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

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!)

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.

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!

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.

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.

ROUND FIVE - Workplace Stress

Many of you have seen the recent New York Times article about a rise in stressful situations in public libraries. We are busier then ever, and our customers are experiencing high levels of anxiety.

Now, more than ever, we need to work on managing workplace stress.

Since this round is off to a late start, try to pick one or two of the following activities. Round Six will be posted on or around May 1st.

1. This article has been shared with library managers. Ask that stress be a topic at your next branch/department staff meeting, so your work group can brainstorm some ideas to reduce stress at work.

2. Read this entry from the Facts on File Encyclopedia of Work-Related Illnesses, Injuries, and Health Issues. Take the SELF-TEST: HOW STRESSFUL IS YOUR JOB?

3. Try one of the following activities suggested from this article on burnout:

• Try to sit down and identify three major ways you could improve your job or home situation. Write them down, and list the steps you will need to take. Commit to making the changes.
• Give up what you can. Put aside extra work, projects, and volunteer time for a few months. Give yourself a break. Just say "No."
• Vow to get some form of recreation or exercise daily. Take a walk, ride a bike, throw a frisbee, or play golf, or other fun activities.
• Identify 15 small things that give you pleasure. Write them down. Pick one each day, and do it. Read that book, take that nap, visit your friend, or see that movie.
• Focus on one thing you are grateful for each day when you wake up, and again when you go to sleep.
• Get out of your rut. Plan a surprise picnic, or a moonlight hike.
• Try yoga, deep breathing, or other relaxation techniques.
• Eat a well-balanced diet, and take a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement daily.
• Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol.

4. Read this article on ergonomics for library workers. It offers some useful, practical tips on keyboarding, mousing, eye care, and posture. This article also has some good techniques for reducing "computer stress".

5. How to Live a Low-Stress Lifestyle: Sign up for this free ten-week e-course for plenty of tips on how to decrease stress in your life.
http://stress.about.com/c/ec/30.htm