The Importance of Self-Love

The Importance of Self-Love

                February is known as the month of love, especially with Valentine’s Day being such a special holiday for many. However, whether you have a significant other to show love to or not, it is also important to show yourself love by taking care of your mind and body properly. Here are a few ways you can show yourself some self-love, which enables you to be at your best and most productive health-wise, a factor that is extremely important for your everyday life.

                First, it’s important to take time for yourself doing something you enjoy or something to help you relax. This allows your body and mind to get the proper rest and relaxation it needs to function productively. Yoga, taking naps, getting massages, enjoying healthy comfort food and soaking in a bubble bath are good ways to help your body whereas reading an interesting book, listening to calming music, writing poetry, spending time with your pet or watching a funny movie or sitcom that makes you laugh can have positive effects on your mental health.

                It’s also important to keep your mindset positive. Ways to accomplish this include practicing daily affirmations to help boost your confidence, wearing an outfit you feel comfortable and attractive in and creating positive environments in both your workspace and home that include inspirational quotes and motivational pictures. According to the University of Southern Indiana, surrounding yourself with positive people is also important to maintaining healthy relationships and keeping yourself in an optimistic and encouraging environment.

                Using scented candles is another way to help relax yourself as certain scents can create mood-boosting and calming effects. It is known that various scents can trigger happy memories for people that remind them of their childhood or a positive life experience whether that’s the scent of chocolate, vanilla, coffee etc. Additionally, some scents are known to be very therapeutic and calming. Lavender, jasmine and peppermint are very popular candle scents as they help create a relaxing atmosphere. According to an article from Gardening Soul, the scent of rain is also said to refresh the mind and help reduce stress so feel free to open the window slightly for a bit of fresh air on a rainy day.

                Lastly, treating yourself to something nice is also a great way to add some positivity to your life whether that’s something as simple as your favorite dessert, a spa day, a night out at the movie theatre or a quiet walk in the park. Additionally, buying fresh flowers for your home or office is another special treat that helps reduce stress. According to an article from Harper’s Bazaar, researchers have discovered that being exposed to flowers helps reduce blood pressure and feelings of anxiety. The report also states that being exposed to flowers helps produce a more positive environment.

Tips for Staying Safe & Healthy During the Winter

Tips for Staying Safe & Healthy During the Winter:

                With colder temperatures and severe weather conditions, Winter can cause some unsafe situations if precautionary measures aren’t taken. Some of those unsafe situations include frostbite, illnesses such as colds and flus, and dangerous road conditions. Here are a few tips on how you can stay safe and healthy during the Winter season.

·         Dressing Warmly: Dressing appropriately for the weather is very important for preventing frostbite. You are more susceptible to frostbite when skin is exposed in colder temperatures. Scarves, hats, coats, earmuffs, gloves, mittens, knee high socks, legwarmers and long-sleeved clothing such as sweaters and sweatshirts are all good examples of clothes that should be worn in the Winter when temperatures are colder. Wool, fleece, flannel and thermal clothing are also beneficial to keeping you warm during the colder months of the year. According to The Washington Post, cotton clothing is not beneficial for colder weather as it absorbs moisture and traps it next to your skin.

·         Check Weather Reports: Make sure to frequently check the weather reports to know of any dangerous driving conditions that could affect your commute to work. If the weather report mentions anything regarding ice or snow, you can plan ahead by leaving your home a little earlier than usual when heading to work, in case of any traffic or accidents caused by poor weather conditions that could potentially result in you arriving to work later than usual. Additionally, it is important to check for any closings or delays that may also affect your work commute.

·         Staying Dry: It is very important to stay dry during the Winter. Wet clothes provide little protection to colder temperatures as they draw heat away from the body. According to The Oakland Press, if you do get wet, it is best advised to relocate to a warm location and remove any wet clothing immediately, replacing it with dry clothing.

·         Eating Right When Sick: It is important to make sure you are eating healthy, especially when battling a cold or flu. Orange juice is loaded with Vitamin C which is essential to helping your immune system recover from illness. Honey can also help soothe a sore throat and suppress coughing. Hot tea, chicken noodle soup and broths are good when battling colds and flus as they work as a decongestant. It is also important to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.

·         Proper Car Maintenance: It is important to make sure your vehicle is properly maintained to keep you safe during the Winter where driving conditions can worsen due to ice, snow and frigid temperatures.

·         Watch out for warning signs of frostbite: According to The Oakland Press, frostbite can be avoided by looking out for early warning signs. If you feel your toes, fingers, ears or other body parts start to feel frozen or numb or if your skin starts to look waxy or grayish, get indoors immediately. If blisters appear, do not open them. Seek medical assistance and do not expose yourself to cold temperatures again.

The Importance of Staying Safe in the Workplace

The Importance of Staying Safe in the Workplace

Maintaining proper safety etiquette is vital for a company’s production and success. According to the National Safety Council, a worker is injured at their place of employment every 7 seconds. However, with proper safety conduct being enforced, injuries can be prevented. The following tips can help protect you and your fellow employees from workplace injuries:

·         Wearing Protective Equipment: Wearing protective equipment such as safety glasses, safety uniforms and steel-toed shoes is very important for protecting employees from potential injuries.

·         Refraining From Horseplay and Physical Violence: Not only can a situation involving inappropriate physical conduct cause a workplace accident resulting in injury or death, it can also affect the employees involved in a serious matter that can affect their job status, such as a suspension or termination from the workplace. If you see employees in your workplace engaging in any horseplay or physical violence, report the incident to a supervisor immediately.

·         Ensure Workplace Equipment Is Functioning Properly: It is important that machinery used in a workplace is functioning properly. Using machinery that is broken or malfunctioning can put an employee at higher risk of a workplace accident resulting in injury or death. If a machine used in the workplace is not working properly, refrain from using it and inform a supervisor of the issue immediately.

·         Be Aware of Your Surroundings and Report Unsafe Working Conditions: If you see something unsafe in your work environment such as a spill on the floor, an emergency exit being blocked, a broken window, poor lighting, a fire hazard etc., report it to a supervisor immediately. An unreported condition can result in you or another employee potentially getting injured.

·         Stay Sober: Working under the influence of drugs or alcohol is extremely dangerous to both you and your fellow employees. Some signs that show suspicion of alcohol or drug-related influence include aggressive behavior from an employee, slurred speech, clumsiness, tardiness, twitching, paranoia, drowsiness, poor work performance and bloodshot eyes.  Additionally, if the employee is suspected of alcohol or marijuana use, you may smell the scent of alcohol or marijuana on them. If you suspect a fellow employee is working under the influence of drugs or alcohol, alert a supervisor immediately. 

The more priority we place on injury prevention in the workplace, the safer a company and its employees will be!

Protecting Your Skin In The Summer

Protecting your skin in the Summer

Summer will be here before you know it and that means warmer weather. While many vie for that perfect tan once the weather is warm, Summer days can get very hot and without the proper skin care can often leave someone susceptible to sunburns, skin peeling and sun poisoning.  Prolonged and unprotected exposure from the sun can also lead to skin aging, shown visibly through wrinkles, moles or freckles. 

Unprotected exposure to the sun has also been known to lead to more serious health issues including skin cancer. In fact, according to skincancer.com, skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. However, we can take preventative measures to protect our skin during the hot Summer days such as:

·         Applying Sunscreen: According to skincancer.com, those who use sunscreen that contains an SPF of 15 or higher every day show 24 percent less skin aging than those who do not use sunscreen regularly.

·         Limiting Time Outdoors: If possible, try to stay in shady, cooler areas away from the sunlight. According to Mayo Clinic, it is best to avoid being outdoors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where the risk of sunburn is increased due to the sun being at its most intense.

·         Wearing A Hat: According to Mayo Clinic, wearing a wide- brimmed hat helps to block the sun from exposure to your head, neck, ears and face.

·         Wearing Sunglasses: According to Mayo Clinic, wearing sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection helps to keep the sensitive skin around your eyes safe from sun exposure which will better protect your vision.

The more you practice proper skin protection, the healthier your skin will be!