THE VIRTUALITY OF VIRTUAL REALITY!! Impact of Social media on Wellness

It would be safe to say that the lines of virtual reality and reality have blurred in today’s world. 2020 set the stage for the VIRTUAL WORLD to become an integral part of our REAL WORLD. From online classes, museum tours, date rooms and even medical consults, you name it everything was made available without ever having to leave the comfort of our homes. Social Media platforms have existed for a while but the usage of social media platforms has increased globally at an increasing rate since 2015. According to social media statistics available online, as of April 2020, there are 3.8 billion users that are active on social Media with Facebook leading the stats in terms of active users each day. Being Online is a huge part of everyone’s life, whether you are 13 or 63, we are deriving substantial amount of information from online media, wanted or unwanted.

Social Media has become a way of LIFE, part of daily routine for most people and the very reason why it needs to be looked through the microscope of WELLNESS.

IT HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A BEAM OF BALANCE FOR INNER WELLNESS.

IT IS A REALM OF ESCAPISM WHEREIN ESCAPE IS CONDITIONAL.

While we are all thankful for increased connectivity, instant gratification and awareness, for its boons Social Media also brings along with it a dichotomy; escapism, detachment, masking and sometimes catalyzing a sense of hopelessness. There is no such thing as “new” anymore, we live in the age of “now” wherein lies the brilliance of social media as the inner wellness beam. It forces its users to live in the “NOW” moment internally, while indulging them in escapism externally. We live in a culture wherein “ likes” and “ followers” determine popularity and likability and what is not seen is not recognized or acknowledged even more so than before. Social media makes it equally easy to be invisible .

THE REAL VS THE VIRTUAL YOU? ARE WE HOW WE VIEW ACCOUNTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

People are more prone to be honest in a detached way while talking to a person on social media than in real life. Inhabitations are easy to indulge, Saying how it is to blankly staring at a woman/man to finding your tribe, Social media makes it slightly easier to be “us” in many ways . It affords us control and indulgence without ever having to step out of the comfort zone. We control how we are perceived to a certain degree while hiding all that is uncomfortable within us.

Triggers are the true benefits of social media, it allows us a deeper understanding of ourselves without having to go through actual experiences

A quick survey of social media users will acknowledge that what they view on accounts is not a reflection of complete reality however that does not stop them from getting triggered. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we get influenced by what we see. We then create patterns of sub-conscious behaviors and or thought processes that cause us to showcase our inner imbalance.  Some examples are:  

a)       Indulging in comparisons

b)      Keeping up appearances

c)       Self-worth displacement

d) Masking

So how does one maintain Inner Peace if triggered?

For one, follow us on our social media account @the.one.platform for a daily dose of Wellness OR become a member of our True Wellness Program available at www.theoneplatform.org.

For those who choose not to go the above route, a few simple tricks to maintaining Inner Peace when it comes to social media influence.

1. Take a break from social media at least once a week. No browsing, no posting.

2. Turn the trigger into Inspiration.

3. Remember there is only One of You and it is perfectly A-OKAY to be YOU.

4. Social Media “LIKES” do not equate to Success OR Happiness.

5. Have a diverse online viewing portfolio.

6. People’s perceptions are not your problems.

Happy and safe browsing ahead to all.

LOVE IS BLACK!! RED TAKE A SEAT

LOVE, the most powerful and the most fickle notion known to mankind. Its magical, mystical and all together marvelous.

While many have tried to explain what LOVE truly is and while we may have an idea, an imagination of what it should be like, what it might be, none of us can really explain or put in words the immortal workings of a mortal heart.

Known by many names in many languages, except for Klignon which is luckily not spoken on planet Earth, it is also expressed through colors; RED being the color that has successfully branded itself as the Color of LOVE. Since we are all individuals and unique, we all have our own unique hue of LOVE and the hue that we recognize as LOVE, Today we are daring to dethrone RED as the Color of Love and instead designating BLACK as the color of True Love and we are prepared to explain ourselves for this unusual claim.

So splash ahead in the Colors of LOVE through a Painters palette,

For the purposes of our little splash, lets designate some base emotional states a Human can exhibit with some BASE COLORS:

RED: Desire

YELLOW: Dedication, Commitment

BLUE: Understanding, Curiosity

WHITE: Self Respect., Innocence (The LOVE that lives within you)

Before we prove our point, we thought we might indulge in some BLENDING,

1.       ORANGE: INFACTUATION, LUST, OBSESSION, EROS, KAMA

(When fiery Red and Innocent Yellow meet)

When desire coupled by the force of Human Nature, you get a fiery orange. Free from commitments and dedication, this is usually what we deem a strong and intense state of admiration for someone or something. Deeper the hue of Orange deeper the states of Passion, obsession. So, can an infatuation turn into something stable?

If your Orange can be met with some Purple and balanced with Self-esteem (white), it will turn into a nice terra cotta shade. Keep adding Yellow and you are Golden.  

2. GREEN: Cion, Hanaan, Philia, Yaarana, dostana, storge`, Affection, Attachment, Cumann.

(When cool Blue is mixed with the compassionate Yellow)

Compassion, connectivity and commitment all mix to form what we would like to call one of the purest relationships known to mankind. There is no other blessing or asset like a True Friend.

A good starting point for any relationship, however it won’t work unless some fiery red hue is mixed in.

3.      PURPLE: Connection, Bonding, POTENTIAL MATE?

(Understanding ( mental connection) met with Desire ( sexual or asexual))

If you feel Purple with someone, we will dare to say you might have found a potential mate all you need is a healthy amount of Yellow to turn it into a nice stable brown.

4.       BROWN: MARRIAGES ARE BROWN.

( Desire, Understanding, Commitment)

When all primary colors are mixed in an imbalanced way or in varying proportions, you get shades of BROWN. Marriages are a balancing act and if they can be met with a healthy dose, of compassion and understanding as the years set in, they can be on their way to celebrating GOLDEN JUBLIEES.

5.      GREY: RELATIONSHIPS ARE GREY

You need a healthy sprinkling of Self-Love in order to match your unique Potential for True Love for it to be transformed into a Relationship.

6. BLACK: Unrequited Love, Kaikkilai, Unreflected Love OR Highest Love Potential, TRUE LOVE

(AT THE END OF THE DAY ITS ALL ABOUT PRESPECTIVE)

When those three precious words are not reciprocated back, it can feel as if all the colors of the world have vanished OR the Self-Absorbent Love wherein an individual is not open or reciprocity.

In the Paint world, when all the Primary colors are added in equal parts you get BLACK.  Both True Love and Unrequited Love are untethered by expectations and demands, so in terms of prespectives, they are One and the Same. One form of Love does not keep Expectations while the other has no potential for Expectations but BOTH ARE LOVE.

So there you have it folks, LOVE IS BLACK!! RED TAKE A SEAT.

Written by

Payal Ballaya Bowker

Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

BY MATT ARCHETTI | CERTIFIED HEALTH AND FITNESS COACH

In a society where 24/7 hustle is admired, lack of sleep can actually be more detrimental to your overall health and your fitness goals than you realize. A number of studies have shown a lack of sleep can impact the following:

Memory issues: During sleep, your brain forms connections that help you process and remember new information. A lack of sleep can negatively impact both short and long-term memory.

Mood changes: Sleep deprivation can make you moody, emotional, and quick-tempered. Space chronic sleep deprivation can affect your mood and lead to anxiety or depression, which may escalate.

Trouble with Thinking and Concentration: Your concentration, creativity, and problem-solving skills aren’t up to par when you don’t get enough rest.

Accidents: Being drowsy during the day can increase your risk for accidents and injuries from other causes.

Weakened Immunity: Too little sleep weakens your immune system’s defenses against viruses like those that caused the common cold and flu. You’re more likely to get sick when you’re exposed to these germs.

High Blood Pressure: If you sleep less than five hours a night, your risk for high blood pressure increases.

Risk for Diabetes: A lack of sleep affects your body’s release of insulin, a blood sugar lowering hormone. People who don’t get enough sleep have a higher blood sugar level and increased risk for type two diabetes.

Weight Gain: With sleep deprivation, the chemicals that signal to your brain that you are full or off-balance. As a runner out, you’re more likely to overindulge even when you had enough to eat.

Low Sex Drive: People who don’t get enough sleep often and have a lower libido. In men, this decreased sex drive may be due to a drop in testosterone levels.

Risk of Heart Disease: Sleep deprivation may lead to increased blood pressure and high levels of chemicals link to inflammation, both of which play rules and hard disease.

Poor balance: Lack of sleep can affect your balance and coordination, making you more prone to falls and other physical 

So, what is enough sleep? Shoot for 6-9 hours of sleep per night. Sure, this won’t always be doable, but try your best. 

A crappy night's sleep can affect your daily work efficiency dramatically, have short and long term health benefits and from a fitness perspective....  A crappy night's sleep can certainly impact performance. On the nights you don’t get enough sleep, if you’re not feeling it the next day, maybe don't push through your workout how you had intended, either modify as needed or take a rest day. Sometimes, the old saying of “any workout is better than no workout” isn't always the way to go.

Here are a few tips I give to my clients to help them get a better night's rest:
- Darken the room with blackout curtains or a sleep mask
- Create a common bedtime routine
- Avoid caffeine consumption at least 6 hours prior to bedtime
- Use a sound machine or fan to block out ambient noise
- Consider supplements such as magnesium, melatonin, and CBD Oil

- Wear blue light blocking glasses while using electronics within 2 hours of bedtime (or cut them out all together in that time period.

2021 HERE WE COME!

As we all try to shake off 2020 from our psyche and gear up for 2021, The One Platform would like to offer up some tips and techniques to hit the ground running. We focus on the Four major Aspects of Life that play a key role in Wellness.

While we do not believe that Wellness can be generalized, these are some tried and true techniques that work for everyone.

TIME MANAGEMENT:

• Invest in a good Planner.

  It is not necessary to buy the best or the most expensive planner out there but utilizing a planner for daily tasks helps you keep focused.

  Hourly Planners vs Day Planners

  Depends on your personality type. A perfectionist who is control dominant would not be advised an Hourly Planner but rather would do well with setting up a notifications calendar.

• Plan out time for yourself weekly

  Set aside time wherein you would be able to spend an hour a week doing something that you enjoy or would like to do.

• Consciously spend less time on Social Media

  The internet is an abyss of content. Be conscious of the time spent on Social Media vs browsing for content on the Internet. Track your social media time , most phones have that feature.

• Last but not the least, Time can fluctuate between being a variable and a constant depending on its application and relativity. Use your Time wisely, know your own variables and constants of Life.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT:

• Plan your yearly budget at the start of the year. Clearly list out your essentials and your non-essential expenses for the month. Account for miscellaneous expenses.

• Do not under estimate the power of Compound Interest. Start by saving a dollar a day.

• Self -Love is an Important aspect of Emotional Resource Management. Take time to invest in yourself daily. From indulging in skin care rituals to Alone Time, plan it out.

• Invest in cultivating a Hobby or Hobbies. You will thank us later (infamous words of Adrian Monk)

  HEALTH MANAGEMENT:

• Health is Wealth and 2020 put that out for the world in bold unspoken words. Make it a point to focus on your health this upcoming year. Engage in some form of exercise for minimum 30 to 40 mins throughout the day.

• Nutrition is the key to a healthy lifestyle!

  Track your caloric intake to better understand your own nutrition profile.

• Sleep!

  Ensure that you balance your sleep patterns.

• The Human Body is a fantastic machine, self sustaining and growth hungry no matter the age, make it a point to Really Listen to your Body. Examine your own body every week, track the changes in your body and give it the nourishment it needs and requires.

• MENTAL WELLNESS MANAGEMENT:

  These are generalized tips and not meant as a corrective treatment or recommendations of any and all types of Mental Illness.

• Meditate

  Meditation does not mean emptying your mind of thoughts but rather allowing yourself to come to a space wherein the thoughts do not cause your brain to activate. There are many different forms of Meditative practices out there. Choose one that works for you. If you are new to Meditation, start by focusing on your breath everyday, begin with 1 min increments.

• Acknowledge your feelings

  Know that its Perfectly OKAY to be YOU. There are always techniques that you can adapt to help manage your Anxiety and Triggers however Adaptation to your feelings will not happen without acknowledgement. It all begins with Self-Awareness.

• Stop comparing yourself to Others

  Adapt the Mantra, “ There is No Other ME! “ There can be many like you but there is no other YOU on this planet at least and that is a scientific fact! Recognize that and honor it everyday.

• Learn the Art of Connection without Attachment

  As social beings we all crave connection but not allowing the connections to affect our emotions is under our control. Connect away but stir away from Attachments.

• With that we wish you all a fantastic New Year Ahead! May it be Beautiful, Bountiful and Balanced for all.
  
  
  

Get a customized True Wellness Plan designed to work just for you. Registrations OPEN Jan 4th. Programs begin Jan 15th 2021.

DOES THE ONE PLATFORM PROGRAM WORK? SEE WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY

DOES THE ONE PLATFORM TRUE WELLNESS PROGRAM WORK?

We will let you hear it from the Focus Group participants that were invited to review the Program design and its offerings. The focus group ran for 3 short weeks as we wanted to see if we could achieve tangible results for our members in that time frame and thus be confident about allowing members to achieve Milestones in 3 months.

What is it that we offer?

While we do not claim or offer services to cure or diagnose Mental Illness, we offer a virtual safe space into Wellness. Our Virtual Programs are designed to offer

1. An insight into yourself and the status of your current Wellness both Physically and Mentally

2. An easy access to services such as Physical Training, Wellness Coaching and Soft Skill Training all at an extremely affordable price.

3. Tangible Results and Milestones towards your Wellness Journey.

Here is what some of our focus group participants have to say,

“As a corporate executive my job requires me to speak to prospective clients and customers daily and even though this had never been an issue before in my career of 17 years, I had recently developed anxiety around having to speak with new clients. I completed 3 weeks of the One Platform Focus Group, I still have anxiety around speaking however I now know how to use my pauses with purpose in a conversation, getting 1:1 with a Communications Expert allowed me to be a little more confident in approaching a new client. Wellness Quotient Profile recommendations for changes in my Lifestyle have already added to my personal wellness. I would highly recommend this Program to anyone who is invested in getting more out of Life.” – D. P (NH) Age 44

“Me and my husband took this Focus Group Program together and we got to see tangible results, my husband and I both lost weight, him more than I. I had to push myself to work and keep track of my nutrition because I knew that I had a 1:1 with my Fitness Coach. Our Wellness Quotient Profile was an eye opener. The recommendations from the Wellness Profile are a work in progress for both of us and it truly is incredible to realize how accurately it defines our personality traits and our approaches to conflict resolutions.

We look forward to becoming members. It is an incredible value for the services that they provide.” 

-S. KHAN (MA) Age 36

“I would recommend this Program to anyone who is in the Corporate Industry or has work stress or anxiety. The recommendations of the Wellness Quotient Profile were highly applicable, and I saw results in my overall wellness. I lost weight, learnt skills to manage my stress and realized that I needed to make changes in my work-life balance. While that is not something that I could change in three short weeks, I am working towards it and now have the skills to be able to achieve it. It’s an excellent Program and I look forward to becoming a member.” K. AHMED (CT) 42

“As someone who suffers from Depression and Anxiety, I was not entirely sure that the One Platform was going to do anything for me but to my surprise in 3 short weeks I went from feeling dull and bored to finding that spark that was needed to get back in career mode. Working out and paying attention to my diet had me feeling and looking confident and having accountability helped tremendously.

Having a 1:1 consultation with a Wellness Coach was big for me because I learnt skills to help me deal with social anxiety, I was able to apply those skills and to my surprise saw positive results. I have thoroughly enjoyed this experience”. This is a program for everyone!   J. Z (NY) Age 31