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Live A Healthier Life At Work With These Tips

January 27, 2016 by Iman

Live A Healthier Life At Work With These Tips

Source: Healthy hacks for your office space

Today is the day to take charge of your health. We know you’re busy, but we all are. That is no excuse for not taking care of you. Without your health, your family, job and other responsibilities will fall by the wayside, which is never anyone’s intention. Many of us spend at least 8 hours of our time at work; so what better way to start living a healthier lifestyle than at work? Try these 4 tips to get you started:

Sit Less – Get up, stretch your legs, get your blood flowing. Walk to the break room, the bathroom or anywhere else you can get away from your desk for a while. It’s important that you get up from your desk to get a bit of mid-day exercise.

Fresh Air – Get some fresh air. Some offices may trigger allergies because of furniture, chemicals in the carpet, paint or even someone’s perfume. Going outside to get some fresh air can clear up your sinuses, as well as your mind.

Standing around – In an effort to help you to sit less, ask your company about a stand-up desk. These desks will allow you to transition from standing to sitting during the day as you please while working.

Aromatherapy – Citrus smells can significantly change your mood for the positive and lift your spirits. Skip the artificial scents and go straight for essential oils like lemon, orange and grapefruit.

Now that you have these 4 tips take them and share them with your co-workers so you all can live a healthier life at work.

This article covers the mindfulness pillar of the Living Happier@Work program.

Running, Easy As 1, 2, 3

January 22, 2016 by Iman

Running, Easy As 1, 2, 3

Source: An Olympic Track Star Teaches You How To Run

Exercise is a staple in any well-rounded wellness practice. However many people don’t know what kind of exercise is best for them. Lots of people try yoga and Pilates as they are talked about a lot when it comes to mindfulness, but these types of exercises are not for everybody.

Enter your good friend running. When you’re running, you’re able to enjoy quiet time with yourself, and you can focus on the positive. (In addition, the endorphins kick in and make you feel better.)

But do you know how to run…like really? We know you can put one foot in front of the other and move fast, but do you know how to run properly? If you’re curious on how to improve your running here are 3 tips to get you moving faster, better.

Mirror action – This may sound silly but when you can see yourself doing things you make better corrections. Get in front of the mirror and march in place; knee up, knee down to form a 90-degree angle. Do this for 30-second intervals, 6 times.
Relax – Many people tighten their body when they run. Next time you’re running, lightly close your hand and rest your thumb on your pointer finger. This motion forces your head and neck to stay down and relaxed, therefore helping your entire body relax.
Never heel first – Your toe should always hit the ground first when you’re running. Running like this will make for a much better running experience.

Does running or walking help you to be more mindful?

This article covers the mindfulness and exercise pillars of the Living Happier@Work program.

5 Ways to Catapult Your Career Through Mindfulness

January 20, 2016 by Iman

5 Ways to Catapult Your Career Through Mindfulness

Source: How Mindfulness Will Turbocharge Your Career

We talk about mindfulness quite a bit because it’s a practice that should be in everyone’s daily routine. Mindfulness is a way for you to take control of the weeds of your brain. The weeds are negative thoughts and responses that pop in your brain. And when it comes to those weeds and work they can be a deterrent to your current job, and your growth at the company. Here are 5 ways to use mindfulness to advance you career:

Stress – Mindfulness helps will stress relief, it takes you out of the fight-or-flight mindset and helps you become more relaxed.
Focus – When your mind is not cluttered with negative thoughts you’re able to focus on the things that matter.
Creativity – Your mind needs to be clear to be creative. Mindfulness allows your mind to make room for the good stuff.
Emotional Intelligence – The way you manage your behavior is important especially in the office. Mindfulness allows you recognize and understand your emotions.
Better you – Mindfulness can help you express more compassion and kindness, which is always welcomed in the workplace.

How does mindfulness help you control the negative self-talk we all experience?

This article covers the mindfulness and kindness pillars of the Living Happier @Work program.

10 Ways to Prepare for Your Yoga Practice

January 15, 2016 by Iman

10 Ways to Prepare for Your Yoga Practice

Source: 10 Things to Know Before Your First Yoga Class

January is officially half way over; so how are you doing with your New Years Resolutions? Many people make the same New Years Resolutions, and in recent years close to 40% of people have made fitness and health focused resolutions. But for those of you that are going from 0 to 100, finding out where to start in your exercise routine can be a challenge.

Yoga is a popular practice for those that want to feel the burn, but add some mindfulness to their routine. So for those of you that are just starting out, been away for a while or just want a refresher here are 10 things you should know before your first yoga class.

Don’t eat right before class – In order to do some of the moves comfortably, your stomach can’t be full. Try eating an hour before class.
Get there early – Many exercise classes fill up fast; and since it’s your first time you’ll want the ability to get acclimated to the studio.
Get all the props – If you don’t own a yoga mat call and see if you can rent one from your studio. While there, pick up a block, strap and whatever other props the studio has in order to make your practice more enjoyable.
Chanting is OK – Some yoga studios chant during their practice, don’t feel pressured to join in if you’re not comfortable. Simply relax and enjoy the class the way you would.
Bare feet allowed – Some studios may try to sell you sticky socks and gloves; these things are not a requirement. Your bare feet are more than enough.
Let it go – Release any tension in your body that may be there. You may clench your jaw or tense your shoulders up. Be mindful of your stress spots and let them go.
Embrace your breath – You will realize breathing deeply will help you relax more and help you go deeper into your stretch.
We love Child’s Pose – Whenever you feel overwhelmed or just want a break, feel free to go into Child’s Pose; no one will judge you.
Trust your instructor – You may feel the practice is too much for you, but just take it at your own pace. Many time instructors will offer modifications of poses for those who need them.
Embrace where you are – Everyone has to be a beginner at some point, embrace your current stage. Learn from others, listen to yourself and ask as many questions as you need to.

For those of you that want to try your exercise practice at home, here’s a great 10-minute video to get started.

This article covers the mindfulness and exercise pillars of the Living Happier @Work program.

4 Ways to Add More to Your Mindfulness Practice

January 13, 2016 by Iman

4 Ways to Add More to Your Mindfulness Practice

Source: 4 Ways To Improve Your Health At The Office

So you’ve added mindfulness to your workday, but you still feel like something is missing. The next time you’re feeling a little off at work try these four tips to improve your day.

Get creative – Studies have shown that creative people are healthier than other people. Think out of the box for your next project. Offer a new way to do a task; you may spark new ideas from your team that may not have come about if you did things the same way.
Make your cubicle yours – You spend more time at work during the day than you spend anywhere else. Bringing in items to spruce up your cubicle can make you feel more comfortable. You will find it easier to concentrate when you’ve made your space more like you.
Find a work friend – Having someone to relate to and experience things with is important in any situation, especially at work. This relationship allows you to have a built-in support system in a place that can be very stressful.
Make a gratitude post-it – Writing down things you are grateful for is an excellent way to put things into perspective in your work and home life. At the end of the day, write three things you’re grateful for on a post-it and stick it to your desk. Studies show this can make you happier.

Tell us how you used these suggestions, and let us know if you have any more.

This article covers the mindfulness pillar of the Living Happier @Work program.

Live A Healthier Life At Work With These Tips

Running, Easy As 1, 2, 3

5 Ways to Catapult Your Career Through Mindfulness

10 Ways to Prepare for Your Yoga Practice

4 Ways to Add More to Your Mindfulness Practice

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