A new study shows employees who work overtime are at risk for anxiety and depression.
The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reports that working overtime is associated with higher anxiety and depression levels. Eleven percent of women who work 41 to 100 hours per week reported depression compared to seven percent who work 40 hours or less per week.
Men who work more than 48 hours per week are at the highest risk. Twelve-and-a-half percent of men who work 41 to 100 hours per week reported depression compared to nine percent who work 40 hours or less per week.
The authors of the study note that working even moderate overtime hours seems to increase the risk of mental distress.
The solution? As more and more is expected of workers during these difficult times, maintaining good health is essential in the workplace. We often see that workplace wellness programs are one of the first employee-benefits to go away, especially during harder financial times. However, without a healthy a vibrant workforce, productivity suffers, increasing hardship on the company.
Even the smallest employee-incentives make a big difference. The American Journal of Health Promotions show for every $1 spent on wellness, employers can get up to $10 back through fewer medical claims, reduced absenteeism, improved productivity and other factors.
For more information on employee-benefits, please visit our website
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Create Your Own Compost
Whether you live in a house or an apartment, composting is an effective way to reduce waste and feed your garden, lawn and houseplants.
Did you know that kitchen scraps, leaves and grass take up about one-third of the space in landfills? However, all of these can be easily composted at home - indoors or outside. In addition, you save money on fertilizers and topsoil, and enrich your plants, flowers, herbs and lawn with their natural diet of macro- and micronutrients.
Composting involves three essential elements: compost material, moisture and air. Almost any organic material is suitable for composting. Be sure to maintain a ratio of 'green' (nitrogen-rich) and 'brown' (carbon-rich) materials. Each time you add to your compost pile, turn and mix it to help materials compost more quickly. Composts take a few months or so to complete. Finished compost is deep brown, crumbly and resembles topsoil. Sprinkle the finished product on garden beds, houseplants, lawns, etc.
Green Compost Materials:
Apple cores, banana peels, watermelon rinds and any other fruit and vegetable scraps
Coffee grounds and filters
Plant trimmings
Crushed eggshells
Hair
Brown Compost Materials:
Dried grass clippings
Dried leaves
Sawdust and wood chips
Dryer lint
You can also compost beverages (to moisten the pile), bio-based plastics, cardboard, tea bags and shredded newspaper.
Don't Compost:
Any meat or bones
Fish
Dairy products
Cat litter
Fireplace ashes
Fats or oils
Sod
Weeds
Diseased plants
Create your own compost containers -
Indoors: A simple plastic container with a tight lid makes a great under-the-sink compost bin. Add scraps and blend the materials. Empty the container weekly into a larger outdoor container.
Outdoors (in-ground): Remove the handle from a five-gallon bucket with a lid. Drill several large holes all over the bucket at least six inches away from the lid. Bury the bucket in the backyard. Add scrap and mix.
Outdoors (above-ground): If you have alot of waste and room in your backyard for a larger compost, above-ground bins are highly recommended. The average cost is $50 for materials. It's a fun project to do with the kids and teach them about living green.
Did you know that kitchen scraps, leaves and grass take up about one-third of the space in landfills? However, all of these can be easily composted at home - indoors or outside. In addition, you save money on fertilizers and topsoil, and enrich your plants, flowers, herbs and lawn with their natural diet of macro- and micronutrients.
Composting involves three essential elements: compost material, moisture and air. Almost any organic material is suitable for composting. Be sure to maintain a ratio of 'green' (nitrogen-rich) and 'brown' (carbon-rich) materials. Each time you add to your compost pile, turn and mix it to help materials compost more quickly. Composts take a few months or so to complete. Finished compost is deep brown, crumbly and resembles topsoil. Sprinkle the finished product on garden beds, houseplants, lawns, etc.
Green Compost Materials:
Apple cores, banana peels, watermelon rinds and any other fruit and vegetable scraps
Coffee grounds and filters
Plant trimmings
Crushed eggshells
Hair
Brown Compost Materials:
Dried grass clippings
Dried leaves
Sawdust and wood chips
Dryer lint
You can also compost beverages (to moisten the pile), bio-based plastics, cardboard, tea bags and shredded newspaper.
Don't Compost:
Any meat or bones
Fish
Dairy products
Cat litter
Fireplace ashes
Fats or oils
Sod
Weeds
Diseased plants
Create your own compost containers -
Indoors: A simple plastic container with a tight lid makes a great under-the-sink compost bin. Add scraps and blend the materials. Empty the container weekly into a larger outdoor container.
Outdoors (in-ground): Remove the handle from a five-gallon bucket with a lid. Drill several large holes all over the bucket at least six inches away from the lid. Bury the bucket in the backyard. Add scrap and mix.
Outdoors (above-ground): If you have alot of waste and room in your backyard for a larger compost, above-ground bins are highly recommended. The average cost is $50 for materials. It's a fun project to do with the kids and teach them about living green.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Healing with Lavender Oil
Essential oil of Lavender can be used for almost anything from sleeping problems to skin conditions to adding fragrance to a room. It's very safe and one of the few oils that can be used without dilution.
Start with a good quality oil that you can buy from most health food stores. Add a few drops of lavender to a warm bath and pillowcases for a restful night's sleep. Massage a few drops into temples to help relieve headaches. To prevent dandruff, sprinkle a few drops to your hairbrush or add 5-10 drops to your conditioner. Use the oil in a compress for cuts, bites, strains and bruises. Treat pimples by dabbing them morning and night with just a drop. Place a few drops on a cotton ball and store in a plastic baggie. Inhale the scents when you're in need of a post-lunch pick-me-up or to focus.
Start with a good quality oil that you can buy from most health food stores. Add a few drops of lavender to a warm bath and pillowcases for a restful night's sleep. Massage a few drops into temples to help relieve headaches. To prevent dandruff, sprinkle a few drops to your hairbrush or add 5-10 drops to your conditioner. Use the oil in a compress for cuts, bites, strains and bruises. Treat pimples by dabbing them morning and night with just a drop. Place a few drops on a cotton ball and store in a plastic baggie. Inhale the scents when you're in need of a post-lunch pick-me-up or to focus.
Bad Breath? Try These Natural Cures...
Do your friends do a limbo lean every time you open your mouth?
Bad breath is caused by a variety of things - poor oral hygiene habits, spicy foods, tobacco, medication and coffee, just to name a few. We've found some natural home remedies to help combat halitosis and freshen things up.
1. Drink lots of water! You can spice is up by adding a pinch of cinnamon or anise. Peppermint tea is also great!
2. Chew fennel seeds. The licorice taste will help sweeten bad breath. You can get these at most healthy grocery stores. Carry a baggie of them and chew on two to three seeds after every meal.
3. Limit your sugar, alcohol, baked good and cheese consumption. Anything that has alot of yeast is likely to ferment in the intestinal tract. Eat lots of fresh fruit and veggies that have high water contents. Be sure to see your naturopathic doctor for other holistic remedies if your bad breath lingers.
Bad breath is caused by a variety of things - poor oral hygiene habits, spicy foods, tobacco, medication and coffee, just to name a few. We've found some natural home remedies to help combat halitosis and freshen things up.
1. Drink lots of water! You can spice is up by adding a pinch of cinnamon or anise. Peppermint tea is also great!
2. Chew fennel seeds. The licorice taste will help sweeten bad breath. You can get these at most healthy grocery stores. Carry a baggie of them and chew on two to three seeds after every meal.
3. Limit your sugar, alcohol, baked good and cheese consumption. Anything that has alot of yeast is likely to ferment in the intestinal tract. Eat lots of fresh fruit and veggies that have high water contents. Be sure to see your naturopathic doctor for other holistic remedies if your bad breath lingers.
Happiness @ Work - Tips for a Well Workplace...
If the 9-to-5 grind is getting you down, try these ideas to make your day more satisfying and productive.
1 Your environment affects how you feel. Turn your tired, cold, gray office/cubicle into a personalized space that energizes you! Hang fun photos, add a plant or fresh flowers, use bright colored fabric to cover bulletin boards - anything that inspires creativity!
2 Find something in common with coworkers. Start a company softball team or bowling league, organize a Friday afternoon happy hour, bring a post-work yoga class into the office. You may end up developing friendships that would have gone untapped.
3 Take Five! Everyone needs to take a break once in a while. Stop for a few minutes to breathe deeply, get some fresh air and stretch. Create structure by knowing when to call it quits for the day.
4 Are you involved in the office 'gossip tree'? This could be dragging you down. A recent study shows that positive chatter can increase cooperation. So say anything you want, as long as you'd repeat it word fro word to the person you're talking about.
5 Maximize every second. Create a focused to-do-list for the day on a 3x5 index card. Place the top priorities at the top of the list and put the card in your line of sight on your desk.
6 Get in the habit of checking your e-mail only after the project at hand is completed. Set four to six times to check and answer e-mails throughout the day. You'd be surprised at how much you can get done by eliminating this distraction!
1 Your environment affects how you feel. Turn your tired, cold, gray office/cubicle into a personalized space that energizes you! Hang fun photos, add a plant or fresh flowers, use bright colored fabric to cover bulletin boards - anything that inspires creativity!
2 Find something in common with coworkers. Start a company softball team or bowling league, organize a Friday afternoon happy hour, bring a post-work yoga class into the office. You may end up developing friendships that would have gone untapped.
3 Take Five! Everyone needs to take a break once in a while. Stop for a few minutes to breathe deeply, get some fresh air and stretch. Create structure by knowing when to call it quits for the day.
4 Are you involved in the office 'gossip tree'? This could be dragging you down. A recent study shows that positive chatter can increase cooperation. So say anything you want, as long as you'd repeat it word fro word to the person you're talking about.
5 Maximize every second. Create a focused to-do-list for the day on a 3x5 index card. Place the top priorities at the top of the list and put the card in your line of sight on your desk.
6 Get in the habit of checking your e-mail only after the project at hand is completed. Set four to six times to check and answer e-mails throughout the day. You'd be surprised at how much you can get done by eliminating this distraction!
Massage Gift Ideas
Need to find the perfect gift? Here are some refreshing and unique ideas that are sure to inspire any gift-giving situation for massage.
October 16th - National Boss DayRobert Frost said, "By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day." Show your Boss appreciation with a much-needed massage! Quick Fact: National Boss Day originated in 1958. Patricia Haroski, a secretary from Deerfield IL, noticed that they never had a regular date set to pay tribute to bosses so she decided to establish a day in their honor.
October 19-25 - National Massage Therapy WeekJust Relax! Massage therapy has been gaining popularity in recent years, and the benefits of relieving stress and improving quality of life have been well documented. There's no better reason to give massage to a loved one or to treat yourself than this national holiday!
October 26th - Mother-in-Law's DayPut a smile on your mom-in-law's face with a nurturing massage! It's a great way to say thanks for her kindness, support and for being there whenever you need her. On another note - at least you'll get her out of the house for a couple hours. And don't forget, we also offer gift certificates for birthdays, anniversaries, retirement gifts, graduation and just about anything else you can think of! Massage touches lives and heals bodies!
October 16th - National Boss DayRobert Frost said, "By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day." Show your Boss appreciation with a much-needed massage! Quick Fact: National Boss Day originated in 1958. Patricia Haroski, a secretary from Deerfield IL, noticed that they never had a regular date set to pay tribute to bosses so she decided to establish a day in their honor.
October 19-25 - National Massage Therapy WeekJust Relax! Massage therapy has been gaining popularity in recent years, and the benefits of relieving stress and improving quality of life have been well documented. There's no better reason to give massage to a loved one or to treat yourself than this national holiday!
October 26th - Mother-in-Law's DayPut a smile on your mom-in-law's face with a nurturing massage! It's a great way to say thanks for her kindness, support and for being there whenever you need her. On another note - at least you'll get her out of the house for a couple hours. And don't forget, we also offer gift certificates for birthdays, anniversaries, retirement gifts, graduation and just about anything else you can think of! Massage touches lives and heals bodies!
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