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Do you realize that your team consumes 1/3 of their nutrition at work? Have you ever wondered how what they are eating will affect the productivity of your team?
Researchers from Brigham Young University, the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) and the Center for Health Research at Healthways analyzed the topic of "presenteeism" - being present at work, but not performing optimally. (1) The study revealed that employees with unhealthy diets were 66% more likely to report a productivity loss than healthy eaters, demonstrating that the foods we eat have a direct impact on our work performance
It's a new year! Do you have new ideas and new habits to learn?
Hopefully, these new habits will sustain you through the whole of 2023 – not just January and February.
Many people want to create new healthier habits, but find that lack of motivation gets in the way of letting go of old habits because they're familiar and it's easier to stick with what we know; besides we're used to getting dopamine hits from things we do on a regular basis to give us pleasure.
One of the biggest issues we hear from our clients when it comes to their work life is; feeling overwhelmed with too much on their plate, with many skipping lunches and working overtime to get the job done. Studies show that stress and anxiety negatively impact work productivity. Job stress/anxiety also makes employees more prone to error, poor work performance, burnout, and conflict in the workplace. If these issues go overlooked, organizations can pay the price in higher rates of turnover, disengagement, and absenteeism.
In Canada, 50% of the working population lives with a minimum of one chronic condition which can have a huge impact on quality of life, as well as work performance.
Among these chronic health conditions, diabetes is one of the most prevalent ones of our times and may go undiagnosed as a silent condition in its early stages. With type 2 diabetes, symptoms tend to come on gradually, and you may have insulin resistance for 10-15 years before being diagnosed. Although there is no cure for diabetes, insulin resistance can be managed effectively through lifestyle changes, such as being physically active, eating healthy, limiting alcohol, and having good sleep and self-care habits. The fact that 78% of Canadians are not sufficiently active and 60% have poor eating habits is putting many of us at risk. With a focus on prevention, lifestyle changes, according to research, can prevent at least 70% of major chronic diseases
Health and wellness coaching can play a significant role in the prevention and management of diabetes. You may struggle with compliance to the recommendations by healthcare professionals for a healthy lifestyle. Perhaps you have been told what to eat, how much and when but are struggling to do so consistently and making these changes work for your family and work life.
People and businesses everywhere are feeling the effects of inflation and rising costs. One way that you as an employee can stretch the value of a dollar is to check with your HR provider to see if your employer offers any discount programs for services that are not covered.
You should also be aware of and take advantage of what you have access to through your benefits. Your benefits can provide additional financial security beyond your salary.
Did you know that many Canadians have employee health benefits plans and most major insurers (seven out of ten) include dietitian services in their standard plan?
Many employers offer paramedical coverage as well as spending accounts, this coverage offers reimbursement for a variety of practitioners not usually covered under a provincial health plan.
Many of us spend most of our time focused on those around us and work rather than on ourselves. When we finally carve out time for ourselves, the last thing we want to do is work on ourselves. In the meantime, issues and difficulties we are having continue to build.
When I was a kid everyone had a vegetable garden in their back yard. It was an economic necessity for our family of eight kids, as it was for many families of the time. Every spring one of us kids would lose our boots, stuck deep in the mud of last year's garden. Kids and mud – so compatible! Gardening for me today is less about economic necessity and more about health: physical and mental. Taste is also a motivator. One of the positive outcomes of the pandemic is the return to nature and a simpler life. Maybe we knew subconsciously what was good for us and would keep us together mentally. Getting our hands dirty offers unlimited benefits and rewards.
After a long period of struggle and adjustment, many of my clients found that working remotely allowed them a better work/life balance and more time for self-care. Now, many are being asked to return to worksites and of course there's resistance. We don't want to give up these newfound benefits. But the reality is, most people need their jobs, so here's what I suggest, whether working from home or onsite.
Clutter is stuck energy. When you clear clutter you release the flow of feel-good energy. You know what I'm talking about. Consider a big mess of food and dishes from dinner versus the feeling of a clean kitchen counter. Ahh, relief.
But we're not talking about cleanliness here so much as stuff. We cram it in drawers, on desks, in pantries and closets to the point we can't find anything and we don't even know what we have.
Have you lost your "mojo" as a result of the pandemic? You are not alone! When life throws us curve balls, we tend to drop one of the most important components of health, movement. The reality is that motivation often leaves us when we need it most but you can choose to accept that it is missing, complain and deal with the effects of a complacent mind/body or you can stand up, dust yourself off and get back in the game. Here are some strategies for you to try: