Are you getting your 5 a day? The simplicity of the 5-a-day food campaign makes it so easy to remember and despite the criticisms of such a simple model, it is making an impact in raising awareness of the importance of a healthy diet in the UK. Did you know that in countries like Australia the recommendations goes further – 2 fruit and 5 veg a day?
Food for Thought
As long ago as 1943, renowned American psychologist, Abraham Maslow proposed that human needs can be modeled using a basic 5 step hierarchy. You could think of it as a 5 a day for your well being. From the most basic (physiological) needs to higher level needs (like creativity). Maslow noticed that particularly when either Esteem, Belonging or Safety (the middle needs) were deficient then people tended to become anxious, tense and feel unfulfilled.
Maslow's Pyramid: A Popular Way of Visualising Our Needs
Interesting, huh? But how useful is it?
Well it turns out it really is useful. With the recent Whitehall II government report correlating workplace stress with increased Coronary Heart Disease. Findings say a combination of high demands (Less time for Family and Friends) and low control at work (Security of Employment, lack of Problem Solving, Creativity) coupled with low recognition (Respect of Others) predict poor health and often shorter life expectancy.
3 Tips To Redress The Balance
1. First look at the middle levels in this simple model and note any areas where your life is currently lacking. At any one time most of us are lacking at least one, if not many and that’s totally natural.
2. Address the needs that you can. We don’t always have the option to address all of these needs (like job security) but simply by tackling the ones that we can, then we can often feel more fulfilled. This might include finding time for yourself, for family and friends, talking more with your partner, working on a charitable project that makes you feel proud, taking exercise.
3. Learn to recognise when these important needs are lacking in the future so you can take pre-emptive action.
For more in depth reading on Self-Actualization I’d recommend “Unleashed: A Guide to Your Ultimate Self-Actualization” by L. Michael Hall where he takes the model further.
Keep Well,
Ben Clinch
(Just as a note, we have no affiliation to L. Michael Hall. It’s a pure recommendation.)
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