To Work or Not to Work? That is the Fertile Question

Your dilemma is a common one and quitting your job doesn't always equate with less stress. There are some questions you want to ask yourself. Can you afford financially to quit your job? Does your job bring you happiness and satisfaction? If you do quit your job how will you fill your daily life: sitting around watching television or taking up yoga and cooking with whole foods? The latter will bring more healthful rewards and will increase your fertility and the former weight gain and depression. Quitting your job may actually add more stress to your life but that is for you do decide.


If your job is producing an extraordinary amount of stress then yes, it will increase your fertility to quit and here is why:


Most people don’t realize the stressors we endure in modern day life. Just as I write this I have numerous stressors that I have learned to ignore 1. The traffic driving by just beyond my computer screen 2. The phone ringing 3. Music in the background 4. The lingering list of to-do for Christmas preparation 5. The pesky worry of the future that pops up from my conscience to every day awareness 6. My husband typing on his computer… you get the idea. We don’t perceive these things as stress but the modern person is constantly multi-taking even in our peaceful office with aroma therapy and soothing music. The majority of people have real intense pressures from spouses, in-laws, neighbors, bosses, and financial institutions. This constant attack we endure stresses our sympathetic nervous system putting our body in a constant state of fight or flight wreaking havoc on our endocrine system and literally shutting down our reproductive system.



Fight or flight is a state in which we feel under attack that some have theorized was built into our bodies for survival against savage animals when we lived in the wild. When we feel our lives are at stake our pupils dilate to see better, our heart rate increases dramatically propelled by adrenaline so we can run quickly and our breath quickens. Unfortunately our digestive, urinary, bowel and reproductive systems get cut off. There is no need to reproduce or go to the bathroom when all of our energy needs to be expended in order to survive and flee as quickly as possible.



How this translates to modern day time is that our stressors are constant and overwhelming. The modern conveniences push us to do more, work more, be more. The intensity of the daily news is so traumatic one can’t help but be stressed by the devastating news of the world at large. We are constantly answering phones, texts, emails, paper mail just to get out the door in the morning and get our real work done. We are constantly bombarded by advertisers, telemarketers, politicians, local business men and women, churches, schools, and neighbors, to give, drive, celebrate and donate. We have accepted this as the way of life but it costly us all dearly in our health, weight, emotional well-being and our fertility.



We often run out the door with coffee sloshing in our mugs taxing our adrenals and slowing blood flow to our reproductive organs. Maybe a handful of crackers are shoved haphazardly in our mouths as we race down the road to sit in traffic and ward off maniac drivers. Then we turn on the radio to be bombarded with talk and gossip and dread. We rush into our offices only to find our irritated boss with a deadline to meet and a pay cut delivered and it’s only 7:30 a.m. The madness must stop. We all need to slow down, calm ourselves and take a good look at our lives to discover how we can reduce stress thereby improving our reproductive successes.



Here is a list of suggestions of how to reduce stress:
Work no more than 40 hours a week

Always plan something fun on the weekends

Exercise is a priority not a luxury

Swap Coffee for Green Tea or Teccino (herbal non caffeinated coffee substitute)

Learn to Meditate or Buy a Mind Body CD

Pray

Enjoy laughter with girlfriends

Make Love when you are NOT fertile

Love your job or change careers

Turn off your TV

Go on a news fast

Have lavender aroma therapy at home, work and your car

Listen to classical music

Learn to Belly Breathe

Get Acupuncture Even if your OBGYN says “You are Fine” Unexplained infertility responds well

Take a yoga Class

Spend time only with people who nourish you; avoid those who don’t

Rent a funny movie

Join Resolve (the non-profit that helps couples who have a hard time conceiving or staying pregnant)

Just say no to baby showers

Let it go

Use an ovulation predictor kit (clear blue easy around $200 is more helpful than just the wands)

Know that what you are going through is one of the hardest things any human can face but you will get through this so try to find the gems in the journey: meeting fabulous people, rediscovering compassion through your own suffering, a stronger relationship with