Wow, what an inspiring two days off I have just had. First the two days I had scheduled off became one with a work colleague getting sick. I happily covered his shift yesterday but still got time for an intense squatting, dead lifting and pulling workout. The real highlight of yesterday was an Irish man randomly came up to me in the street and gave me a tour of the local town Millicent and to his family at his home. What an absolutely kind gesture to make me feel welcomed into the town-Irish Spirit is still there!
I spent this morning brain storming on my long term goals which I feel are achievable.
I spent the afternoon hunting out real food which turned out more difficult then expected. I got some grass finished lamb bones which I got some snaps going into the oven for roasting then into the pot for some tasty high fat bone broth.
DOMS has hit my legs very hard, as expected which shall be fun working on on the foam roller soon!
I am delighted and saddened that one of my best friends is getting married tomorrow but unfortunately I won't get home for it. I am sure he will have an amazing day and can't wait to meet him on his honeymoon next week.
This post opens new doors to trains of thought that I encourage you to further research. Jack Kruise inspired - you can read his book Paleo FX that I have in recommended reading section. Enjoy
Guilty by Design
Are architects responsibly for modern day illnesses, sickness, cancer, premature death? Firstly don’t jump down my throat but think for a second. Now just to make this clear I am aware there is no one factor that causes illnesses, sickness, cancer, premature death but an accumulation of many factors, let me continue -is the dwelling we are living in/working in adding to our modern day health problems?
By design we put artificial lights in the center of our living spaces. Thus before day break we get up turn on the lights and are hit by the light, you get a sudden dart of the hormone cortisol. We all now this feeling its uncomfortable and you feel it on your eyes. This has the same effect on your body as bright lights from the sun give you during the day such that as a hunter gather allows you to survive. Now the down side, if you are living in these bright lights before bed time, you seriously affect your sleep quality and hormone regulation. Solution for this that architects, designers etc. can implement into design, don’t put the lights into the ceiling; put them low down and specify much lower brightness such that there is no blue light in the bulb so a yellow/red colour appears. I want you to trust me on this and test it for yourself- stay out of bright light two hours before bedtime and before daybreak in the morning. Give it three weeks and tell me how your sleep quality has changed. Or alternatively don’t put any lights in the house. Force the use of candles and torches.
Next factor; by design sitting rooms are designed around the television. Thus when you come home from work you put yourself in front of the television and waste your evenings. Well another test Ill have you perform. Take your televisions out of the living room disconnect it and put it away. You will find your productivity will increase to levels you never expected. Your concentration levels will increase and when interacting with people you actually listen to them and have a meaningful conversation. Now don’t just replace the function of the television to a laptop and sit there on Facebook wasting your time. (Same for mobile phone) Again reading thrash magazines or garbage “bad news” newspapers. I recommend reading good books that will increase your knowledge and enhance your personal passions and goals. Now to avoid the effects of bright lights for reading use candles, a lamp aimed away from you at eye level – if required wear yellow tinted glasses. So architects, am I opening new areas to your train of thought when designing a living space.
Offices, bright lights & work spaces. By good design we have to design workspaces to use natural light. We have to educate employers about the effects light will have on their employees and break the mould of working 8-6. We must stand together and not allow poor design limit to cost factors that greatly affect human’s lives. This may well be on a town planning level but included in the term architect is good design which effects planning. My solution is to think bigger, don’t allow poor conditions (money, design, materials, location) be factors strive for the best, educate yourself on all levels. And again THINK BIGGER outside the box shit.
Bright lights - smart phones/computer screens/televisions. There is modern day apps (f.lux) that automatically select the light settings that are omitted that can omit the blue light that messes up your cortisol levels. Find them and use them. Simplicity can be key here. Wear yellow/orange lenses and don’t leave your phone beside your bed such that during the night if you wake when you check the time you get a kick from the bright lights.
I have only hit a few points here - scratched the surface possibly - materials haven't even been mentioned ie sick building syndromes that off course can be improved upon but the verdict is still out there. Let me ask you this, is your architect aware of these factors? By design can your home or work space be improved?
Are architects responsibly for modern day illnesses, sickness, cancer, premature death? Firstly don’t jump down my throat but think for a second. Now just to make this clear I am aware there is no one factor that causes illnesses, sickness, cancer, premature death but an accumulation of many factors, let me continue -is the dwelling we are living in/working in adding to our modern day health problems?
By design we put artificial lights in the center of our living spaces. Thus before day break we get up turn on the lights and are hit by the light, you get a sudden dart of the hormone cortisol. We all now this feeling its uncomfortable and you feel it on your eyes. This has the same effect on your body as bright lights from the sun give you during the day such that as a hunter gather allows you to survive. Now the down side, if you are living in these bright lights before bed time, you seriously affect your sleep quality and hormone regulation. Solution for this that architects, designers etc. can implement into design, don’t put the lights into the ceiling; put them low down and specify much lower brightness such that there is no blue light in the bulb so a yellow/red colour appears. I want you to trust me on this and test it for yourself- stay out of bright light two hours before bedtime and before daybreak in the morning. Give it three weeks and tell me how your sleep quality has changed. Or alternatively don’t put any lights in the house. Force the use of candles and torches.
Next factor; by design sitting rooms are designed around the television. Thus when you come home from work you put yourself in front of the television and waste your evenings. Well another test Ill have you perform. Take your televisions out of the living room disconnect it and put it away. You will find your productivity will increase to levels you never expected. Your concentration levels will increase and when interacting with people you actually listen to them and have a meaningful conversation. Now don’t just replace the function of the television to a laptop and sit there on Facebook wasting your time. (Same for mobile phone) Again reading thrash magazines or garbage “bad news” newspapers. I recommend reading good books that will increase your knowledge and enhance your personal passions and goals. Now to avoid the effects of bright lights for reading use candles, a lamp aimed away from you at eye level – if required wear yellow tinted glasses. So architects, am I opening new areas to your train of thought when designing a living space.
Offices, bright lights & work spaces. By good design we have to design workspaces to use natural light. We have to educate employers about the effects light will have on their employees and break the mould of working 8-6. We must stand together and not allow poor design limit to cost factors that greatly affect human’s lives. This may well be on a town planning level but included in the term architect is good design which effects planning. My solution is to think bigger, don’t allow poor conditions (money, design, materials, location) be factors strive for the best, educate yourself on all levels. And again THINK BIGGER outside the box shit.
Bright lights - smart phones/computer screens/televisions. There is modern day apps (f.lux) that automatically select the light settings that are omitted that can omit the blue light that messes up your cortisol levels. Find them and use them. Simplicity can be key here. Wear yellow/orange lenses and don’t leave your phone beside your bed such that during the night if you wake when you check the time you get a kick from the bright lights.
I have only hit a few points here - scratched the surface possibly - materials haven't even been mentioned ie sick building syndromes that off course can be improved upon but the verdict is still out there. Let me ask you this, is your architect aware of these factors? By design can your home or work space be improved?
Well you hire your architect, you pay your architect. You are responsible for your own health and living space. Make the decision yourself. I can off course add my input into designs. See my services options in services for contact..
