By Joanne R. Kanute

Today, people seem to want everything instantly! Have you noticed the “hurry-up,” quick atmosphere we live in? What effect does this “microwave society” have on our health, wellness, and self-image?

The Urban Dictionary defines “microwave society” as “the mindset of wanting (and nearly getting) everything ‘right now.’”

Many people feel they don’t have the time to prepare a meal. They resort to fast food, take-out orders, super market delis, frozen foods, and boxed foods. If they can’t purchase it, their family doesn’t get it.

With the increased consumption of prepared foods—which contain many preservatives, high sodium content, and high levels of fats and sugars—health conditions are on a dramatic rise. 50 million Americans are overweight, 57 million Americans are pre-diabetic, childhood obesity is on the rise, and cancer rates are rapidly increasing.

The Microwave Society is about everything being fast and easy with little to no regard for future health, wellbeing, and self-image taken into consideration. Our eating habits are not the only factor affected by the Microwave Society; many say they don’t have time to exercise! In reality, you don’t have time to not exercise. This form of lifestyle is also having adverse effects on our self-image and self-esteem. When we don’t take the time for self-care, our physical and mental condition deteriorates.

Exercise is not only good for the body but also great for the mind. Exercise helps control weight, lower diabetes (of US residents 65 and older, 26.9% have diabetes; of people younger than 20 years of age, 215,000 have diabetes), increase circulation (5.8 million people in the US have heart failure), lower cholesterol (16.3% of the US population has high cholesterol), increase lung capacity, help control blood pressure (31.3% of US adults has high blood pressure), and lowers your stress level, which will improve your sleep.

Stress is responsible for 70-80% of the disease in America! 75-90% of all doctor office visits are stress related ailments or conditions which have an adverse effect on our sleep patterns. When we lack sleep, we tend to respond to issues differently than when we are rested, which then triggers additional stress in our lives.

Dan Rather states, “We have a sleep crisis; it is no longer a priority for the average American.”  80 to 90% of people say they don’t get enough sleep.

The Microwave Society also has an adverse effect on families. Many families no longer take the time to eat their evening meals together and converse about their days, making the meal an enjoyable family experience. This brings less communication as a family, which in turn brings about a higher stress level in the household.

We need to get back to the basics and bring a balance back into our lives. Focus on the what more than the what if, and experience life as a journey rather than a series of ending points or a marathon.

We all need to step back and analyze what we are doing to our body, our health, our self-image, and our families in today’s Microwave Society. What lifestyle changes can you make to improve your health and wellness which will enable you to lead a fuller life and have a better self-image?

“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.” —B. Olatunji

Statistics used from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
© 2015 Joanne R Kanute Companies LLC

Joanne is a Board Certified Master Certified Life Coach, earning her credentials through Light University and American Association of Christian Counselors. Life coaching is about helping people clarify their visions and goals, then holding you accountable to that vision and goal. Coaching is about moving forward, leaving your past behind. Coaching is about reaching beyond your feelings of limitations and focus to achieve your goals, which is our goal. Our later years in life is about refocusing, regrouping and recharging! In conjunction to Life Coaching, Joanne speaks to groups, organizations, corporations, also does workshops and seminars.