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

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!

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/

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!