February 5th is Give Kids a Smile Day! Participating local dentists will provide free dental care to children. Appointments are needed. The following practices in Ocean County will participate:
CHEMED Health Center, Lakewood – 732-534-8061
Ocean Health Initiatives, Lakewood – 732-363-6655
The Tooth Doctor, Manahawkin, 609-597-6990
Dr. Valeria Barba, Manasquan – 732-223-4416
Ocean Pediatric Dental Assoc., Toms River–732-473-1123
Ocean Health Initiatives, Toms River 732-552-0377
DeMarco Family Dental, Tuckerton, 609-296-8700
Please call ahead for directions and appointments.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Round 20 - Final Round
November 12 to November 25
We have come to the end of the 2009 Health and Wellness Challenge. Thank you to all who participated. Look for exciting things to come in 2010. If you want to join the committee, please discuss it with your supervisor. The deadline for submitting your name is November 30th.
Next year, we will be dropping the "Challenge" and becoming the "Health and Wellness Committee". Some of the activities we will be planning are:
1. Creating a "Wellness Toolkit" for employees, which will include:
Health & Wellness Directory of local gyms, parks, food co-ops, natural food stores, and other organizations and businesses which promote a healthy lifestyle
Motivational posters for staff rooms
Suggestions for healthy lunch hour activities
Ideas for healthy food events at work locations
2. Holding training workshops for staff on such topics as: diabetes, clean eating, nutrition
3. Planning and holding activities for staff such as:
"Field trips" to health food stores like Whole Foods
"Pick Your Own" trips
Charity walk outings (Heart Walk, Making Strides, March of dimes, etc)
Letter writing campaigns to stores we want to see in Ocean County (Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Wegman's...)
As we enter a busy time of year for everyone, we plan to continue updating the blog with helpful information. If you have any tips to share, please send them to us.
We have come to the end of the 2009 Health and Wellness Challenge. Thank you to all who participated. Look for exciting things to come in 2010. If you want to join the committee, please discuss it with your supervisor. The deadline for submitting your name is November 30th.
Next year, we will be dropping the "Challenge" and becoming the "Health and Wellness Committee". Some of the activities we will be planning are:
1. Creating a "Wellness Toolkit" for employees, which will include:
Health & Wellness Directory of local gyms, parks, food co-ops, natural food stores, and other organizations and businesses which promote a healthy lifestyle
Motivational posters for staff rooms
Suggestions for healthy lunch hour activities
Ideas for healthy food events at work locations
2. Holding training workshops for staff on such topics as: diabetes, clean eating, nutrition
3. Planning and holding activities for staff such as:
"Field trips" to health food stores like Whole Foods
"Pick Your Own" trips
Charity walk outings (Heart Walk, Making Strides, March of dimes, etc)
Letter writing campaigns to stores we want to see in Ocean County (Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Wegman's...)
As we enter a busy time of year for everyone, we plan to continue updating the blog with helpful information. If you have any tips to share, please send them to us.
Round 19 October 29 to November 11
Thank you to everyone who filled out the Health & Wellness survey. We got some great feedback that we are using as we plan new activities for 2010.
SPiRITUALITY
On this round we continue exploring the theme of service and spirituality. Please be sure to read this article from the Mayo Clinic on the connection between spirituality and stress relief.
Of course, each person's view of spirituality is deeply personal, and everyone is welcome to their privacy. If this part of the Challenge is not for you, that is quite all right! The information shared here is not meant to promote or endorse any specific form of religion.
But if you are interested in exploring your own faith or other spiritual traditions, BeliefNet is a site whose mission is to help people find, and walk, a spiritual path. It provides inspiring devotional tools, access to spiritual teachers and clergy, commentary, and a supportive online community. Beliefnet is not affiliated with any spiritual organization or movement.
Of course, each person's view of spirituality is deeply personal, and everyone is welcome to their privacy. If this part of the Challenge is not for you, that is quite all right! The information shared here is not meant to promote or endorse any specific form of religion.
But if you are interested in exploring your own faith or other spiritual traditions, BeliefNet is a site whose mission is to help people find, and walk, a spiritual path. It provides inspiring devotional tools, access to spiritual teachers and clergy, commentary, and a supportive online community. Beliefnet is not affiliated with any spiritual organization or movement.
SERVICE
So What Can I Do ?, is a public service weblog promoting ethics in action. It presents hundreds of ways we can live as Mahatma Ghandi suggests and "Be the change you want to see in the world." Sadly, it looks like it is no longer being updated. But there are subject oriented links to the archives. This site is brimming with practical ideas for any individual looking to make the world a better place.
Serve.gov was created by President Barack Obama to motivate citizens to volunteer. It is a resource for not only finding volunteer opportunities in your community, but also creating your own.
Thanks to all who participated in the Challenge, even if it was just for a few activities. The last round will be a time of reflection and evaluation. In 2010, we are looking forward to more opportunities for staff to work together on wellness, and more workshops related to learning about being healthy.
Round 18 October 15 to October 28
This Round's posts focus on Service.
Take some time to visit Care2.com where you can take action for what you believe in by signing online petitions, taking part in the suggested daily actions, or searching for local volunteer opportunities.
Help out your community by taking advantage of the various volunteering opportunities listed on Volunteer New Jersey or the NJ Cares Network .
What could be better than playing free online games while donating to your favorite charity? At Games That Give , you can play a variety of games, such as Blackjack and Sudoku, while the charity of your choice receives donations, courtesy of a little of your downtime.
The website JustFreeStuff has a page of "Click to Donate" sites. Just clicking on the links on these sites generates donations because it shows sponsors that there are a lot of people visiting that page. The causes range from literacy to animal rescue.
Take some time to visit Care2.com where you can take action for what you believe in by signing online petitions, taking part in the suggested daily actions, or searching for local volunteer opportunities.
Help out your community by taking advantage of the various volunteering opportunities listed on Volunteer New Jersey or the NJ Cares Network .
What could be better than playing free online games while donating to your favorite charity? At Games That Give , you can play a variety of games, such as Blackjack and Sudoku, while the charity of your choice receives donations, courtesy of a little of your downtime.
The website JustFreeStuff has a page of "Click to Donate" sites. Just clicking on the links on these sites generates donations because it shows sponsors that there are a lot of people visiting that page. The causes range from literacy to animal rescue.
Round 17 - October 1 to October 14
Rounds 17 – 20 cover Service and Sprituality.
As we near the end of the 2009 Health and Wellness Challenge, it is time to turn our attention toward matters of the spirit. In her book “Quantum Wellness” (which has served as a loose guide for the Challenge) Kathy Freston says,
“Body, mind, and spirit all work together to create wellness.” (p. 12)
Much of this has to do with expanding our perspective beyond our personal world. Freston states,
“It’s all too easy to get caught up in life’s little dramas and forget about the big picture, but when you reach out and help someone, you feel your sense of purpose and mission kick in.” (p. 41)
The easiest way to broaden your world view is to do something for someone else. Freston tells us we can start small, with almost anything: “Help your nephew tie his shoe, tell a friend why you think he is wonderful, feed the parking meter or pay a toll for someone you don’t even know; all these things will make you feel good about yourself. You will feel alive and useful…by being the Healer for someone else, you will realize the power you have and can begin to use it on yourself.” (p. 171)
As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
How do we do that? A good place to start might be to try just one of the suggested activities in the book “Me to We: Finding Meaning in a Material World” by Craig Kielburger and Marc Kielburger. Check out their website at: http://www.metowe.org/
The authors call Me to We a “life philosophy…a way of living that feeds the positive in the world – one action, one act of faith, one small step at a time. “ Here are some activities suggested in different sections of the book:
*Make a mentor’s day. List the mentors you’ve had over your lifetime. Did a teacher believe in you? Did a colleague give you good advice at a critical moment? Take the next step and thank each person on your list for the difference they’ve made in your life.
* Fill a pocket full of love. If you are a poet, a teller of jokes, or simply a kindhearted soul, sneak a note into the pocket of a loved one who hasn’t been feeling well lately.
*Host a movie night with a message. Raise awareness about an issue affecting our global community by gathering family or friends together to watch a movie about a world issue. When the movie ends, talk about it. For the adventurous, bring food or music from that part of the world. (A few titles to get you started: “City of Joy”, “Salaam Bombay”, “Hotel Rwanda”, “The constant Gardener”.)
*Buy nothing for a week. Commit to going an entire week without buying anything that you don’t absolutely need. Rely on your own resources. Celebrate the fact that it’s possible because we’re already blessed with so much.
As we near the end of the 2009 Health and Wellness Challenge, it is time to turn our attention toward matters of the spirit. In her book “Quantum Wellness” (which has served as a loose guide for the Challenge) Kathy Freston says,
“Body, mind, and spirit all work together to create wellness.” (p. 12)
Much of this has to do with expanding our perspective beyond our personal world. Freston states,
“It’s all too easy to get caught up in life’s little dramas and forget about the big picture, but when you reach out and help someone, you feel your sense of purpose and mission kick in.” (p. 41)
The easiest way to broaden your world view is to do something for someone else. Freston tells us we can start small, with almost anything: “Help your nephew tie his shoe, tell a friend why you think he is wonderful, feed the parking meter or pay a toll for someone you don’t even know; all these things will make you feel good about yourself. You will feel alive and useful…by being the Healer for someone else, you will realize the power you have and can begin to use it on yourself.” (p. 171)
As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
How do we do that? A good place to start might be to try just one of the suggested activities in the book “Me to We: Finding Meaning in a Material World” by Craig Kielburger and Marc Kielburger. Check out their website at: http://www.metowe.org/
The authors call Me to We a “life philosophy…a way of living that feeds the positive in the world – one action, one act of faith, one small step at a time. “ Here are some activities suggested in different sections of the book:
*Make a mentor’s day. List the mentors you’ve had over your lifetime. Did a teacher believe in you? Did a colleague give you good advice at a critical moment? Take the next step and thank each person on your list for the difference they’ve made in your life.
* Fill a pocket full of love. If you are a poet, a teller of jokes, or simply a kindhearted soul, sneak a note into the pocket of a loved one who hasn’t been feeling well lately.
*Host a movie night with a message. Raise awareness about an issue affecting our global community by gathering family or friends together to watch a movie about a world issue. When the movie ends, talk about it. For the adventurous, bring food or music from that part of the world. (A few titles to get you started: “City of Joy”, “Salaam Bombay”, “Hotel Rwanda”, “The constant Gardener”.)
*Buy nothing for a week. Commit to going an entire week without buying anything that you don’t absolutely need. Rely on your own resources. Celebrate the fact that it’s possible because we’re already blessed with so much.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Last Fun Round-Up
We have reached Round 16, the last round of fun activities, September 17 to September 30.
First, a game to ease you into the fun:
Draw-It, an online interactive real-time Pictionary type game. It's addictive!
Hobbies provide people endless hours of fun. Not sure what to take up? Go to Discover a Hobby, the Internet's ultimate guide for finding and starting a new hobby! Here you can find out how to start any hobby, where to find free online lessons or regular lessons in your area, free online instructional videos, and the best beginners equipment, books, and videos.
Finally, if you are serious about having some fun, please check out The Happiness Project. Writer Gretchen Warren has been spending a lot of time thinking about how to make her life happier. She encourages everyone to start their own Happiness Project too, and her blog is chock full of ideas and tips to get started. She describes a Happiness Project this way:
"A “happiness project” is an approach to changing your life. First is the preparation stage, when you identify what brings you joy, satisfaction, and engagement, and also what brings you guilt, anger, boredom, and remorse. Second is the making of resolutions, when you identify the concrete actions that will boost your happiness. Then comes the interesting part: keeping your resolutions."
Her blog posts cover all sorts of topics. Be sure to read "Sixteen Tips to Feeling Happier at Work". Ms. Warren also has a book about The Happiness Project, due out in December 2009.
First, a game to ease you into the fun:
Draw-It, an online interactive real-time Pictionary type game. It's addictive!
Hobbies provide people endless hours of fun. Not sure what to take up? Go to Discover a Hobby, the Internet's ultimate guide for finding and starting a new hobby! Here you can find out how to start any hobby, where to find free online lessons or regular lessons in your area, free online instructional videos, and the best beginners equipment, books, and videos.
Finally, if you are serious about having some fun, please check out The Happiness Project. Writer Gretchen Warren has been spending a lot of time thinking about how to make her life happier. She encourages everyone to start their own Happiness Project too, and her blog is chock full of ideas and tips to get started. She describes a Happiness Project this way:
"A “happiness project” is an approach to changing your life. First is the preparation stage, when you identify what brings you joy, satisfaction, and engagement, and also what brings you guilt, anger, boredom, and remorse. Second is the making of resolutions, when you identify the concrete actions that will boost your happiness. Then comes the interesting part: keeping your resolutions."
Her blog posts cover all sorts of topics. Be sure to read "Sixteen Tips to Feeling Happier at Work". Ms. Warren also has a book about The Happiness Project, due out in December 2009.
Monday, August 31, 2009
The fun Continues...
We are up to Round 15, September 3 - September 16. As we bid summer good-bye, here are some new suggestions for adding fun and creativity to your days:
The January 2009 Women's Day had some neat ideas for having fun:
*"Hide and Seek" - On separate pieces of paper, write down 15 fun things you've always wanted to do. Now put each sheet in a different spot: between the pages of a book you want to read, tucked in the back of a kitchen cabinet, between the towels in your linen closet, in the pocket of a pair of jeans, etc. During the year, whenever you come across a note, do whatever it says.
*Host a Closet Raid - invite friends over and ask them to bring clothes they are willing to part with. Go through your clothes and select some too. Then have a clothes swapping party.
*Put your right brain to work. Create your own artist's wall. Grab a camera, go outside, and snap whatever moves you. Hang the best shots, rotating in new ones every few weeks.
The January 2009 Women's Day had some neat ideas for having fun:
*"Hide and Seek" - On separate pieces of paper, write down 15 fun things you've always wanted to do. Now put each sheet in a different spot: between the pages of a book you want to read, tucked in the back of a kitchen cabinet, between the towels in your linen closet, in the pocket of a pair of jeans, etc. During the year, whenever you come across a note, do whatever it says.
*Host a Closet Raid - invite friends over and ask them to bring clothes they are willing to part with. Go through your clothes and select some too. Then have a clothes swapping party.
*Put your right brain to work. Create your own artist's wall. Grab a camera, go outside, and snap whatever moves you. Hang the best shots, rotating in new ones every few weeks.
And on the Web...
Here are some staff favorite sites for fun.
*Nancy V. claims she learned about these web sites in Cataloging class!
For cat people: http://icanhascheezburger.com/page/2/
For dog people: http://ihasahotdog.com/page/2/
*Wordle - Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes.
*Visit Learn Something Every Day The whimsical drawings of trivia from the sublime to the scary to the ridiculous are endearing.
* Explore Invention At Play, a site devoted to highlighting the importance of play in fostering creativity and inventiveness.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
More Fun Activities to Explore
Round 14 (August 20 to September 2) continues to explore having fun. Some activities to sample include:
1. Taking time to smell the roses. Lifedev is a blog full of tips, tools and resources that can give you insights into ways you can improve your work and your life. Take better breaks is a collection of posts devoted to the art of recharging by taking a time out from your busy day.
Looking through my Delicious bookmarks (see the OCL Web Challenge) for more fun activities, I found some more fun things to do:
2. Six Word Memoirs from Smith Magazine. Can you sum up your life story in six words? That is the challenge on this web site. It was so successful that it was made into a book. Go ahead and try it, and share your memoir in the Comments.
3. Facebook is a great way to connect with old and new friends and family. A recent study said that checking social networking sites like this at work actually increases productivity! While the jury may still be out on that issue, it is still a fun way to reach out and socialize.
4. Guess-the-google is an addictive guessing game based on Google's image search. It turns the mental activity of searching into a fun, visual and engaging game where people can enjoy the challenge of being the fastest and most efficient at making that connection between search terms and their results
5. Freerice is a fun free vocabulary game. The website states: "For each answer you get right, we donate 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. "
1. Taking time to smell the roses. Lifedev is a blog full of tips, tools and resources that can give you insights into ways you can improve your work and your life. Take better breaks is a collection of posts devoted to the art of recharging by taking a time out from your busy day.
Looking through my Delicious bookmarks (see the OCL Web Challenge) for more fun activities, I found some more fun things to do:
2. Six Word Memoirs from Smith Magazine. Can you sum up your life story in six words? That is the challenge on this web site. It was so successful that it was made into a book. Go ahead and try it, and share your memoir in the Comments.
3. Facebook is a great way to connect with old and new friends and family. A recent study said that checking social networking sites like this at work actually increases productivity! While the jury may still be out on that issue, it is still a fun way to reach out and socialize.
4. Guess-the-google is an addictive guessing game based on Google's image search. It turns the mental activity of searching into a fun, visual and engaging game where people can enjoy the challenge of being the fastest and most efficient at making that connection between search terms and their results
5. Freerice is a fun free vocabulary game. The website states: "For each answer you get right, we donate 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. "
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Time for Some fun!
Round 13, from August 6 to August 19th
The next four rounds focus on fun activities.
What's so healthy about fun?
In her book, "Quantum Wellness", Kathy Freston writes, "...I can't imagine being well without having any fun. Fun activities, whatever they might be for you, bring levity to your life. They loosen up your energy and bring in optimism. They remind you that life is meant to be joyful." she continues to say, "Sometimes when you are trying to work on your health, you forget that the most important thing is to love life."
Kathy Freston's challenge to us this round is:
"Plan a fun activity - it gives you something to look forward to and then a precious memory to look back fondly on."
Her suggestions for putting a little fun in your life every day include:
*Go out dancing
*"Lose yourself" in your hobby of choice
*Play with your kids or run on the beach with your dogs
*Drive in your car and blast your favorite songs. Make sure you sing along!
*Watch a funny movie. (Please share your favorites with a post in Comments!)
Here are some other suggestions for having fun:
Visit fun SFW (Safe For Work) web sites. I have a category on my bloglines called "For Fun". Whenever I need quick pick-me-up, I take a look at:
Cake Wrecks - "When professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong"
Flickr feeds - Larry Meegan's photostream - look for the button that lets you subscribe - if you use bloglines, the photos will be sent to your account. Larry takes photographs of many major library events. It is always fun to find familiar faces and to see so many people enjoying the library.
Do you have a favorite fun website that you would like to share? Please add it in the Comments.
The next four rounds focus on fun activities.
What's so healthy about fun?
In her book, "Quantum Wellness", Kathy Freston writes, "...I can't imagine being well without having any fun. Fun activities, whatever they might be for you, bring levity to your life. They loosen up your energy and bring in optimism. They remind you that life is meant to be joyful." she continues to say, "Sometimes when you are trying to work on your health, you forget that the most important thing is to love life."
Kathy Freston's challenge to us this round is:
"Plan a fun activity - it gives you something to look forward to and then a precious memory to look back fondly on."
Her suggestions for putting a little fun in your life every day include:
*Go out dancing
*"Lose yourself" in your hobby of choice
*Play with your kids or run on the beach with your dogs
*Drive in your car and blast your favorite songs. Make sure you sing along!
*Watch a funny movie. (Please share your favorites with a post in Comments!)
Here are some other suggestions for having fun:
Visit fun SFW (Safe For Work) web sites. I have a category on my bloglines called "For Fun". Whenever I need quick pick-me-up, I take a look at:
Cake Wrecks - "When professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong"
Flickr feeds - Larry Meegan's photostream - look for the button that lets you subscribe - if you use bloglines, the photos will be sent to your account. Larry takes photographs of many major library events. It is always fun to find familiar faces and to see so many people enjoying the library.
Do you have a favorite fun website that you would like to share? Please add it in the Comments.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Moving Right Along
Round 12 - July 23 to August 5
Congratulations! You have made it to the last exercise round! So, if you have an exercise routine, but are wondering what else is out there, here are some suggestions for adding variety to your usual workout:
1. Want to try swimming, but don't know what to do? Brendan Hansen, Olympic gold medalist, captain of the 2008 Beijing Olympics U.S. Swim Team and Director of Training & Performance for PureSport, designed this moderate swim workout .
2. If you are wondering if your workouts are overlooking a certain aspect of fitness, like strength or flexibility, check out: Outside Magazine's Fitness Challenge .
3. Outside Magazine also has a helpful article on fitness for improving skeletal system health:
Exercise for strong bones .
4. Many everyday activities burn calories, so if you can't make it to the gym, plug in the vacuum!
5. Quick Tip - log your workout on a calendar.
6. And finally, Donna at Manchester designed the following 30 Day Fitness Challenge:
This 30 day exercise challenge is a solid commitment to yourself to take one step forward each day to improve your health. The goal? A healthier YOU by the end of the Challenge.
You Pick your type of exercise and mix it up with variety.
1. Commit to doing exercise for 30 Days
2. Build in rest days 1-3 days per week
3. Plan a variety of activities to always have options
4. Increase your time/reps each week
5. Post your result daily after exercise
Good luck, and remember to just keep on moving!
Congratulations! You have made it to the last exercise round! So, if you have an exercise routine, but are wondering what else is out there, here are some suggestions for adding variety to your usual workout:
1. Want to try swimming, but don't know what to do? Brendan Hansen, Olympic gold medalist, captain of the 2008 Beijing Olympics U.S. Swim Team and Director of Training & Performance for PureSport, designed this moderate swim workout .
2. If you are wondering if your workouts are overlooking a certain aspect of fitness, like strength or flexibility, check out: Outside Magazine's Fitness Challenge .
3. Outside Magazine also has a helpful article on fitness for improving skeletal system health:
Exercise for strong bones .
4. Many everyday activities burn calories, so if you can't make it to the gym, plug in the vacuum!
5. Quick Tip - log your workout on a calendar.
6. And finally, Donna at Manchester designed the following 30 Day Fitness Challenge:
This 30 day exercise challenge is a solid commitment to yourself to take one step forward each day to improve your health. The goal? A healthier YOU by the end of the Challenge.
You Pick your type of exercise and mix it up with variety.
1. Commit to doing exercise for 30 Days
2. Build in rest days 1-3 days per week
3. Plan a variety of activities to always have options
4. Increase your time/reps each week
5. Post your result daily after exercise
Good luck, and remember to just keep on moving!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Round 11 - Keep Moving!
We are about halfway through the Health & Wellness Challenge! We started our journey on February 19. We only have ten more rounds to go.
So, this round's exercise activities will focus on how to overcome an exercise slump, or what to do if you are having trouble getting started.
If you wonder why you should bother with exercising at all, this article from SparkPeople highlights an often overlooked benefit of physical activity: better sleep habits.
Exercise on a Budget: Want to get in shape, but your budget won’t allow for a gym membership? This site offers a variety of low or no-cost options, such as renting exercise DVDs from the library or doing exercises that require no equipment.
Low Back Exercise Program: If you’re concerned about starting an exercise program due to lower back pain, take a look at this site, which provides a list of exercises that can help.
Have you ever decided to take up running again, actually done some running, and gotten up the next morning in horrible pain? You might want to ease into the whole running thing with the Couch-to-5K-Running-Plan, an easy to follow, step-by-step plan that will have you running 3 miles in two months.
Zen Habits is a blog chock full of advice on all kinds of aspects of life. The secret to this blog is that information almost always comes in the form of lists - small chunks of ideas that you can quickly skim and pick and choose from. Check out "Top 42 Exercise Hacks" and try one or two of the suggested activities.
So, this round's exercise activities will focus on how to overcome an exercise slump, or what to do if you are having trouble getting started.
If you wonder why you should bother with exercising at all, this article from SparkPeople highlights an often overlooked benefit of physical activity: better sleep habits.
Exercise on a Budget: Want to get in shape, but your budget won’t allow for a gym membership? This site offers a variety of low or no-cost options, such as renting exercise DVDs from the library or doing exercises that require no equipment.
Low Back Exercise Program: If you’re concerned about starting an exercise program due to lower back pain, take a look at this site, which provides a list of exercises that can help.
Have you ever decided to take up running again, actually done some running, and gotten up the next morning in horrible pain? You might want to ease into the whole running thing with the Couch-to-5K-Running-Plan, an easy to follow, step-by-step plan that will have you running 3 miles in two months.
Zen Habits is a blog chock full of advice on all kinds of aspects of life. The secret to this blog is that information almost always comes in the form of lists - small chunks of ideas that you can quickly skim and pick and choose from. Check out "Top 42 Exercise Hacks" and try one or two of the suggested activities.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Round Ten: V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!
June 25 to July 8
No, we are not taking a vacation from the Wellness Challenge. We are going to take the Challenge with us on vacation!
You can still work on staying fit while you are having fun. The links below offer fitness ideas for all kinds of vacations. They also provide ideas on how to do basic exercises when you are away from home. While we’ve already focused on conscious eating and stress management, it is important to continue our health and wellness challenge even when we are enjoying ourselves on vacation.
Read at least one article and then think about how you can incorporate it into your summer vacation plans.
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=108
Easy Vacation Exercises
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=231
The Healthy Vacation Guide
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=109
Exercise for Different Vacations
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=839
Active Vacation Ideas
No, we are not taking a vacation from the Wellness Challenge. We are going to take the Challenge with us on vacation!
You can still work on staying fit while you are having fun. The links below offer fitness ideas for all kinds of vacations. They also provide ideas on how to do basic exercises when you are away from home. While we’ve already focused on conscious eating and stress management, it is important to continue our health and wellness challenge even when we are enjoying ourselves on vacation.
Read at least one article and then think about how you can incorporate it into your summer vacation plans.
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=108
Easy Vacation Exercises
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=231
The Healthy Vacation Guide
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=109
Exercise for Different Vacations
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=839
Active Vacation Ideas
Friday, June 19, 2009
Stress Eating - You're Not Alone
Yahoo! News recently posted an article about stress eating:
Tough Times Mean Tighter Pants For Stress Eaters
I'm sure many of us can relate!
Tough Times Mean Tighter Pants For Stress Eaters
I'm sure many of us can relate!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Round 9 - Exercise at Work
Do you want to exercise more, but don't seem to have the free time at home to do it? Try squeezing some exercise in at work.
The Office Diet blog has some helpful advice on "healthy living for busy people". A recent post focused specifically on Staying fit at your Desk.
Here are some more tips for getting active at work:
*Start a file at your branch with exercise, and nutrition, ideas.
*Form a walking buddies group at lunch. Interested in starting a walking program but not sure where to start? Take a look at this government publication: Walking: A Step in the Right Direction
*Have a monthly branch activity: share a healthy food such as healthy desserts, souper lunch or fun breakfast foods.
*Include the sharing of health and wellness tips in your monthly branch staff meetings.
Try exercises at work during your breaks. Find some good exercises at:
Fitness 9to 5 by Shirley Archer Get Fit While You Sit by Charlene Torkelson
Prevention.com Webmd.com/fitness-exercise inklingmagazine.com/articles/neat-and-trim/
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
ROUND EIGHT - Exercise
"Exercise, exercise, come on everybody, do your exercise!" Remember that ditty from 1970's children's television? If you can name the show it appeared on, send an email to:
oclwellness@gmail.com
The first correct answer from an OCL employee will receive a small gift for playing.
The next several rounds feature exercise. You need to choose one or two activities from the list below to get started on this round.
1. Check out fitness magazines such as : SHAPE, YOGA JOURNAL, REAL SIMPLE, HEALTH, BODY & SOUL, COOKING LIGHT, PREVENTION
2. Explore exercise sites such as; exercise.about.com, yogajournal.com, sparkpeople.com
3. Sparkpeople.com is a free website where you can read articles, get health information, share recipes and watch exercise demonstrations. You can also track your daily exercise and food intake.
4. Another helpful website is https://www.caremark.com/wps/portal. Under Health Information and Tools is an Activity Tracker that includes tools to get you started like body fat calculator, other helpful tools like a daily nutrition calculator, and a list of exercises.
5. Set a goal to get moving. Some possibilities include dance, exercise class, bike riding, swimming, yoga, tai chi or a walk around the block. It is okay to start small. You can add to your goals in future months.
6. Try a new piece of exercise equipment. This can be as simple as using soup cans for weights.
7. Remember the 90/10 Rule of Good Health. 90% of the time you eat correctly and do your best to maintain an exercise program. 10% of the time you can miss exercising and eat what you want without feeling bad about it.
8. And don't forget to mark your calendars for the library staff field trip to Manasquan Reservoir.
Date: June 20, 2009 - Saturday
Time: 11:00
Meeting Place: Visitors Center – Manasquan Reservoir
We will meet at Manasquan Reservoir at 11:00. Bring a picnic lunch to eat. We will be hiking (an easy, flat picturesque trail of 5 miles, with a nature center in the middle for a rest stop and environmental information.) Walk at your own pace. Picnic Tables and restroom facilities available
oclwellness@gmail.com
The first correct answer from an OCL employee will receive a small gift for playing.
The next several rounds feature exercise. You need to choose one or two activities from the list below to get started on this round.
1. Check out fitness magazines such as : SHAPE, YOGA JOURNAL, REAL SIMPLE, HEALTH, BODY & SOUL, COOKING LIGHT, PREVENTION
2. Explore exercise sites such as; exercise.about.com, yogajournal.com, sparkpeople.com
3. Sparkpeople.com is a free website where you can read articles, get health information, share recipes and watch exercise demonstrations. You can also track your daily exercise and food intake.
4. Another helpful website is https://www.caremark.com/wps/portal. Under Health Information and Tools is an Activity Tracker that includes tools to get you started like body fat calculator, other helpful tools like a daily nutrition calculator, and a list of exercises.
5. Set a goal to get moving. Some possibilities include dance, exercise class, bike riding, swimming, yoga, tai chi or a walk around the block. It is okay to start small. You can add to your goals in future months.
6. Try a new piece of exercise equipment. This can be as simple as using soup cans for weights.
7. Remember the 90/10 Rule of Good Health. 90% of the time you eat correctly and do your best to maintain an exercise program. 10% of the time you can miss exercising and eat what you want without feeling bad about it.
8. And don't forget to mark your calendars for the library staff field trip to Manasquan Reservoir.
Date: June 20, 2009 - Saturday
Time: 11:00
Meeting Place: Visitors Center – Manasquan Reservoir
We will meet at Manasquan Reservoir at 11:00. Bring a picnic lunch to eat. We will be hiking (an easy, flat picturesque trail of 5 miles, with a nature center in the middle for a rest stop and environmental information.) Walk at your own pace. Picnic Tables and restroom facilities available
Monday, May 18, 2009
Recipes UPDATE
***UPDATE*** There is still time to submit your favorite healthy recipe. We need more entrée, soup and dessert recipes.
Share your favorites with everyone. Send them to Michelle B at the Brick Branch. The recipe collection will be available at the Wellness Cafe at Staff Development Day.
DEADLINE: May 22 (One extra day!)
Share your favorites with everyone. Send them to Michelle B at the Brick Branch. The recipe collection will be available at the Wellness Cafe at Staff Development Day.
DEADLINE: May 22 (One extra day!)
Take a Hike!
OCL’s Field trip to Manasquan Reservoir
Health and Wellness Challenge
Exercise Portion
Come join us for a 5 mile walk/hike – and bring your own picnic lunch
Date: June 20, 2009 - Saturday
Time: 11:00
Meeting Place: Visitors Center – Manasquan Reservoir
We will meet at Manasquan Reservoir at 11:00. Bring a picnic lunch to eat. We will be hiking (an easy, flat picturesque trail of 5 miles, with a nature center in the middle for a rest stop and environmental information.) Walk at your own pace.
Picnic Tables and restroom facilities available
Transportation - on your own (Go green & carpool!)
Everyone is welcome and bring a friend
Buddy System is recommended
Directions to the Visitor Center
Garden State Parkway to Exit 98, Interstate 195 west.
Proceed on I-195 west to Exit 28B, Rt. 9 north-Freehold.
Stay in right lane when entering Rt. 9 north.
At first traffic light, turn right onto Georgia Tavern Road.
Follow Georgia Tavern Road for 0.3 mile.
Continue straight for Environmental Center on right or turn right onto Windeler Rd. and continue 1.5 miles to the Visitor Center Reservoir Area on left.
• State Hwy. 9 south from Freehold to Georgia Tavern Rd.
Use Jughandle to turn left onto Georgia Tavern Rd.
Proceed as above. or
• State Hwy. 9 north to Georgia Tavern Rd.
Turn right.
Follow Georgia Tavern Road for 0.3 miles and turn right onto Windeler Rd. and continue 1.5 miles to the Visitor Center where we will meet.
Health and Wellness Challenge
Exercise Portion
Come join us for a 5 mile walk/hike – and bring your own picnic lunch
Date: June 20, 2009 - Saturday
Time: 11:00
Meeting Place: Visitors Center – Manasquan Reservoir
We will meet at Manasquan Reservoir at 11:00. Bring a picnic lunch to eat. We will be hiking (an easy, flat picturesque trail of 5 miles, with a nature center in the middle for a rest stop and environmental information.) Walk at your own pace.
Picnic Tables and restroom facilities available
Transportation - on your own (Go green & carpool!)
Everyone is welcome and bring a friend
Buddy System is recommended
Directions to the Visitor Center
Garden State Parkway to Exit 98, Interstate 195 west.
Proceed on I-195 west to Exit 28B, Rt. 9 north-Freehold.
Stay in right lane when entering Rt. 9 north.
At first traffic light, turn right onto Georgia Tavern Road.
Follow Georgia Tavern Road for 0.3 mile.
Continue straight for Environmental Center on right or turn right onto Windeler Rd. and continue 1.5 miles to the Visitor Center Reservoir Area on left.
• State Hwy. 9 south from Freehold to Georgia Tavern Rd.
Use Jughandle to turn left onto Georgia Tavern Rd.
Proceed as above. or
• State Hwy. 9 north to Georgia Tavern Rd.
Turn right.
Follow Georgia Tavern Road for 0.3 miles and turn right onto Windeler Rd. and continue 1.5 miles to the Visitor Center where we will meet.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
ROUND SEVEN - Stress Free Zones
With Polaris upon us, this Round is all about creating a "Stress Free Zone" at work.
Read about this space created at the Sacramento State University Library. They created their space for students. What can we do at our own locations for staff? Does your branch have a Break Room or Area? Try some of these suggestions for creating a mini-vacation from work stress:
*Set up a jigsaw puzzle on a card table. This is a great activity that takes your mind away from work. And it is calorie-free!
*Find some bubble wrap. Can't find any? Try virtual bubble wrap
*Decorate your staff room. Since we are migrating to Polaris, aka The North Star, try a space motif. Or go for Hawaiian tiki style. Plan a lunchtime luau at your branch - just make sure you serve mocktails!
*Share some children's books. Nothing brings a smile to my face faster than "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" by Mo Willems. Another series to try is Scaredy Squirrel. Ask your children's librarians for some funny recommendations. Or browse through kidlit blogger Fuse #8's Top 100 Picture Book Poll. You are sure to rediscover an old classic. Picture books are beautiful works of art, and they are quick reads! What are your favorites? Share some titles in the comments.
*Set up a funny DVD or VHS in your staff room for lunchtime viewing. Try something by Loretta LaRoche
*Set up a cd player with soothing music
*Cat lovers can visit this web site for some workplace pet therapy
*Are you a dog lover? Go here
*Add some plants to your staff room. They improve air quality and have a soothing aspect to them.
Finally, if you are sick and tired of all this talk about stress, then this post from the Annoyed Librarian is for you!
Read about this space created at the Sacramento State University Library. They created their space for students. What can we do at our own locations for staff? Does your branch have a Break Room or Area? Try some of these suggestions for creating a mini-vacation from work stress:
*Set up a jigsaw puzzle on a card table. This is a great activity that takes your mind away from work. And it is calorie-free!
*Find some bubble wrap. Can't find any? Try virtual bubble wrap
*Decorate your staff room. Since we are migrating to Polaris, aka The North Star, try a space motif. Or go for Hawaiian tiki style. Plan a lunchtime luau at your branch - just make sure you serve mocktails!
*Share some children's books. Nothing brings a smile to my face faster than "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" by Mo Willems. Another series to try is Scaredy Squirrel. Ask your children's librarians for some funny recommendations. Or browse through kidlit blogger Fuse #8's Top 100 Picture Book Poll. You are sure to rediscover an old classic. Picture books are beautiful works of art, and they are quick reads! What are your favorites? Share some titles in the comments.
*Set up a funny DVD or VHS in your staff room for lunchtime viewing. Try something by Loretta LaRoche
*Set up a cd player with soothing music
*Cat lovers can visit this web site for some workplace pet therapy
*Are you a dog lover? Go here
*Add some plants to your staff room. They improve air quality and have a soothing aspect to them.
Finally, if you are sick and tired of all this talk about stress, then this post from the Annoyed Librarian is for you!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
ROUND SIX - Stress Therapy
This post will explore different techniques for reducing stress. We tried to find interesting activities that you might not have tried before. Please give one or two of them a try. Let us know what you liked (and what you didn't). Share your thoughts with a comment.
1. Art Therapy . Watch this video from the Mayo Clinic to learn about three art therapy techniques that are easy to try: crayon resist, mosaic, and soft pastels. Try one! If you want to share your results, scan your creation and send it by e-mail to oclwellness@gmail.com and we will post it on the blog.
2. Meditation. Try this video relaxation exercise, also from Mayo clinic.
3. Practice yoga at your desk.
4. Join a support group at Daily Strength. DailyStrength was created by internet veterans with more than 20 years of experience conceiving, building, and running the largest communities on the web, including Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Photos, Yahoo Personals, Yahoo Groups, GeoCities, Facebook, My Yahoo, Yahoo Message Boards and more.
5. Give aromatherapy a chance.
6. Read or listen to inspirational stories. Try dipping into "Kitchen Table Wisdom" or "My Grandfather's Blessings" by Rachel Naomi Remen. "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch is another insightful and inspiring book. Browse through the titles in the library catalog under the subject "Inspiration" or "Mental Healing" and choose one that appeals to you. Sign up for a daily dose of "Inbox Inspiration", and get a new quote in your e-mail every day from the Foundation for A Better Life website.
7. Start a stress journal - A stress journal can help you identify the regular stressors in your life and the way you deal with them. Each time you feel stressed, keep track of it in your journal. As you keep a daily log, you will begin to see patterns and common themes. Write down:What caused your stress (make a guess if you’re unsure). How you felt, both physically and emotionally. How you acted in response. What you did to make yourself feel better.
1. Art Therapy . Watch this video from the Mayo Clinic to learn about three art therapy techniques that are easy to try: crayon resist, mosaic, and soft pastels. Try one! If you want to share your results, scan your creation and send it by e-mail to oclwellness@gmail.com and we will post it on the blog.
2. Meditation. Try this video relaxation exercise, also from Mayo clinic.
3. Practice yoga at your desk.
4. Join a support group at Daily Strength. DailyStrength was created by internet veterans with more than 20 years of experience conceiving, building, and running the largest communities on the web, including Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Photos, Yahoo Personals, Yahoo Groups, GeoCities, Facebook, My Yahoo, Yahoo Message Boards and more.
5. Give aromatherapy a chance.
6. Read or listen to inspirational stories. Try dipping into "Kitchen Table Wisdom" or "My Grandfather's Blessings" by Rachel Naomi Remen. "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch is another insightful and inspiring book. Browse through the titles in the library catalog under the subject "Inspiration" or "Mental Healing" and choose one that appeals to you. Sign up for a daily dose of "Inbox Inspiration", and get a new quote in your e-mail every day from the Foundation for A Better Life website.
7. Start a stress journal - A stress journal can help you identify the regular stressors in your life and the way you deal with them. Each time you feel stressed, keep track of it in your journal. As you keep a daily log, you will begin to see patterns and common themes. Write down:What caused your stress (make a guess if you’re unsure). How you felt, both physically and emotionally. How you acted in response. What you did to make yourself feel better.
8. Do you have a procrastination problem? Try using the techniques outlined here to overcome it.
Cookbook!
I'm sure those of you participating in the Health & Wellness Challenge have a favorite recipe for a healthy snack, meal or dessert. We would like to compile a "cookbook" of some of your favorite recipes. If you have a tried and true healthy recipe that you would like to share, please put in Word format and send it via email to Michelle B @ Brick. We will hopefully have the cookbook finished in time for Staff Development Day. Thanks everyone.
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