Healthy Substitutions in Everyday Situations

Small Habit Changes!

 

The most common New Year's Resolutions revolve around a Healthy Lifestyle.  Right now we are being bombarded with ways to implement our New Year's Resolution.  Resolutions are good but the amount of information out there is too complicated to sift through.  So here is some advice to keep it simple....

First off, pick one habit and look at it as a healthy necessary habit, a long-term habit.

Second, look at what it is you want to change.  Eating Habits, Exercise Habits, Lowering your Stress Levels, Getting More Sleep.

Third, Be Specific!!!  Here are some examples:  I will bring an apple to eat for my afternoon snack instead of hitting the vending machine.  I will take a quick walk in the afternoon when I start to get hungry and crave sweets.  I will listen to relaxing music or an audio book on my way home from work to de-stress from the day.  I will go to bed 15 minutes earlier even if I have to put my kids to bed earlier.

Fourth, expect it to be difficult and don't let perfection be the only outcome.  You are going to struggle and maybe not do well one day. Cut yourself some slack and try again the next day.  Don't give up!

 

Solve my Riddle Tree!

If you found the Riddle hanging on our Riddle Tree near the Cafeteria.....

Then the answer is......The Elf-abet!!!

While you are on our website, check out some of our fun pages to the right.  This site is intended to help you in all areas of Health and Wellness.  From Local Events, Doctor's Illness Prevention, stress relieving games, exercises for all ages and even some immune boosting recipes. Check them out and come back for more information throughout the year.

 Watch for a new riddle next week!

Also, check out this great website for all ages... http://www.superhealthykids.com/  It has some great ideas and tips on a healthy lifestyle!

Get your flu shot!

 

By Dr. Stephanie Plunkett

Is it Too Late for a Flu Shot!

No, It is not too late to get a flu shot.  Although the vaccine takes two weeks to give you full protection, here are some good reasons to get one....

Five reasons why you should get a flu vaccine:
1. An average of 15-20% of the population gets the flu every year.
2. The flu causes an average of 3.2 days of missed work each year.
3. Infection with the flu is very dangerous for infants and the elderly - protect your family by protecting yourself!
4. There is an average of 23,600 annual flu-related deaths in the US!
5. The flu is a preventable illness!

Get the facts and know how to prevent the flu! Go to www.flufacts.com for more information!

By Dr. Stephanie Plunkett

Time to Revamp!

We are in the process of revamping our blog to make it more user friendly.   Beginning now, each post will appear on the Home page for two weeks.  After two weeks it will be moved (filed) to one of the pages that fit the criteria of the post (ex. Recipes will appear here for two weeks, then you will be able to find them under Recipes & Nutrition after that).   Thanks for hanging in there with us while we work to make this blog better for everyone!

Fall back....but not into old habits!

As we prepare to hunker down for the winter it is important to keep some good habits we have made and try not to fall into old ones that seem so comfortable. 

This fall is the perfect time to set up some new habits.  Habits are something that become second nature to us.  Take an overview of your life and look at the areas that you struggle the most in.  Is it eating a good breakfast, exercising everyday, getting enough sleep, spending quality time with your family, or taking time to relax and unwind.  We all struggle and our struggles change or increase as quickly as the seasons.  If you try to take on too much at one time you will most likely fail.  Pick one thing, just one, and try to come up with a way to conquer it. 

Let's say for example, you don't feel like you have enough quality time with your family, especially your children.   You may feel like the only conversations you have with them are ones that tell them to do things....."Do your homework, pick up your shoes, brush your teeth, be nice to your sister, quit playing video games".  All of these things only leave us as parents who instruct but are not engaged.  All this can change with a little change in our attitudes, language and maybe some time management.   Try to change your mindset a little and look at the time that we have as parents as short and foundational for them.  The things they learn from us will help form them into who they become and how they treat other people.  Through my many years of trial and error (mainly error) my mantra has become......Overlook what you can, deal with what you have to, and pour love into every decision you make so that you look back with no regrets. We struggle in our house everyday with something or another but trying to keep things in the right perspective helps us get through.