by Grace | Dec 14, 2020 | Workplace Education
December is a busy time of the year – juggling work deadlines, extra social commitments, planning Christmas day celebrations, completing the Christmas shopping.. it’s a great deal happening all at once!
“One in three adults suffer from ‘holiday burnout’, with 36% claiming that that the affliction sets in before mid-December” – Stylist, 2020.
How exactly do you combat this overwhelming feeling of exhaustion during December? Stylist (2020) reveals some tips as follows:
- Accept: Acknowledge that is ok to feel anxious, stressed and overwhelmed. When demands of our lives exceed what we can realistically achieve, it is natural to feel pressures and burnt-out. Be kind to yourself!
- Clarify values: Assess what really matters to you. Sometimes the pressures of having the ‘perfect’ Christmas can lead us into investing too much energy into the things that really don’t matter. Reflect on your worries and consider making changings.
- Set boundaries: During the Christmas season you may have an increased sense of obligation to others. Review the boundaries you set with your relationships which may include time, spending, communication or making plans. Clarify your OWN boundaries.
- Do what matters: What brings you joy, vitality and purpose over Christmas time? There is nothing wrong with valuing downtime, rest and connection with those who give you energy.
- Take time for reflection: If you become anxious and stressed at this time of the year, reflect where you would like to find yourself this time next year – Taking charge of our lives and empowering ourselves to make positive changes is a great starting point for the year ahead.
by Grace | Dec 1, 2020 | Workplace Education
This Thursday we are celebrating IDPWD with this year’s theme focusing on spreading awareness and understanding of disabilities that are not immediately apparent, such as mental illness, chronic pain or fatigue, sight or hearing impairments, diabetes, brain injuries, neurological disorders, learning differences and cognitive dysfunctions, among others.
’15 per cent of the world’s population, or more than 1 billion people, are living with disability. Of this number, it’s estimated 450 million are living with a mental or neurological condition and 2/3 of these will not seek professional medical help, largely due to stiga, discrimination and neglect.’ – World Health Organisation.
Please remember millions of people are living with disability that is not immediately apparent and how important it is to remove the barriers for all people living with disability, both visible and non-visible.
by Grace | Nov 24, 2020 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
With kids on school holidays and excitement levels through the roof, Focus on Family Australia suggests the following activities you can enjoy with your family.
- Christmas Light Drive: Stay up late with kids and go on a special tour of your local area.
- Park Picnic: Enjoy dinner in the park by packing a picnic.. you may like to cheat and order fish and chips!
- Get amongst your local festive activities: Your local town or city will have plenty of activities to attend over the Christmas period – this may include carols in the park, street bbq’s or the famous Myer windows in Melbourne.
- Give back: Get your family together and consider how you can give back this Christmas. There are lots of donations to great causes, buying presents that will go to the less fortunate or simply volunteering as a family.
- Christmas carols: Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without attending the local carols event.
- Decorate the tree together: As a family, get involved in decorating your Christmas tree together.
- Start a new tradition: Even the simplest of things can make Christmas memorable – set the table with the cutlery reversed, enjoy dinner together on Christmas eve and watch a Christmas movie together. Whatever it is, make it fun.
by Grace | Nov 24, 2020 | Workplace Education
December is a busy time of the year! Work Christmas parties, social catch ups, family Christmas gatherings.. it’s an easy time to gain 5kg’s before you know it!
Just remember – balance is OK. You can still enjoy your good food and wine, keeping in mind not to go overboard.
According to Nutritionist, Steph Wearne, here’s six tips you can do to prevent weight gain over the silly season.
- Stick to a portion plate:
‘Every time you sit down to a meal, try and make it 1/4 plate protein, 1/4 plate complex carbohydrates, 1/2 plate of vegetables and 1-2 tablespoons of healthy fats,’ Steph says.
Cooking at home makes this easy, however often during December we have more commitments than usual and are going out for dinner more often.
When this happens, Steph recommends you still take into account the ideal portion sizes – and order extra vegetables or salad while out at a restaurant.
- Keep Active:
Your normal routine may be interrupted over Christmas time, but it is possible to keep active.
‘Instead of meeting a friend for a wine – go for a walk, instead of visiting family at a house – suggest to meet at the beach,’ Steph said.
- Meal prep:
Whilst it sounds like hard work, meal prepping during the Christmas season will help your waistline.
Get organised on a night you have no plans and keep your food in the fridge and freezer when you need it.
‘Make your freezer your best friend and that way you can keep healthy meals, snacks or even just frozen veggies on hand to whip up a healthy dinner in no time,’ Steph says in her blog.
- Keep snacks on hand:
This can get you out of trouble when you’ve been tied up at work, or stayed longer than anticipated at an afternoon work catch up.
‘I’m talking a small handful of nuts, some veg with nut butter or hummus, protein balls or just a piece of fruit,’ Steph said.
- Eat before finger food events:
Finger food events are tricky, as you never know what food will be available.
The nutritionist recommends eating something before you go to such an event – so you can politely decline anything too fatty or fried.
- Keep your alcohol intake minimal:
It’s the alcohol calories that really add up and give yourself a drinks limit for events, which will help your weight over the Christmas period.
Steph suggests in her blog – ‘The best thing you can do is to keep hydrated. This means a water in between alcoholic drinks but also choosing drinks that are served with mineral/soda water is helpful.’
by Grace | Nov 23, 2020 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
We’re approaching the pointy end of the year… Christmas! This means everybody wants EVERYTHING done by the 25th December.. meaning bigger hours, greater workload, more social commitments and added stress to your day!
With all this pressure, you start to feel it.. your heart rate is racing, you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re tired, your decisions are cloudy and you generally have a lot on your plate!
According to Elite Daily and Inc. (2019), here’s some tips to stress less in 30 seconds:
1. Slow your breathing:
You can do this anywhere, anytime – inhale deep into your belly for a count of four, hold for a count of eight and exhale for a count of four.
2. Make a gratitude list:
When stress runs high, it’s a good idea to get yourself out of your head. Channel your negative feelings into something positive by writing a gratitude list.. it may be as simple as your morning coffee, your pink socks you have on or a visit from your niece last week. This is a distraction technique.
3. Give yourself a moment of self-massage:
Bring your shoulders up to your ears, then drop them down. Give each shoulder a few good kneads and squeezes with the opposite hand.
4. Notice Five Things:
You can do this at your desk, or on your quick 30 minute break walk to the park. Open up your senses and notice five interesting things that you can see, hear, feel or smell.
5. Make yourself a tea:
A soothing way to relax whilst in the office.
6. Name your feelings:
Acknowledge any feelings of frustration, anger afraid, etc.. this is proven to make you feel more calm.
by Grace | Nov 16, 2020 | Workplace Education
According to the World Health Organisation (2020), World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) aims to increase the awareness of global antimicrobial resistance and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers to avoid further emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections.
The World Health Organisation (2020) states that antimicrobials are used to fight diseases in humans, animals and plants and include antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal and antiparasitic medicines.
NPS Medicine Wise (www.nps.org.au, 2019) further explains that as an example, antibiotics kill bacteria, but they cannot kill viral infections like colds and flu. Often, they are used incorrectly for those illnesses, leading to antibiotic resistance.
Antimicrobal resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites resist the effects of medications, making common infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death (WHO, 2020).
Whilst antibiotics have their place and are effective when correctly used, we all have a part to play in helping to preserve the power of antibiotics with our knowledge.