Got social jetlag?

Social lethargy seems to be affecting many a young professional. Here’s how to cure it
Although it sounds like a fancy term some scientist might have whipped up, social jetlag is a very common occurrence. Feeling too drained out at the end of the day to party? Then there might be a problem. Most party starters go by the golden rule: Work Hard, Party Harder.Oh well, looks like that’s gone to the dumps with almost every youngster now experiencing social jetlag.
Surveys believe that long working hours and pressure at work are the main reasons behind this modern day malaise. Youngsters, between the ages of 22-29, experience a lot of work pressure. Researchers believe that ‘trying too hard’ could be the problem behind a rare illness called brain fogginess, which is believed to slow down speech and blank out parts of the brain. Stimulants like nicotine and caffeine too are additional hazards here that contribute to social jetlag. How many of us have been on a caffeine diet the whole day at work? Although we don’t want to agree with that, a lot of us actually survive only on a steady diet of caffeine. This affects the body in more ways than just one.
Social jetlag, as researchers say, is no different from your usual jetlag. Just that you’re not in a flight and you’re right here, at home or work, feeling extremely groggy in the daytime and restless in the night. Shalini Shah, a nutritionist, believes that a diet of just coffee could be really dangerous. “It can cause constipation and also completely destroy your teeth if you keep the habit going,” says Shalini. She also believes that being inactive after work could make you lazy and eventually a couch potato. “We all know what happens when you become a couch potato. You put on weight, you become unhealthy. Slowly, your metabolism decreases, you invite health issues like heart conditions, pain in the limbs and in the end, you’re going to be one depressed person!” Sounds alarming, doesn’t it? It’s quite disturbing too if you think about it.
Preethi Nedumaran, a classical dancer and entrepreneur, understands that people are focused on their careers; they have a goal and strive to reach them. “But what they don’t realise is that in the process, they lose out on ‘living’. And the common thing you hear from youngsters these days is ‘I’ll work very hard till I am 40 and then take it easy,” says Preethi. “The sad part is that you lose about 15 years of your health. We should strike a balance between work and a good social life because life cannot be linear. When we understand this, there will be plenty of time for everything and everyone!” she adds. It’s not new, this relation between long working hours and depression. Many studies have proved the fact that being constantly bogged down with work can cause depression. Here, however the fact that we are becoming asocial is what is disturbing. Lack of socialising and making friends can cause more psychological effects than physical. At the end of the day, you don’t want to feel like someone sucked the soul out of you. It’s a Herculean task to pick yourself up and go out for a night out, when you’re just done slogging your derriere off at work. But, the key to this problem is how you manage your time and handle the pressure at work.
Social jetlag, however, seemed to have its own share of unbelievers as well. Balakrishna Menon, a 67-year-old bank manager feels that this is all rubbish. “Why are youngsters over-reacting for everything now? Such sensitive little dolls you all seem to be,” says Balakrishna. “I don’t want to compare our generation with yours because I understand the kind of competition that youngsters are up against now. All I can say is take each day by the reins and overcome your troubles. Just don’t invent a term for everything you guys go through. It’s quite pathetic.”