The place where I work has lately seemed to wage war against smoking.

2. Why Smokers Have the
Right Idea

3. The place where I work has lately
seemed to wage war against smoking.

4. Within a couple of days, they
announced a new insurance policy that
would require smokers to pay an
additional $75 a month out of their
paychecks toward their insurance.

5. And if that wasn’t enough, they
banned smoking from the entire
campus, even the furnished smoking
area behind the building and beside
the parking garage, complete with
round tables and wire chairs.

6. As a non-smoker, I had the opinion
that it was probably a good
thing. “Good for them,” said the
judgmental gnome inside my head,
“People don’t need to be smoking
anyway. It’s a horrible lifestyle choice
and probably running up my
insurance costs.”

7. Then, on my way in to work the other
day, I walked past the now
unoccupied smoker’s area, now
covered with “No Smoking” signs
reminding those who would try to
smoke how oppressed they now
were.

8. As I walked past, again, that gnome
spoke up. “Guess those smokers will
have to get used to actually having to
work instead of taking 5 breaks a day.”

9. And just as my brain began asking
what they were going to do with this
perfectly furnished outdoor break
spot, it hit me. First as a joke.
“Maybe all the non-smokers should
come sit out here for ten minutes
every other hour, just to get back at
them.”

10. I didn’t even get into the building
before I had a real revelation. I had
just heard recently that the human
brain can only process for about an
hour and 45 minutes before it starts
to fall apart. It works less effectively,
it loses focus. It needs a break.

11. Taking a ten minute break every
couple of hours is actually a pretty
good idea. Everybody SHOULD be
doing it.
And the smokers have been doing it
all along.

12. Now, clearly, smoking is a bad habit,
one that kills millions of people a
year, but so does chronic stress. At
least smokers take a little bit of time
to decompress throughout their day.

13. So why don’t the rest of us do it? It
shouldn’t be smoking, obviously, but
maybe read a book. Pick up a
magazine. Practice a silly skill like
juggling or quarters. Just walk around
and get a little exercise. Or just sit in a
dark corner and close your eyes and
listen to music.

14. Do any of these things for 10
minutes or so in the morning, lunch,
and afternoon, and see what a
difference it makes to your clarity and
attitude.

15. The funny thing is, you’ll be suffering
the first few times you’re doing
it. You won’t be able to stand not
doing something. But keep doing
it. Get used to it. Take a little time –
a little is all you need – for yourself.

16. I’ve talked about the
connection between canker sores, the
immune system, and stress before, and
it’s worth repeating. Stress is a rust that
will eat away at your immune system
over time if you don’t do something
about it. And a rusty immune system
will show up in your mouth – as canker
sores.

17. So take those 10 minutes for
something healthy. And invite a
smoker.

18. For more details
Visit us @
http://www.cankerboy.com/