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Page Content Sound Living - Think Healthy. Act Healthy. Stay Healthy.
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Click HERE to access and register for the NEW Achieving4Life Tracking Website.
The overall purpose of this website is to help each of us stay "on track" when it comes to adopting and sustaining healthier, everyday habits. So be sure to sign up today!
Throughout the school year there will be a sequence of campaigns and challenges (individual and team). You will earn points (and potentially be rewarded for your efforts) when you track your behaviors (i.e., daily activity level and fruit and vegetable consumption), participate in challenges, encourage other colleagues to participate in the program (via adding a Buddy or posting on the Community Talkboards), and more!
Lastly, this website can convert almost any type of exercise into steps (and points). All you need to do is choose the type of activity and the length of time you participated ... and it is automatically calculated for you!
Don't miss out on this fun and join your colleagues TODAY in the path to a healthier and happier life! |
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The term “wellness” can be defined as “the quality or state of being healthy in body and mind, especially as the result of deliberate effort.” In other words, wellness is the idea of being aware of and actively working towards better health.
Today’s top four leading causes of death are accredited to modifiable, lifestyle-related behaviors—such as tobacco use, poor diet, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol consumption. Why is this remarkable? It means that these leading causes of death are all preventable! By adopting and sustaining healthier everyday habits, you can improve your physical/emotional health and thus your life—making it longer, healthier, and more productive.
Read below and click on the links under each habit to learn more information about how you can “make the rest of your life the best of your life”—Wellness Councils of America. |
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Physical Activity
The typical American spends almost 17 hours sitting in front of the TV, works at the office approximately 50 hours, and averages 51 hours of sleep per week—that’s approximately five days of not moving, and Americans are paying the price. Luckily, by exercising just 30 minutes per day, Americans can build stronger muscles and bones, maintain a healthier weight, prevent numerous chronic diseases, and increase their energy level, among many other benefits.
Click HERE to find more facts, advice, and tools pertaining to physical activity/exercise. |
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Smoking and Tobacco
Smoking is responsible for 30% of all cancer deaths—not just lung cancer. There are more than 40 chemicals in tobacco smoke which can cause the kind of gene mutations that cause cancer. Fifty-percent of all smokers die early from smoking-related diseases. If you are married to a smoker, your risk of lung cancer is 25% greater. Using smokeless tobacco products increases oral cancer risk. Considering these facts, even if you’ve tried to quit many times before, don’t give up—your chances of success actually go up with each attempt.
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Alcohol
Alcohol, when not used responsibly, can lead to a multitude of problems. In addition to being a leading contributor of death and disability in the United States, alcohol cause a motor vehicle-related injury every two minutes! Want to learn more about alcoholism and its health effects?
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Nutrition
As research clearly supports, eating a balanced diet and paying attention to the Food Guide Pyramid can go a long way toward preventing the leading causes of death—including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and obesity, to name a few. The American Dietetic Association recommends eating a variety of foods, using moderation when selection portion sizes, and balancing your food choices over time. Remember, nutrition changes don’t (and shouldn’t) have to happen all at once.
For more tips and facts about healthy eating, click HERE. |
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Stress
Stress in the U.S. is reaching epidemic proportions. Stress is more than just having a tough day. In fact, stress has been linked to higher occurrences of disease and a shorter life span. So what should you do if stress is getting you down? Enjoying a favorite activity each day can help calm feelings of stress. Take a walk during lunch or after work, have a laugh with a co-worker, or listen to your favorite music. Deep breathing, meditation, tai chi, yoga, massage, and progressive muscle relaxation have proven to do wonders for relieving stress.
Stressed? Find a wide variety of information and advice HERE.
Also, don't forget about The Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which is a convenient source of professional assessment and referral for TPS Employees and their families for almost any personal difficulty--such as alcoholism and drug abuse, physical and emotional stress at work or at home, marriage and family discord, financial difficulties and job-related issues. You are allowed from one to three "assessment sessions" FREE with a Health Venture counselor. |
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