THIS WEEK: TOWN AND COUNTRY – Stress and Calm
IN THE CBD:
Stress in the work place and pressure to perform takes a terrible human toll. A recent study in young nurses shows that young female nurses who report work pressure to be too high had a 1.4 –fold increased risk of ischaemic heart disease. The 15 year long research study involved 12,116 female nurses aged 45 – 64 who felt the work pressure was too high, had this 1.4 fold heart attack. Significantly it showed the younger the nurse the higher the risk rate.
Unfortunately this is par for the course in the city where there is plenty of evidence of work stress and pressure. Travel on a train or bus and you can see it on the faces of the travellers. On the freeway and motorway you see in road rage and the speed and weaving in and out of lanes.
It does not matter how late at night, or how early into the early morning hours I am travelling, I know that when I cross the Hawkesbury River, all stress is left behind. I have been driving up this road after midnight for more than 30 years and I know the feeling well as stress and pressure is left behind.
ON THE CENTRAL COAST
Driving through the night fog, the glimpses of the moon behind the clouds are transforming. Walking behind the ducks down to the dam early in the morning is remarkably calming. I talk to the ducks and their waddling makes me laugh. I examine the green tops of the vegetables, feed the fish and the worms, and collect the chook eggs. The chickens welcome my coming knowing there is a bucket of kitchen scraps fit for the kings and queens of the chook yard.
Stacking up a barrow-load of dry cut firewood for the night’s fire is a pleasure. There is no stress. There is no work pressure here. Fresh air cleans the mind. Everyone in the city should take some time out even if it is in the Botanic Gardens, Centennial Park or a visit to the Taronga Zoo, or walk along a beach or lakeside and listen to the birds. Or better still, put on some waterproof shoes, a hat and showerproof coat and go for a walk in the rain. Stress and pressure will be washed out of your life.
Rev The Hon Dr Gordon Moyes, A.C., M.L.C.