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Do you have stuff?

I have stuff. And sometimes that stuff gets overwhelming. It seems that my stuff piles up and takes up more and more space.

Regularly I go through my stuff and par it down.

Some of that stuff I can give away to others who may appreciate it more.

My oldest son just bought his first house and finally, I can get rid of all the stuff that I was saving for this day. I hung on to it, to help him out as he was starting out. It feels good to open up that space again and clean out the stuff that has been sitting on shelves in the basement all of these years.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! 

Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Give Something Away Day:

Part of building balance is about simplifying. This includes closets, basements, mementos, cupboards … anywhere that stuff has piled up. In the workplace, look to see what is no longer being used. Can it be donated to a school, a youth home, a shelter?

Try to give something back to the world and not just the stuff that you have collected. Can you give someone your time? Can you share your expertise? Can you donate blood? Can you buy an extra bag of groceries for someone in need? Can you reach out and make a difference in some way?

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In

#mentalhealth #hr

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Are you keeping cool today? It is the middle of summer and it is also International Nude Day.

Nudist groups around the world celebrate this holiday and take it quite seriously!

Today is the day to celebrate your birthday suit. However, I wouldn’t suggest it as appropriate attire for the workplace, unless you are like me and you work from home…with no chance that a delivery person will come to the door.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! 

Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating International Nude Day:

Be proud of your birthday suit, no matter what shape or size it comes in.

Though there are some obvious benefits of going nude…like less laundry to do, but make sure that you don’t shock your family, co-workers, or neighbours.

If you are going to go outside, remember that you will still need to wear sunscreen and watch out for poison ivy, if you happen to go for a walk in the woods.

Finally, if going nude is not quite for you, treat your skin to some pampering.

Your skin is your largest organ. So slap on some moisturizing cream and give it a bit of attention as you celebrate your skin.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

#mentalhealth #hr

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Don’t worry. It’s all natural.

Herbal medicine is expanding in popularity.

According to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, 70% of adults 60 years and older take at least one supplement daily, and 29% take four or more each day. Billions of dollars are spent annually on herbal products and billions more on vitamins, minerals and other dietary supplements.

Herbal supplements have been credited with aiding everything from digestion to depression, but it’s important to understand that “all natural” doesn’t always translate to safe.

Herbal supplements are not regulated like other drugs or foods, so being aware and staying safe and healthy is vital.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! 

So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Herbal Prescription Awareness Month:

Follow these Safety Tips:

Always talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist first before taking an herbal medication or supplement to avoid negative impacts with certain foods or other medication.

One common herbal medication is St. John’s Wort. St. John’s Wort can be effective on mild to moderate depression, however it can interact with a large number of medications, including antidepressants, allergy drugs, birth control, and warfarin.

Ginkgo, most commonly taken to improve memory, has been shown to interact with aspirin, diuretics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and blood thinners.

Finally, follow supplement instructions, in the same way that you would follow a prescription from your healthcare provider

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

#mentalhealth #hr

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How are you doing? How’s work going? The kids?

We are busy! Most of us have a full plate. And many of us have a multitude of things vying for our attention.

So how can we find a better balance and simplify our life?

Balance is about maximizing what you love and minimizing what you loathe. Balance is about focusing on the fundamentals: health, security, relationships, personal development, purpose and making them a priority in your life.

Balance is not about equal it is about satisfaction.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! 

Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Simplicity Day:

Design the life that you want to live, by examining where you spend your time and energy.

Avoid blaming others and situations – WE have the ultimate decision on how OUR time will be spent.

Develop and set your priorities and say ‘No’ to those things which are not your priority.

Do not over-program yourself and make time to focus on yourself.

Don’t get caught up in trying to multitask. Stay focused. Work productively.

Finally, simplify routines and de-junk your physical space.

Simplifying means “letting go” of things that weigh us down. Worry, confusion, stress: these are all things can arise from complexity. Getting rid of the distracting parts of our lives, we can live a more balanced, fulfilling life.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

#mentalhealth #hr

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Approximately 1 in 5 seniors say that they are lonely.  People can become lonely for any number of reasons, regardless of their age. Some people are lonely because they don’t feel like they fit in, while others may become lonely after the death of a loved one. Other people might just suffer from an illness that doesn’t allow them to see many people.

When my boys were little, they were blessed to have 3 sets of grandparents and 3 sets of great-grandparents.  Life was busy with two little ones, but we made it a point of visiting each of the great grandparents.  Sometimes the boys would complain, and we would have to explain that not everyone’s lives were busy like ours.  Grandmas and Grandpas loved us and looked forward to us visiting.  It made them happy. 

It doesn’t take much to cheer up the lonely and make a difference.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! 

Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Cheer Up The Lonely Day:

Let your friend or family member know that you are thinking about them.  Send them a message, call them on the phone, or go for a visit.

We need physical contact, but giving a hug may not be appropriate at this time.  Did you know that giving 5 people a hug every day can lower your own stress level by 25%. Look for other ways to get connected.

Ask what they need.  It’s ok to ask.  And if they are not sure, let them know that you are there when they need you.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

#mentalhealth #hr

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Our world is changing and sometimes that change is difficult to keep up with. Sometimes we see the need for the change, but we don’t know how to move forward. Sometimes we want the change and we look for ways to push it forward.

I grew up in rural Ontario where my cousins and second cousins and so on were my neighbours and classmates. We looked like each other and we sounded like each other. I had 3 local TV stations, and we watched very little TV except for hockey, which I tuned out.

I don’t remember giving skin colour a second thought. I went to University and I still don’t remember giving it a second thought.

It wasn’t until I lived in Toronto that I remember hearing some of my first racial slurs.

I know that 30 years later, I have said or thought things that were racial generalizations in reactions to activities, sayings, or even music.

So here we are in the midst of turmoil and I am still seeing arguments around Black Lives Matter versus All Lives Matter. I absolutely agree with both statements. Black Lives Matter. All Lives Matter. Your Life Matters.

My life matters.

However, I can not remember a time where my skin colour has put me at a disadvantage, or made me looked down upon as something less, or put me at risk, or seen as dangerous.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!

So what can we all do…Listen and show up.

Listen to each other.

Show up and be willing to acknowledge someone’s experiences, no matter how different it may be to yours.

By listening and showing up, by opening up in this way, we can examine where we can push change forward. Where we can make the necessary impact. We all have a role to play in making that happen. It’s needed and long overdue as Every Life Matters.

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Frequently going to a park and being active can reduce stress, improve cardiovascular health, help ward off obesity and decrease feelings of depression. Research shows that:

Active users of public parks have a lower body mass index

People who visit parks for longer periods of time (one hour or more) have significantly lower systolic blood pressures

Playing in parks also helps children build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints, improve self-esteem

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! 

Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Recreation And Parks Month:

Take a look at what is available near you for a relatively low entertainment fee

From camping overnight to enjoying the day at the beach our parks can provide an opportunity to enjoy some of the best views and activities our countries have to offer. If you are camping overnight, plan for both the good weather and bad.

Let go of your everyday worries and be in the moment. Enjoy the sights and sounds that only our parks can provide.

Leave your technology at home or at least turn it off. There is nothing like cooking outdoors or sitting beside the fire. Resist the urge to bring modern conveniences with you. Check in for messages only when absolutely necessary

Our parks are one of our national treasures that many of us don’t take the time to enjoy. However, they can provide us with an opportunity to relax and get connected with ourselves, our family and friends and to nature itself.

Remember, If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In

#mentalhealth #hr

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Do you remember playing your first video game?

Mine was Pong and it was New Year's Day at a friend’s house. How cool was it to see the game get faster and faster and try to keep up the hand-eye co-ordination?

Now the video game industry is worth $70 billion a year and there are over five million games in existence. Most of us have played at least one video game in our life. According to a National Today Survey, many of us like to play our games on our phones.

The #1 reason we played was we were bored, followed by when we were watching TV, before we go to sleep and unthinkably for me…when we are on the toilet. Ick.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! 

Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Video Game Day:

Whether you celebrate Video Game Day this month or in September, it is not only easy, but it is also fun as well. All you have to do is to fire up your favorite video game system and have some fun with your friends or family. You can play games on a modern system or you can play one of your classics.

Video games can be a great stress reliever. They help to pass away free time. They can give an adrenaline rush and you get a chance to use your imagination and problem-solving skills.

Video games can be highly engrossing, but some people can become addicted to gaming.  The World Health Organization recently recognized "gaming disorder" as a mental health condition.

Simply playing a lot of video games isn't enough to count as a disorder. Rather, the disorder occurs when gaming interferes with people's daily lives.

So have fun gaming, but remember that this should only be one of many strategies that you use to build your resiliency and manage your stress.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In

#mentalhealth #hr

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Liar, liar, pants on fire.

Have you ever told a lie?  Even a little white lie?

Is it ever okay to lie?  Do you think that stretching the truth is lying?  Or is lying by omission lying?

Have you ever lied about your spending habits or about an illness to a boss so that you could take an extra vacation day?  Is there such a thing as an acceptable lie?

Research out of the University of California suggests that people tell an average of two lies a day.  A survey conducted in the UK estimated that parents will tell children approximately 3,000 lies throughout their childhood and a US poll reported that 31% of moms said that they lied more often since having kids.

So is it possible to always tell the truth?  Probably not as sometimes we lie to protect the feelings of another or to prevent issues from arising. 

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! 

Take note of the things that you may be lying about.  Then, ask yourself why do you feel the need to lie about these things? The insights that you garner may be invaluable in measuring your morale compass.

See how long you can go without lying.  And avoiding all other human contact during this time doesn’t count.  Do you have a harder time not lying at work or at home?

REMEMBER THE GOLDEN RULE – Let the truth you share be in a manner that you would also appreciate.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

#mentalhealth #hr

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Pucker up. Today is a lip-smacking day.

Is your technique more washing machine, cannibal, puppy, or prude?

Did you know that locking lips, increases your heart rate and causes your pupils to dilate? It also releases endorphins causing the feeling of happiness.

A kiss is a perfect way to tell someone you love them, to connect with that special someone and a perfect way to take your relationship to the next level.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! 

Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating International Kissing Day:

Did you know that:

In Italy and Greece friends, commonly kiss each other on the lips when greeting each other, whereas in France one air kiss on each cheek is a customary greeting.

In Vietnam, China and Japan kissing between spouses is only done in private. While people from the Netherlands opt for 3 kisses as a form of greeting.

In one survey, 23% said that their kissing skills were amazing, while 2% said that they were horrible at it.

They also reported that the worst attributes of a bad kisser were bad breath, too much tongue, teeth gnashing, not enough tongue and no eye contact.

Funny enough, 11% of people said that there were grossed out by their parents kissing in front of them.

The act of kissing has many meanings and takes many forms. No matter which type of kiss you prefer, International Kissing Day is the perfect time to celebrate this powerful gesture. And if you don’t have anyone that you can pucker up with, you can always celebrate the day with a yummy Hershey’s Kiss.

Remember, If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

#mentalhealth #hr