Have you ever heard of “Blue Zones”? If not, you may want to explore this idea on the Internet or ask your friends. Simply put, Blue Zones are geographic locations where humans live significantly longer than average. These areas are generally less likely to show signs of chronic disease or health problems. These particular people may think they’re living longer thanks to their diet hacks and crazy exercise regimens, but that’s not the case. Instead, people living in Blue Zones base their lifestyles on finding a balance of activities, consuming local food, and connecting with their fellow community members on a deep emotional level.
As we head into February, I want to explore ways we can embody some of these Blue Zones values here at Bates. The first concept that our community can engage with during this process is related to food and fitness culture. As an athlete myself, I have certainly been through my own journey with food and exercise. It took me a while, but I learned that health is based on and can be influenced by so many things other than appearance and diet. There is no one-size-fits-all method. Whether it’s sleep, social interaction, mental health, social justice, flexibility, or any other area of life, we are redefining what holistic health means to us and changing our food culture. You can free yourself from the toxicity of.
Blue Zones also emphasizes the importance of connection. But what does it mean to connect with someone?According to psychiatrist Edward Hallowell’s book “Connect”, connection is the ability of an individual to Feeling “part of something bigger” [themself]You feel close to other people or groups and feel welcomed and understood. ” Connections should also be seen as respectful interactions between people that ultimately bring you joy. Hallowell also says that true connection can have a positive impact on a person’s health, boosting mood, lowering blood pressure, and can even be considered a cure for some conditions. Ways to stay connected include going for a walk with a friend, attending a club meeting on campus, going to your professor’s office hours, or calling a friend from home.
Finally, by treating our spaces very conscientiously and respectfully, we can aim to make Bates a Blue Zone. Occupying a beautiful environment like our campus is a great honor and one that we must always strive to maintain. It’s more than just picking up trash. Keep an eye out for emails about how we can keep our living spaces as clean and energy efficient as possible, and consider the different ways you can contribute to this effort. What I often see is that people are kind and appreciative of administrators, ensuring that Commons food is placed in the appropriate bins, and Bates organizing efforts to reduce waste on campus. participating in environmental activities.
We can’t turn Bates into a Blue Zone overnight, but by taking these small steps we can begin to positively impact the overall health of our campus and, hopefully, encourage them to become more respectful and conscious individuals. can do.