by Grace | Jun 28, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
‘Research shows that 90% of Australians feel stressed – with 74% of people reporting being stressed from work.’ – Lifeline (2021).
What is stress?
According to helpguide.org (2021), stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand or threat. The stress response is your body’s way of protecting you.
What are the chronic effects of stress?
According to lifeline (2021), feeling stressed is perfectly normal for a short period of time and is actually a good thing which helps motivate you to focus on work, or meet deadlines. However, other times it can be overwhelming making it difficult to concentrate on anything. Chronic stress is detrimental to your health and may lead to the following:
- Depression & anxiety;
- Pain;
- Sleep problems;
- Autoimmune disease;
- Digestive problems;
- Skin conditions, such as eczema;
- Heart disease;
- Weight problems;
- Reproductive issues;
- Thinking and memory problems;
- Exhaustion;
- Headaches and dizziness;
- Acne;
- Frequent sickness;
- Decreased energy;
Stress at work:
Helpguide.org (2021) explains that while some workplace stress is normal, excessive stress can interfere with your productivity and performance, impact your physical and emotional health and affect your relationships and home life.
How do we know when the stress we are experiencing is too much?
Stress threshold differs form person to person. When you are experiencing multiple of the list above, you should be shifting your focus to look after yourself to help you destress.
How can you destress at work?
- Talk about your feelings with friends and family, otherwise with a professional;
- Maintain a positive outlook which will make a difference in your ability to handle stress;
- Practice mindfulness at work, even for 5 minutes (WHS Vic love the app ‘Insight Timer’;
- Read a book or magazine for a few minutes;
- Walk around the block;
- Make yourself a cup of tea;
- Focus on slower, deeper breaths;
- Doodle for a few minutes;
- Try to incorporate a fitness class before or after work;
- Listen to music;
- Book a massage or spa treatment;
(Source: thisiscalmer.com, 2021).
Stress Down Day chalenges you to set a task for yourself for 30 minutes, recognising the importance of taking some time out to relax your mind and body and give yourself a break. Ideas may include:
- 30 minutes of yoga;
- A walk around the block or along the beach;
- Swim;
- Ride;
- Dance
by Grace | Jun 28, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
Get your eye’s tested this julEYE. 75% of vision loss is preventable or treatable if detected early enough, yet every 65 minutes an Australian loses part or all their vision.
julEYE is The Eye Foundation’s eye health awareness month that takes place during July each year. julEYE has three core aims:
- To raise community awareness of eye health issues;
- To raise funding for research projects into the causes and cures of vision impairment and blindness;
- To support international development projects whose goals are aligned with those of The Foundation:
(Source: Your Health Link, 2021).
How often should you get your eyes checked?
According to Better Health (2021) dependent on age, ophthalmologists generally recommend getting your eyes tested every 2 years and should be an essential part of your healthcare routine. You may need to get your eyes tested more regularly if you have a health condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, history of a stroke, neurological conditions or if you have been diagnosed with an eye condition.
How do I protect my eyes in the workplace setting?
According to AOA (2021), the type of safety eye protection you should wear depends on the hazards in your workplace:
- If you are working in an area that has particles, flying objects or dust, you must at least wear safety glasses with side protection;
- If you are working with chemicals, you must wear goggles;
- If you are working near hazardous radiation (welding, lasers or fibre optics), you must use special-purpose safety glasses, goggles, face shields or helmets designed for the task.
In addition, employers need to take steps to make the work environment as safe as possible. This includes:
- Conducting an eye hazard assessment of the workplace;
- Removing or reducing eye hazards where possible;
- Providing appropriate safety eyewear and requiring employees to wear it;
Four things you can do to protect your eyes from injury:
- Know the eye safety dangers at your work;
- Eliminate hazards before starting work by using machine guards, work screens or other engineering controls;
- Use proper eye protection;
- Keep your safety eyewear in good condition and have it replaced if it becomes damaged;
by Grace | Jun 28, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
“1.9M Australians are drinking more than 6 standard drinks per day” – Dry July, 2021.
Dry July is a fundraiser that encourages you to go alcohol-free in July to raise funds for people affected by cancer. This is the perfect opportunity to sign up your workplace team and quit the drink for a month to raise funds for a worthy cause!
Where do the raised funds go towards?
The funds raised through Dry July will provide invaluable services to cancer patients, their families and carers – whether it’s a lift to a life-saving appointment, guidance from a specialist nurse, connection to an informative voice, access to therapy programs or a bed close to treatment. (Dry July, 2021).
What are the risks of too much drinking?
Short term risks: reduced concentration, poor sleep quality, blackouts, intense moods (aggression, elation, depression), slower reflexes.
Long term risks: Irreversible liver, brain or nervous system damage, heart disease, high blood pressure, increased chance of a number of cancers, alcohol-related disease, illness and injuries.
How much alcohol is too much?
Men and women should have no more than 2 standard drinks per day (Dry July, 2021).
What are the benefits of Dry July?
According to Dry July (2021):
- Improved sleep quality;
- Increase in wakefulness;
- Enhanced work performance;
- Improved concentration;
- Lose weight;
- Decrease cholesterol;
- Lower blood glucose;
- Decrease in liver fat;
- Save money – the average household spends $34.20 on alcohol per week;
- Improve mental health – alcohol can trigger or worsen existing symptoms of anxiety;
- Cut calories – you can cut out an average of 433 calories (men) or 300 calories (women) per day;
- Healthier skin – alcohol causes dehydration, so abstaining will leave you with hydrated, healthier-looking skin;
What if I have a special event on in July?
A Golden Ticket gives a Dry July participant a night off their challenge. For a minimum cost of $25, their night off will still make a difference to the lives of people affected by cancer.
Sign up with your workplace and promote health and wellness, team connection and support people affected by cancer – https://www.dryjuly.com/2021/sign-up-workplace-team
by Grace | Mar 15, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
According to Safe Work Australia (2020), World Day for Safety and Health at Work is a time to think about how our actions can prevent future work-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, and a day to remember those that have died from a work-related injury or illness.
By raising awareness of work health and safety and taking action, we can help prevent further injuries and death.
The theme for 2020 is Stop the pandemic: Safety and health at work can save lives.
COVID-19 has brought with it a need for Australians to adapt to rapidly changing workplace practices.
Under the model work health and safety laws, employers have a duty of care for the health and safety of their workers and others in the workplace. This duty extends to managing the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
Workplaces can reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by:
- ensuring good hygiene and cleanliness in the workplace
- implementing physical distancing, and
- using personal protective equipment as appropriate.
by Grace | Mar 15, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
The four day weekend over Easter is a shoe-in for the potential to overindulge! Being surrounded by chocolate, copious amounts of delicious food and alcohol, it is possible to resist the temptations! The Green Apple Wellness Centre (2017) provides 8 tips for staying healthy this Easter:
- Stock up on fruit and veg!
Chocolate is never more tempting when there is no fresh fruit and vegetables in the fridge. Cut up your fruit (such as watermelon and pineapple) and store in containers as soon as you buy it for easy access to the healthier option.
- Chocolate only at dessert time.
This is tricky we know, but restricting chocolate eating to dessert time should drastically reduce the amount of chocolate you eat and will prevent mindless chocolate snacking. Make sure you put an amount of chocolate you would like to eat in a bowl and leave the rest in the kitchen to avoid over-indulging!
- The darker the chocolate, the better:
Dark chocolate has significantly less sugar and carbs than milk/white chocolate, as well as more cocoa (the original chocolate plant).
- Maintain your regular exercise:
Exercising is a great way to reduce cravings for chocolate. It will help maintain your fitness goals over the public holidays. Organise a game of backyard cricket, go to the beach for a walk and enjoy being outside!
- Good Friday means seafood!
An Easter tradition is abstain from red meat on Good Friday. Take the challenge (or free ticket) to some fresh fish for dinner. Fish is a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids, rich in protein and low in calories. Pair your fish with a side of fresh salad or some grilled veggies and you have yourself a very healthy Good Friday dinner!
- Do not bulk buy
The sales and aisle upon aisles of chocolate are tempting – but resist and do not bulk buy chocolate unless necessary. Instead, purchase one or two high quality chocolate treats to enjoy over the extended weekend.
- Watch what your drink
The Easter holiday normally means entertaining or being entertained. When having guests over, it’s nice to have a couple of drink alternatives. When considering what to buy, make sure you have some cold water and soda options too. When visiting somebody else’s house, opt to drink some water as well.
- Don’t forget normal eggs
Whilst it’s easy to enjoy the chocolate eggs, don’t forget the value of traditional eggs (chicken laid eggs). Eggs are a great source of protein and are an effective and great way to start your day!
by Grace | Feb 21, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
Raise funds for the Cancer Council for lifesaving research by participating in March Charge.
‘Join the charge and tell cancer where to go’ – Cancer Council (2021).
The March Charge is a fun 31 day fitness challenge that has an enormous impact on how cancer is researched and treated.
Just by walking or running for Cancer Council this March and raising funds, your workplace will be helping them ‘charge’ ahead with cancer research. It’s the perfect opportunity for your staff to get away from the screens, get active and improve overall health and wellbeing. You could organise lunch runs, walking meetings, or (social distancing) fitness sessions remotely with an online tally. It’s your ‘charge’ and your choice.
There are varying distances you can strive for (50km, 80km, 120km or pick your own distance) either solo or as a team. To check them out, register your team or donate, click here – https://www.themarchcharge.com.au/home.