We are no more
Than a drop of light
A shooting star
Just a spark
In the age of heaven
-Jorge Drexler (extract from the song The age of heaven, translated from Spanish)
We are a spark. Without going into spiritual considerations, it is correct to say that our earthly life is related to a spark. And we owe this spark to our hearts. It is a question of electricity. The millivolts that allow the heart to beat. This organ is responsible for sending blood to the organs and when we stop doing it… We fade permanently.
Every minute our heart drives about five liters of blood, so in a lifetime it displaces about 200 tons to the bloodstream. Small but powerful. The heart changes its rhythm if it receives stimuli from the brain that indicate it and as we perceive these changes, beyond its anatomical or physiological function, we link the heart to our emotions and feelings. Both positive and negative, including stress.
Stress is one of the most harmful enemies of the body in general and of a healthy heart in particular. Expert research on cardiovascular health has shown that men and women share the same main risk factors but one, stress. Both women and men share stress related to the professional field but women, on top, suffer from a high dose of what medical experts have labeled “marital stress”. The promotion of co-responsibility between men and women at home from the public and private spaces is the necessary, but not sufficient, condition to achieve gender equality, as shared by the ESADE Gender Monitorreport (2020). Co-responsibility was the top priority, as expressed by those consulted with a score of 8.63 out of 10 followed by the visibility of female referents in the media and in the cultural sphere (8.61), and the measures that prevent gender discrimination in the professional environment (8.36). The fourth most relevant action for achieving equality would be training and counseling for women (8.17) and, the fifth, laws against harassment and gender violence (8.04).
Executive women are subjected to high doses of stress. Work and the current lack of co-responsibility stress affects us, affects our health and our heart. How can we maintain a healthy heart in the current circumstances, with the fast pace of the life we lead and our many obligations? Prospecting women managers’ habits, they indicate different strategies they adopt to lead a life with healthy habits that counteract stress. Connecting with nature, practicing yoga or meditation, regular physical exercise and healthy eating habits are the most mentioned activities. It is interesting to note that the relationship with family, friends, and support networks are also brought up, as well as a positive and grateful attitude. Last but not least, a satisfying sex life adds up to the equation.
At the Futurist Club we share a philosophy of life at the service of transformative leadership and innovation, a common vision of support to women. We share a spark. A spark that contributes to our personal and professional development. A spark that keeps our hearts beating at a healthy pace.
