if you want to go out but you feel like you have a cold, go home early and rest, or if you want to lose weight but want to eat cake, don't hold back and eat it. Instead, you can make adjustments when you can.
I think the key is to work within the rules you set and discuss with yourself how to enjoy it without forcing yourself.
Not being absent from work is not the primary goal,
I want to hang out with friends, go to concerts, museums, travel, and go drinking...
There are many things I want to see and experience while I am still healthy and strong.
Maintain a healthy mind and body and do what you can every day in a positive way. (It took me about five years to come to this conclusion.)
I feel that by doing so, my horizons will broaden, my experience will increase, and I will be able to do more, which will have a positive impact on my daily work and create a virtuous cycle.
Only you can protect yourself.
That's why it's important to me to make daily adjustments and manage my physical and mental health.
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