The Healthy Deviant: Pilar Gerasimo
How do you become healthy in a society that promotes unhealthy choices? This is the primary question author Pilar Gerasimo has been exploring for years. As a journalist, podcaster, social explorer, and self-described “Healthy Deviant,” Pilar has been investigating how the default choices in society move us away from wellbeing and health and how we can improve our lives through by deviating from the norm. Her findings mirror much of our own research and approach to wellbeing!
Pilar's definition of wellbeing is “feeling the sense of potential … [and having] enough energy and vitality to pursue what you want to do, even if you have limitations.” Pilar believes that modern society, with its focus on a hyper-perfected appearance of health, has confused us about what health and wellbeing really is. Healthy deviance is a way of challenging what mainstream health magazines and other outlets would have us believe and focusing instead on what has traditionally worked well for humans over thousands of years and learning the skills of how to be healthy.
A “healthy deviant” makes against-the-grain choices. It is a different frame of mind. It is being a social renegade, challenging the status quo, and defying cultural norms.
Our cultural norms are not working for the vast majority of people. According to a 2016 study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, American adults are by-and-large unhealthy. Pilar points to these findings to highlight why we need to look at things differently.
- 50% of American adults have been diagnosed with at least one chronic illness
- 66% are overweight or obese
- 70% take at least one prescription drug daily
- 80% aren’t mentally and emotionally thriving
- 97.5% aren’t doing four basic healthy habits (eating well, getting adequate activity, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy body composition)
Three Nonconformist Competencies
Generally speaking, we all know what we should be doing to optimize health (such as eating well, getting sleep, exercise), but most of the time we are unsuccessful in overcoming the less healthy temptations our society pushes on us. Pilar suggests three practices that can help us make the changes we want:
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Amplified Awareness:
Amplified awareness is noticing what is going on inside and around you. This practice is about observing yourself, how you are doing, and when you struggle. You identify the triggers that are pushing you off course.
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Preemptive Repair:
Preemptive repair is about getting ahead of the damage. Living in an unhealthy society can deplete you (and cause you to do damage to yourself). Taking breaks, drinking water, getting sunshine, getting restful sleep, and having self-kindness are examples of fundamental ways we can preemptively repair ourselves.
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Continuous Growth and Learning:
The final practice is to embrace the challenges of being a healthy person in an unhealthy world. Be open to always learning and growing and discovering what works for you.
“Often in our culture…what looks like a willpower problem is a chronic depletion and distraction problem.”
Get Started with Renegade Rituals
In order to implement the nonconformist competencies in your life, Pilar suggests using renegade rituals. It can vary from petting a dog to playing guitar.
For herself, she dedicates the first 3 minutes of everyday to checking in with herself, not using screens, and doing something she enjoys.
Explore and discover what renegade rituals resonate for you.
Ultradian Rhythm Breaks
Chances are you have heard of circadian rhythms, but you may not know that the body also has "ultradian" rhythms, which are your body's natural patterns through the day.
According to ultradian rhythms, your body and brain can support 90-120 minutes of mental focus and sustained energy output before they need a break of 15-20 minutes to recharge. This is when many people reach for the coffee or cigarettes, but these methods just shift the body to unhealthy dependencies. Here are some healthy ways to take the break and recharge.
- Take a nap or just relax in a reclined position in your chair
- Try gentle movement like yoga or tai chi
- Eat a healthy snack such as some fruit and nuts
- Visit with a coworker in person
All About Ultradian Rhythms. (2017, March 11). Retrieved May 15, 2019, from https://pilargerasimo.com/2016/08/28/all-about-ultradian-rhythms/
The Healthy Deviant. (n.d.). Retrieved May 15, 2019, from https://www.thehealthydeviant.com/
Loprinzi, P. D., Branscum, A., Hanks, J., & Smit, E. (2016). Healthy Lifestyle Characteristics and Their Joint Association With Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers in US Adults. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 91(4), 432-442. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.01.009
