Wellness Posts by Brigitte Cutshall

Become Healthier by Doing Less in 6 Easy Steps

2023-12-16T05:00:00Z

Wellness.com - Become Healthier by Doing Less in 6 Easy Steps by Brigitte Cutshall

Do you feel guilty because you aren’t sticking to a healthy lifestyle? Maybe you don't feel guilty but it just nags at you. Have you made plans to change that? How do you go about making a permanent change? There is a lot of information out there (some of it conflicting) about being “healthy.” People choose to ignore and tune it out because that info overload can be overwhelming. Don't ignore this article, it'll provide you with 6 useful tips on creating a healthier lifestyle by actually doing less. We often use “lack of time” as an excuse for not getting things done or for not establishing new and healthier habits. So we tend to try the latest and quickest way to reach our goals; and we try too hard, we try too much and we expect immediate results. Sometimes less is more. It's the small steps and small choices made daily that will make a big difference in the long run. If you make gradual lifestyle changes – over time – they will have more impact and become -permanent, -healthier habits. Here are 6 steps to help create and maintain a healthy lifestyle by doing less: - Be clear about your -why. When you want to make a change to your lifestyle, you need to ask yourself why you want to do this. It won’t happen long-term if you aren’t clear. It is also a good idea to put the -why- in writing so that you can refer back to it as a reminder - why you wanted a lifestyle adjustment in the first place. This sets the stage for appropriate goal-setting. Make a list of at least 3 goals to improve health habits. Then write down the steps (a simple strategy) needed to guide you toward each goal. If one of the goals is to lose weight, it helps to track your physical activity and the foods you eat. I wear a FitBit to track my steps with a daily goal of 10,000 steps – you would be surprised how much walking around you do each day. Make a to-do list each morning for things that need to be done that day. Then prioritize what is important and do the important things first. Unexpected things – that can become urgent - pop up during the day and push those important things to the side and aren’t completed. This step helps me accomplish more because I can check things off my daily list. Enjoy your food but eat less overall. Gradually change the food habits first. Eating less and replacing with better food will have a big impact on your health. You can start by using smaller plates or filling half your plate with veggies. You should also eliminate foods that don’t agree with your body. After it was discovered I had a casein protein allergy five years ago, I cut dairy out of my diet and felt better overall.
- How to Eat Well on $100 a Week - Add exercise in small steps. Exercise is a great way to reduce stress, boost your immune system and your mental well-being. You can start with walking at least 30 minutes daily and incorporate yoga stretches after. Be patient with the progress and pay attention to your body so you don’t overdo it. Make sure you are getting enough sleep. Your body rejuvenates itself when you allow your body to rest. Be thankful for the day and what you have at bedtime. This helps balance your thoughts and energy. You can also try some deep breathing exercises to help drift off to sleep. Your lifestyle is a culmination of your habits. A healthier lifestyle is really about making the time, space and energy available for what you want to do in life. And only you know what you want and need. Make the most of life and enjoy it!

Why You Should Consider a WorkWell Initiative

2017-06-23T07:00:00Z

Wellness.com - Why You Should Consider a WorkWell Initiative by Brigitte Cutshall

The workplace is always changing. According to a Gallup report, in 2016 only 33% of employees were engaged at work. They are more involved, enthusiastic, and committed to their work and the work environment. Then there are the employees that are indifferent and just don't care. This is a risk for any organization because of the constant change in the business world. Increasing engagement at work is a good business strategy that will yield positive results. Engaged employees "get up, dress up, and show up" for work consistently. They're more likely to stay; they care about the service or products delivered to the customers; they care about the success of the organization; and they are more mindful of their surroundings. We need to remember that employees are the most valuable assets to any organization. Providing them with supportive services that affect their well-being positively will improve job satisfaction. You also need their input as well to be successful in the long-run. How do you create a culture of engagement? - A simple way is to implement a WorkWell Initiative. Here are 7 strong benefits in favor for it: - Improved Productivity. Engaging in wellness activities such as exercising and eating healthier, increases productivity and overall performance. This helps your brain be more focused for tasks, you'll have more energy, and be motivated to accomplish something. No more feeling sleepy or burned out. Builds Community. Being involved with group activities that include health and fitness connects you more with others, particularly your co-workers. Relationships will be formed that weren't available before because a wellness initiative encourages all members of the organization to be involved. Everyone will benefit from the shared experience. Happier. According to an AFLAC 2013 Workforce report, employees that participated in a workplace wellness program were more satisfied at work than those that don't participate. The people who committed to the organization program(s) were generally more content overall with work related factors. Healthy living doesn't just make you look good, but nourishes the way you feel too. Less Stress. Learning stress management is one of the key factors in overall health and wellness. When we are stressed, we're more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors and that can affect our mental health in a negative way. Activities that encourage walking meetings, mindfulness, social engagement, etc., can help an employee relieve any built up stress. Just 30 minutes of low intensity exercise will help you feel relaxed in no time. Healthier Habits.- It would be beneficial to indulge yourself in a work wellness program as a way to learn new healthy habits. By doing this, you'll learn to shift to a health conscious mindset that benefits your best self. Food choices and workout schedules will be affected positively because of the environment. When you surround yourself with like-minded people, that makes it simpler to ease away from bad habits that can hurt your health. Lower Healthcare Costs. If your workplace promotes exercise and focusing on your health, your overall well-being will benefit. This is in turn will make you less likely to get sick and/or injured, saving money in the long run. Many studies confirm that a workplace wellness program reduces healthcare costs (meaning less doctor visits). Improved Physical Fitness.- Taking part in the different physical activities that are available to you can improve your physical fitness and overall wellbeing. Hitting the gym during lunch break or participating in a yoga class at least twice a week has many noticeable benefits. Whatever it is, open yourself up to the different physical activities available. Hope this convinced you! Healthier employees tend to be happier and more productive. If you want to have a culture of engagement (more team fellowship, more productivity, and less absenteeism), a wellness initiative can help you get there.

5 Reasons You Should Consider Adding the Alternative to Healthcare

2017-03-20T22:00:00Z

Wellness.com - 5 Reasons You Should Consider Adding the Alternative to Healthcare by Brigitte Cutshall

There's an alternative for everything. Alternative healthcare has gained in popularity over the past couple of decades. Why is this happening? I believe it's for two main reasons: people don't want to be passive about their health anymore and they can't afford the high healthcare costs in the U.S. There are several terms out there that can be a little confusing... alternative, complementary, integrative. Here's the difference: - Alternative healthcare- is used instead of mainstream medical care. It's usually for pain and stress relief. The most common forms are chiropractic adjustments and massages. Complementary healthcare- is using alternative together with mainstream medical care. An example of this is using acupuncture to help with the side effects of traditional cancer treatment. Integrative healthcare- is when healthcare providers offer both - traditional and alternative - care in their facilities. You can see an acupuncturist in the same building as the oncologist. Seeing a chiropractor is one of the more popular forms of alternative medicine that is paid for by many insurance policies. I have received regular chiropractic adjustments for the past 16 years. It all started after falling on ice and injuring my shoulder. The standard treatment - prescription drugs and physical therapy for 6 weeks - didn't help. My pain finally went away after getting adjusted for 3 weeks. The thought of seeing a chiropractor seemed a little crazy at first only because I didn't know any better. I'm glad it was recommended to me. My experience has been positive and weekly adjustments still makes me feel better overall. Intrigued yet? Here are 5 reasons why you should consider and engage in alternative healthcare: - Be more involved with your health. Doing so will actually take some burden off the doctors and healthcare system. This, in turn, reduces healthcare costs and encourages you to focus more on prevention. Why do so many people worry which brand of TV to buy but not so much about what they eat? It's because we have a tendency to take our health for granted and results aren't immediate. Don't accept being passive as "normal." In conventional medicine, the patient is passive and waits for someone else to give them a solution. Everyone is different, our "normals" are even different. It's important that, as patients, we are active participants in our health. It also gives you a sense of empowerment. It can improve your performance. Professional athletes use chiropractors to help with their performance. OK, most of us aren't professional athletes, but we should treat our bodies with the same respect. Life is a marathon, right? How you take care of your body affects your overall daily performance, stamina and thinking ability. And that's just one simple example. You get a different perspective. I've always wondered why different cultures and countries have such drastic approaches to staying healthy and treating ailments compared to the West. This intrigues many people and is what actually got me interested in learning more about health. Many cultures focus more on prevention and mind-body approach based on thousands of years of practice. In the U.S. we don't. At the same time we shouldn't discount the benefits that society has received through recent medical research and medical advancements. Focus on prevention. The current medical system in the West seems to be based on puzzle pieces and trying to make things fit. We should remember to look at the whole body as a system and not just as "pieces." Incorporating a prevention mindset allows you to take a step back and look at the whole picture. A prevention approach is known to reduce chronic diseases and disease death rates. This is a very realistic goal. It's not as easy as it sounds but should be a priority. We need to invest in our health. A common sense approach is prevention through alternative and integrative healthcare. This is where my passion lies. I'm interested to hear about your experiences with alternative healthcare. Be Well!