Health Tip: Filing Cabinets = Good For Your Health
|
|
Put some good use to your office drawers
 Most office cubicle spaces have lots
of drawers. Who can use them all anyway? Why not make one of them your
"health drawer." You can stock it full of healthy non-perishable snacks
like dried fruit, veggies and nuts. Keep tea on hand so you can switch
over from coffee in the midday to help you sleep soundly at night. You
could also keep a pair of sneakers inside in case you get the urge to go
on a 10 minute walk. Why not also throw a pair of dumbbells or elastic
bands in there as well; what else are you going to do when you're on the
phone? In fact, with cellular technology, you could even put on your
walkin' shoes and go for a stroll when you get a call. You can work efficiently
while still having fun and stay healthy.
Bring Recess to the Office this New Year »
|
lucy giveaway ends December 12!
|
|
Be nice to a friend. Be nice to yourself!
Sometimes in the dark months of winter it takes a little extra motivation to get out the door and get moving. And we know that one of our favorite little motivators (after a canine or human companion) is comfortable and attractive workout gear! Recess will be giving away an attractive, high performance marathon half-zip top (worth $85!) from lucy to one lucky newsletter/blog reader. The more you comment the better your chances since you'll get one entry for every comment you make!
All you have to do to win is:
Forward our newsletter to a friend (see the bottom of this email), or, comment on our blog before December 12, 2008. One lucky person will be chosen at random and the winner will be announced on our blog.
|
Recess vs. The Holiday Party
|
|
Photocopies of a tushie or yoga @ work. Who'll win?
In light of the economic downturns, layoffs and overall fiscal belt-tightening in corporate America wouldn't it be a good idea to reconsider the way we spend our "morale" dollars to help the remaining employees weather the economic storm under a wee bit less stress?
While we certainly don't condone violence, this month's newsletter is going to feature a good, clean fight. And we want you to referee!
In the first corner:
The Office Holiday Party
Weighing in at a minimum of $25 per person (that's about 4,000
buckeroos @ a company of 150 people), this hometown favorite is sure to
deliver one night of what is sure to be awkward & drunken
coversation, inappropriate copies of someone's rear end and a case of serious indigestion - not to mention weight gain. In the second corner:
Recess Office Yoga, or, No-Sweat Stretch ClassWeighing in at a slight $90 per event (that's nearly a class a week for a year at the same price as The Office Holiday Party), this scrappy challenger pummels the living daylight out of stress, neck and back pain. Quick and nimble he can fit in hallways, board rooms and can do it all without anyone breaking a sweat or having to change clothes. This flexible lad allows you to do all of your booking online (not on the ropes). What is your vote? Would you rather have 50 yoga, relaxation or stretch classes per year or one holiday party? Weigh in with your answer on our blog and remember that you could win some lucy gear for making your voice heard. Cast your vote! »
|
| Feeling S.A.D.?
|
|
It could be the winter light.
Whoever came up with the proper name for the Winter Blues
must've had a knack for puns. Seasonal Affective
Disorder (or S.A.D.) appears during late fall or early winter and goes away
during the sunnier days of spring and summer.
SAD symptoms can manifest
in varying degrees of severity, though at its worst SAD resembles severe
depression. SAD can also affect the everyday person in little ways, making
them experience melancholy, fatigue, hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness), weight gain, and anxiety.
Approximately 9.5% of the population experiences moderate to severe SAD in the
winter. The cause of SAD had been scarcely understood until the last
decade. Scientists thought that SAD was linked to how your skin takes in light.
While this hypothesis made perfect sense, today we know that SAD has more to do
with our eyes than our skin.
Our eyes process light as information and as a neural
stimulant. Light gets processed as images and sent to the brain via the optic
nerve, so it should come as no surprise that there are also neural pathways
that link the eyes to other parts of the brain. Interestingly, the brain centers that control mood and human circadian
rhythms (aka sleep cycles) are also connected to the eyes. And they can become
easily aggravated. When special optical cells, called Retinal Ganglion Cells
(RCGs), become under-stimulated by the sun's rays, these brain centers begin to
function...suspiciously.
If our eyes do not perceive the first light of
dawn, at the time of dawn, then the circadian clock gets pushed forwards; in
other words, if the sun rises at 6 and we wake up at 8, our bodies will think
dawn is happening later than it actually is. The body's perception of dawn may
be inconsistent with the rising and setting of the sun, thanks, in large part,
to electric lights, (curse you, Edison). This is why most people are moderate
"night owls."
Today scientists know that SAD is linked to the
disunion of our circadian rhythm with the rise and fall of the sun. That's
right, tanning booths aren't going to help you this time.
Reversing seasonal affective disorder
Reversing seasonal affective disorder is pretty
simple, straightforward and free of charge.
Step one: Sleep at night and be active during
the day. By waking up when the sun does (or at least trying to) our eyes will
get exposure to very bright light in the morning, thus advancing our clocks
just enough to put us in normal sleep phase.
Step two: Get some sun. Basking on the porch,
even on a cold day, or going on morning walks can easily reverse SAD more
effectively than drugs can. Depending on where you live, of course, it may be
difficult for you to get natural sunlight, even for short periods of time, and
so the next best thing is to get high-intensity, full-spectrum lighting, which
is available from various light boxes and seasonal affective disorder treatment
devices.
Step three: Know your limits. Being able to
discern when you need rest and when you're fatigued is a valuable skill to
have. Proper diet combined with moderate exercise (think walks, dancing indoors, indoor soccer, cycling) can easily reduce fatigue, leaving you
time to rest when you need to.
Step four: Add some beauty. Fresh flowers on
your desk and lots of water can also help bring the outdoors inside your office,
bedroom, and body.
Don't let SADness become a vicious cycle for
you.
Read how you and a friend can get back on track together »
|
|
