Three focuses of my blog are Athletics/Sports, Career Discussions and Health/Wellness. There are a number of health drawbacks to office work where you’re sitting most of the day, staring a computer screens and enduring the potential stress from working with other people. A potential way to balance this out is combat sports. The following contributed post is entitled, The Unusual (But Healthy) Relationship Between Combat Sports and Office Work.
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Office workers tend to have a very mundane weekday. They get into the office, sit down for most of the day and work on stressful things from start to finish. While many people have gotten used to this kind of lifestyle, others are still struggling to cope with the boring schedule and tiring work. As such, it’s a good idea to have a hobby that you can look forward to when you get home.
Ideally, it should be able to relieve stress, help you stay active and also train you in other skills. Some people like to play video games, others like to go for a jog and some enjoy cooking. However, of all the hobbies that you could pick up, combat sports are an unusual but surprisingly good pairing for your average office worker.
Combat sports come with health benefits to counteract office work
While most sports can help you counter the effects of sitting down all day, combat sports can go a step further and actually train you to become more flexible, to lose weight and also improve your muscles. In addition, learning a combat sport can teach you about self-discipline and controlling your emotions, and the techniques you learn can be used to defend yourself. While you should never learn a combat sport for the sake of hurting someone else, it’s perfectly acceptable to use the knowledge to defend you and your loved ones.
It’s also convenient to purchase training equipment. With websites like The Fight Factory, you can easily get your hands on training gear, apparel and even punching bags to keep at home. These at-home workouts are a great way to release some stress and train your body at home without needing to sign up for a gym membership. This means you can get into combat sports and reap the health benefits even if you work at home.
Combat sports can help with mental health concerns
Office environments can quickly wear down your mental health. Even thinking about being stuck in a small cubicle every day can make some people shiver in fear. On top of that, you also have to deal with snide co-workers and a pushy manager. It’s definitely not the kind of environment you want to be in for 7 hours a day. Unfortunately, many of us don’t have a choice and we force ourselves to stay with the job.
As a result of this, our mental health can quickly decline if we don’t find a hobby to anchor ourselves. This is where something like combat sports can actually help out. There’s a strong link between good mental health and combat sports. This is caused by several different factors, such as the feel-good hormone (endorphins) that you release when exercising. This isn’t a short-term impact either, but something that helps lower depression and anxiety over a long period of time. There’s also immediate stress that you can release with explosive physical activity, such as punching a training bag or lifting weights.
A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Stress has so many effects on personal health and literally kill you. As such it’s understand how to minimize and manage stress. If you’re trying to reduce stress, it’s important to zero in on what you can do to alleviate it. The following contributed post is entitled, Why Won’t The Weight Of Stress Leave Your Shoulders?
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Stress is one of the most common wellbeing issues experienced by people of all ages and backgrounds. Sadly, its omnipresence does very little to contain the negative impacts it can have on your quality of life. Worse still, if you follow the same processes as always, you cannot expect to see an improvement in the results.
With this in mind, identifying the reasons for your stress is a key step en route to recovery. Here are some of the most common sources that you may need to tackle head-on.
Physical health and mental health are very closely linked. Therefore, if an underlying health issue is left untreated, the restrictions it places on your life will cause stress. It’s not only the major or life-threatening issues that matter, either. Even something as simple as muscle soreness can put your mental wellbeing at risk. Whatever type of issue you experience, the key is to take quick action. The sooner you can put this discomfort behind you, the sooner your mind will start to clear.
2) Bad Influencers
People hold the key to your happiness, but they can also cause a great deal of stress and anguish. Sadly, most people that fall victim to bad influencers don’t even realise it right away. Sometimes the issues can be saved. For example, the Hart Centre offers marriage counselling that can get couples back on track. Then again, there are times where you should walk away from a bad relationship or a bad friendship. Even when it’s a sibling that keeps asking for money, taking a step back can work wonders for stress levels in the long run.
It is no surprise that stress, anxiety, and depression have all increased in parallel to the growing frequency of debtors. When you find yourself faced with financial difficulties, you must seek a quick solution. This could manifest itself as debt relief. Maybe you’ll find that managing your funds in an effective manner. Or making short-term sacrifices will deliver the results you crave. Either way, the knowledge that your financial status is moving in the right direction will pay dividends.
4) Legal Matters
Nothing stops you from being able to plan your future like legal uncertainties. When facing a pending court case, even if it’s something like a motoring offence, it can feel scary. Finding an expert like Tony Raunic to present your case can make a big difference. Aside from boosting your hopes of getting the right decision at your hearing, the advice they give beforehand is telling. The clarity of what to expect makes the process far less daunting while you’ll have a better insight into the best, worst, and most likely result.
5) Wasted Time
The thought that life is passing you by can be an awful thing. Sadly, it encourages you to procrastinate even more. Setting clear goals is the first step to going out and achieving them. On a separate note, you should learn to rid yourself of needless distractions. Avoiding social media when it leaves you feeling inferior is a great example. Conversely, spending more time appreciating the positives in your life can develop a heightened sense of worth. While it won’t remove stress entirely, it can reduce the impacts it has.
Two of the focuses of my blog are Health/Wellness and Technology. While technology has tremendously improved our lives, it does have some potential adverse impacts on our qualities of life. In some instances, it may be advantageous to disconnect from your technology, albeit temporarily. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Health Benefits of Ditching Technology (For a Little While).
Our lives are regularly dictated by technology. We want to catch our favorite shows as soon as they are released. We need to find out what is happening every minute of the day. Indeed, any time spent away from technology now feels unusual. But as much as tech can help us stay connected with friends and learn all about the world around us, it can also be detrimental to our health. Sometimes, you need to take a step back, so here are four health benefits of ditching technology, at least for a little while.
You Can Focus Better
If you choose to sell your iPhone 11 Pro Max, your Xbox or cancel your Netflix subscription, you will find your focus will improve. It won’t happen overnight, but rather than use tech as a crutch for background noise or scroll through when in an awkward situation, you will find you’re not continually feeling around to check worldly updates, even though you only checked a few minutes before.
This will significantly benefit your work and productivity as you won’t have that itchy finger reaching for your phone. You can still have a phone, you might need it, but a model without wifi or app capabilities might be better if you want to maintain a sharp focus. You won’t feel the need to check WhatsApp every 10 minutes, and you will also find that you will concentrate when watching movies, rather than staring at your phone for the entire two hours.
It Will Help You Unwind
Many people dread getting home from work only to see their boss has asked them to make a few small changes to a contract or project. Technology has made it so that we are always on the clock, which can increase stress levels and prevent us from unwinding.
If you make it a rule to switch your work phone off at the end of the workday, you will find you can relax after a long day and spend quality time with your family. Your job is just a job, and while it will help pay the bills, it shouldn’t come before your partner or your kids.
You Will Enjoy a More Restful Sleep
Studies show that 44% of people will sleep with their phones next to them or under their pillow. This is because they will scroll through before going to sleep or use it as an alarm to wake up.
However, while these are established aspects of your bedtime and waking up routine, they can affect your sleep quality. Playing on your phone before bed will affect your sleep patterns, as will the blue light that can impact a good night’s sleep. Try to leave your phone upstairs at night and invest in a proper alarm clock to wake you up in the morning.
Tech-Free
It can be scary to decide to abandon technology, even if it’s just one or two items. However, the health benefits that come with ditching technology can help transform your life for the better. You’ll have more focus, energy, and you might even be happier.
A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. For many people, alcohol is a way to decompress, a way to be social and in some instances unfortunately an addiction. For health and wellness purposes though, there is a desire for alternatives to alcoholic beverages. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Healthier Alternatives to Alcohol Trending This Year.
There has been an increase in global awareness of the health risks associated with alcohol, which has led to a growing market of fashionable alcohol-free beverages. If you’re looking for a healthy alternative to alcohol, there are several options nowadays that don’t compromise on taste or quality. Many people are making the switch to non-alcoholic beers, cocktails, and spirits in 2020.
The dangers of alcohol
Consumers are becoming more health-conscious and therefore aware of the dangers of alcohol. Drinking in excessive amounts could lead to long-term health problems such as heart and liver diseases, addiction, and poor immunity. It’s better for your body and mind to find a healthier alternative, or drink in moderation.
In the short-term, alcohol can be dangerous in other ways, for example with drink driving. One of the best ways to avoid collisions is to ensure you never get behind the wheel under the influence. If not, it could result in a DUI at the very least, in which case you would need to contact criminal defense lawyers. The best way to drive safely is by avoiding alcohol. Here are five healthy alternatives to alcohol that have been trending recently.
Kombucha
Kombucha is a bubbly, fermented beverage full of probiotics. It’s made from black or green tea with a touch of bacteria added. It has a sweet and tangy taste, with a little fizz in the consistency. Many bars and pubs worldwide have recognized the growth in popularity of kombucha and are now serving it regularly. Here are some of the best kombucha brands trending at the moment.
Sparkling juice
Many people are opting for sparkling juices as a fun alternative to champagne, prosecco, and other sparkling wines. There are in fact made with the same fermentation process as sparkling wine. There are a variety of fruit flavors and high-end brands marketed towards a more elegant setting.
Premium alcohol-free beer
There is a wider range of alcohol-free beers than ever before. These include IPAs, stouts, premium lagers, and popular brands. The brewery industry has taken advantage of the leap in sales of alcohol-free and low-alcohol beers in the last few years. Many craft beer companies have released alcohol-free alternatives for connoisseurs with a more delicate palette.
Mocktails
Mocktails are a fun, glamorous alternative to traditional cocktails. They are still made skillfully by expert mixologists, using high-quality ingredients. The only difference is that they’re completely alcohol-free. Mocktails are made with a variety of ingredients and present in an array of colors, creating the same level of sophistication and excitement.
Alcohol-free gin
Due to the recent gin craze, alcohol-free gin has also become very popular. Consumers are continuing to commit more to abstinence and clean-eating. This has caused a surge in the manufacture of non-alcoholic gin. It’s made using brewed juniper distillate plus a mix of botanicals.
The sophistication of these alcohol-free blends is continually being developed by big brands and enjoyed by many all over the world. We can only expect to see more from the alcohol-free market.
A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Our personal health not a one trick pony which is static and always the same. Unfortunately it is fluid and can be impacted by a myriad of factors. As such it’s important to get it checked regularly. The following contributed post is entitled, Why It’s Important To Get Your Health Checked Regularly.
Nobody really likes going to the doctor. There is something about the sterile environment and the overly personal nature of a checkup that makes people feel uneasy. However, regular checkups are crucial for maintaining excellent health so you can continue to live a safe, happy, and healthy life. Even if you’re apprehensive about visiting the doctor, it’s always beneficial to seek advice if you believe something is amiss.
They Can Identify Problems Early
Many people will experience an issue, whether a cough, discomfort, or constant headaches, but they still won’t visit the doctor. They may not want to do so because they think it’s nothing. They believe the issue will go away if you give it enough time, or they don’t want to waste the resources for something that, to them, feels so minor.
But such problems, as well as an array of other issues, can be signs of something much worse. With regular checkups, especially as you age, you have the confidence that your doctor can catch problems before they become more severe. With some conditions and diseases, you have a better chance the earlier they are found, so even if you are worried about what the diagnosis could be, you put yourself in a stronger position by seeking medical advice as early as possible.
You Can Get Peace Of Mind
If you are worried about going to the doctor because you don’t want to know the answer, then getting a checkup can give you peace of mind.
When faced with discomfort or experiencing an illness, your mind will often go to the worst places, especially if you research symptoms online rather than visiting the doctor. By finding answers to these symptoms, you will spiral into a hole that is difficult to escape from. However, if you seek professional medical advice, you can put your mind at ease, and even if the news is as bad as you expected, you can at least get peace of mind that treatment can begin.
They Help You Decide On the Right Treatment
Self-medicating is not a useful way to overcome any condition. By speaking to a doctor, they will use their years of experience to identify the correct treatment for you.
Depending on your problems, you can undergo a spinal decompression, be prescribed medication, or undergo other surgeries to solve the condition. Without a regular checkup, you risk making the issue even worse, and you may also do activities that exacerbate the problem, which leads to complications, making it incurable. With this treatment, you’re able to get back to living your life the way you want, rather than spend every day worrying about the pain and discomfort you’re in.
The Doctor Will See You Now
It is understandable why people don’t like going to see the doctor. The environment can make you uncomfortable, and in some extreme cases, you may be forced to face your mortality long before you were prepared to do so. However, medical professionals are here to help you, and if you visit them regularly, you have a much better chance of catching and overcoming potential health issues.
A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Mental health isn’t something that’s easily seen but it may be the most important health of all. It’s important for all of us to stay on top of our mental health. The following contributed post is entitled, A Heads Up On Mental Health.
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It’s impossible to discuss the topic of general wellness without paying close attention to mental wellbeing. Sadly, despite an increase in awareness, mental health is something that millions of people continue to suffer from. Even if you feel like yours is in a good place right now, this is the time to invest in this aspect of your wellbeing.
If you are serious about regaining control of your mental health, the following issues must be respected at all times.
Throughout your life, you’ll need to balance a variety of goals and responsibilities. Some of them only require your attention for short periods. However, your mental wellbeing is not something you can switch on and off. Therefore, it’s vital that you consider your mental health in the workplace as well as your home life and social activities. If your mental health suffers in one part of your life, it’s likely that the negative impacts will take their toll elsewhere. When the puzzle pieces fit together, wellness levels soar.
#2. Uncertainty Is The Biggest Cause For Concern
When bad things happen, it’s very easy to let your mind get carried away and think about the worst possible scenario. Meanwhile, a sense of uncertainty can often limit your opportunities to achieve inner peace. Thankfully, support is often available to ensure that you gain clarity and closure far sooner. Motoring offenses are a frequent issue, which is why a DWI lawyer may be a key contact in your bid for better mental health. Or if you are concerned about physical health issues, seeking medical experts is advised.
#3. Past Mistakes Can’t Define You
Dwelling on the past is another common source of mental health problems. While it’s important to learn from past mistakes and make amends where possible, you can’t change the past. Growing from those errors is a significant part of your personal journey. In severe cases, you can draw a line under past chapters by relocating to make a fresh start in life. For most people, though, a conscious effort to establish a healthier mindset is more than enough to create a better future.
Financial stress is the root of mental health issues impacting millions of people coast-to-coast. Sadly, they won’t just disappear, which is why you must tackle them face on. Speaking to a financial advisor or debt relief service can often deliver crucial info. Meanwhile, drawing up a budget and analyzing your situation to identify changes is vital too. If you continue to follow the same habits, the same results will follow. Conversely, the knowledge that your finances are moving in the right direction, even slowly, will aid your wellbeing.
#5. Human Interactions Are Key
Humans hold the key to your mental happiness, and their influence can be for the good or bad. Social interactions are naturally an important feature for maintaining your mental health. Meanwhile, knowing that you can express concerns and speak to them about anything is highly beneficial too. Conversely, though, when people lead you to bad decisions or constantly borrow money from you, the results are negative. It’s a tough thing to do, but many people find that taking a step back from problematic friendships is the best step of all. When used to support the other features mentioned above, your head will be in a better space.
Two key focus of my blog are Athletics/Sports and Health/Wellness. A common activity/pastime/sport is cycling. It’s thought to be universal activity, one which individuals with certain physical limitations such as hip replacements can safely participate in but it is 100% beneficial for you? The following contributed post is entitled, Cycling Might Not Be All That Good For You After All.
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Cycling is currently undergoing a resurgence in popularity. Everyone wants to hop on a bike, cycle to work, and get healthy, especially when there are significant risks for using public transport.
Public health officials love the idea too. For years, they’ve been pushing cycle lanes and bicycle-to-work incentives to get people riding on two wheels. For them, it’s a solution to the longstanding obesity epidemic. If people cycle to work, they’ll lose weight, get healthy, and reduce the strain on the health system.
Cycling, however, remains a bit of fringe activity. People do it – but not in the numbers required to make much of a dent in motor vehicle use. Plus, it is such a fleeting part of most people’s lives that there are only limited scientific studies on the downsides of the activity. For that reason, there’s barely any pushback that recognizes both the benefits and risks.
Before delving into why you might want to avoid the current cycling craze, let’s be clear on the benefits. We’re not saying that riding a bike is a bad thing, like smoking. It’s just that it isn’t just a list of benefits: there are costs too.
Cycling has all sorts of positive effects on your body. For one, it helps to improve your posture. Riding a bike requires the use of all kinds of core muscles, and it forces you into a particular stance, which enhances the overall balance of your body.
The exercise you do while riding a bike may also increase your level of cardiovascular fitness. The more you ride around, the healthier your heart and lungs become.
There’s also a good deal of evidence that riding a bike reduces your levels of stress more than practically any other form of exercise. There’s something uniquely freeing about the sensation of pedaling with a smooth-riding contraption between your legs. You feel liberated, particularly when you go offroad, something that might reduce blood pressure.
Finally, it may increase muscle mass, especially around the legs and buttocks, thus raising your natural metabolic rate.
Nobody seriously disputes the benefits of cycling – and in a perfect world, there would be only benefits. But in reality, that’s not how it pans out. Cycling has serious drawbacks, and we need to discuss them.
Cycling is one of the most dangerous things that you can do on the road. You wouldn’t run down the middle of the street with cars passing by on all sides, but that’s essentially what you’re doing when you ride a bike. You’re not in a vehicle, so you have no protection. It’s just your soft, fleshy body, versus metal bodywork.
Per mile traveled, cycling is one of the most dangerous forms of transport, which is why city authorities are so keen to install bike lanes. Bureaucrats know that motorists don’t pay as much attention to cyclists as they should, and that’s when accidents happen.
Cyclists also have a penchant for ignoring the road rules – another thing that gets them into trouble. Jumping red lights or under-taking are tempting when you’re on a bike, and you know you’re not going to get caught. But they also make getting from A to B more dangerous.
Even if you go offroad, there are still serious risks. Mountain biking isn’t a sport known for its low chance of injury. If you come off at speed, you can easily break bones and concuss yourself. Wearing elbow and knee pads can remove some of the chance of serious injury, but not all of it.
The Pollution
Cycling around in city traffic also exposes cyclists to a host of unpleasant fumes from ICE vehicles. Diesel is the worst. It contains tiny particles that damage the lining of the lungs, eventually leading to serious conditions, like cancer. They get in through the nose and mouth and bury themselves in the soft tissue that lines the passageways that lead to the lungs. With enough exposure, cyclists can eventually develop a sore throat and more severe conditions, especially if they spend more than an hour per day in heavy traffic conditions.
Pollution levels are often higher in places where cycling is more important. In China, for instance, officials want to encourage it to prevent cities from being overrun with cars. Therefore, regular folks are going to need assurances that they’re not damaging themselves at the same time.
The Fertility Issues
If you thought that bouncing along on a tiny saddle was a bad idea, you are right. Researchers rethink that the act of riding a bike restricts the arteries that flow to the testicles. Cycling is a significant reason why so many people visit a male infertility doctor. It’s an unseen factor that prevents families from having children.
You might think you can avoid fertility issues by wearing padded shorts and avoiding lycra, but it’s not as simple as that. Vasoconstriction appears to happen regardless of the level of padding, so it’s not just a matter of pressure. There seems to be something about the very act of cycling itself that causes problems.
We tend to forget that bicycles are contraptions, not parts of the natural environment. Operating them, therefore, could be just as much of a risk as anything else. Like so many other machines, they may not perfectly conform to our bodies’ ergonomics, causing problems.
Fertility issues may be just the tip of the iceberg, too. Evidence suggests that cycling regularly can lead to muscle imbalances and knee problems, especially if cyclings clip into their pedals.
Cycling might seem like a cheap form of exercise. But the moment you get serious about it, the price rises significantly. If you want to go running, you put on a pair of sneakers and hit the trails. If you’re going to go cycling, you have to spend at least a couple of hundred dollars on a bike, and extra money on helmet and gloves. And that’s just for the basic kit. Serious cycling is much more expensive.
The average mountain bike, for instance, is an extremely sophisticated machine with dozens of moving parts. Brand new, these bikes typically cost thousands of dollars and are top on the list for criminals to steal. They’re highly transportable, and there is no central registry, tracking who owns what. It’s not like cars.
The same applies to road bikes too. Quality cycles in this category are often made of carbon and cost thousands of dollars. Replacing them isn’t easy.
On top of the upfront cost and the risk of theft, you also have ongoing maintenance issues. Serving a car might cost $500 per year. If you buy a top-end bike, you can easily spend that sort of money on your machine as well. It gets expensive.
The Importance Of Dialogue
Cycling is hailed as the preferred mode of transport for the 21st century. It’s green, good for you, and, dare we say it, fun. But people have become so enthused that a serious discussion of the risks is no longer a part of the dialogue.
The truth, though, is that cycling is not as innocuous as checkers. It comes with risks to health, many of which are far higher than driving in a car. Modern society is set up for the motor vehicle. Like it or not, that’s how the world has developed. The pushbike was, until the pandemic, way down the list of most people’s priorities. Some city councils built cycle lanes, but they were often an after-thought and seldom used. The vast majority will always prefer to go around on four wheels. And so getting around frequently requires riding on the road.
Cycling isn’t as accessible as many people imagine, either. First, you have to be physically fit to do it, which many people are not. You also have to have parents who taught you to ride a bike. If you’re an adult who can’t, you either have to learn – which isn’t easy – or forget about it. And, secondly, cycling is more expensive than many people imagine. Bikes might be cheap for policymakers on fat salaries. Still, they’re far dearer for the average person looking to make a living.
Therefore, it is critical that we have a sensible dialogue about cycling as a form of transportation. If it really were as good as people imagine, then we would all be doing it, but we’re not. Many of us use our cars at the first opportunity, even if it’s just to go down the street to pick up some groceries from the store.
We have to question; why? Is it just laziness? Or does cycling come with some serious risks? Do people avoid it for good reasons? Imagine if the government was pushing motorcycling, which is as dangerous as riding a pushbike per mile traveled. There would be an uproar. It would be irresponsible. But for some reason, the same rules don’t apply to bikes. Perhaps that needs to change?
A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Our mental health is absolutely critical to our overall well-being. It’s not something that can directly be seen but it impacts everything. It’s also potentially the hardest part of ourselves to fix once it breaks. The following contributed post is entitled, What To Do If Your Mental Health Is Suffering.
Your mental health is extremely vital when it comes to you being happy and healthy. If you’re having trouble functioning and are just trying to get by each day, then you may be suffering from mental health issues. The upside is that there is help available and there is hope for improved days ahead.
You must catch it early and take steps to feel better before your condition worsens. It’s a serious matter that you shouldn’t take lightly or ignore. You can experience brighter days ahead when you commit to healing and addressing what you’re going through head-on. Know that you’re not alone and that many people can relate and will understand what you’re going through.
Monitor Your Signs & Symptoms
You may not be feeling like yourself or right but aren’t sure why. Therefore, it might help to monitor your signs and symptoms so you can determine if it’s a mental health issue you’re experiencing. Write down what you’re dealing with and what has changed when it comes to your mood and desire to participate in activities you once enjoyed doing. It’ll help to identify what you’re feeling and what’s changing when it comes to your emotional state and behaviors.
Reach out for Help
It’s always a wise choice to reach out for help when your mental health is suffering. You don’t have to go through this challenging time alone. There are many professionals and resources out there that can benefit you. You can find help based on your situation, such as seeking out assistance from the wounded warriors project if you were a service member and are now having mental health issues. There are also support groups for just about any type of condition you have so consider this outlet as another possibility when you’re struggling mentally.
Practice Self-Care
You must take care of yourself daily and attend to your personal needs if you want to feel better. While this can be more difficult to do when your mental health is suffering, you must find ways to practice self-care. Eating the right foods, exercising, and getting enough sleep are all activities that impact your mood and mental health. You may be able to manage your symptoms more adequately when you make your well-being a priority and avoid overdoing it or putting yourself in stressful situations.
Confide in Trusted Friends & Family Members
You can also consider confiding in trusted friends and family members when your mental health is suffering. Open and be vulnerable so you can let others in and make them aware of what’s going on with you. While they may not be able to solve the problem, they can offer you support and comfort and listen to your concerns. They may also be able to point you in the right direction for getting the help you need so you can heal and feel like yourself again. Talking about your problems or mental state can take some of the burdens off your shoulders and help you not to feel so alone.
Two of the focuses of my blog are Career Discussions, Health/Wellness and Organizational and Management Discussions. When you’re in management, you want to support the overall health of your staff. Doing so will both maximize their productivity and foster their loyalty. The following contributed post is entitled, Supporting Mental Health In The Workplace.
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Supporting mental health in the workplace is essential; people deserve to be able to open up about how they’re thinking and feeling, and to feel encouraged to do so even in a professional setting. We’re human beings, after all, and we can’t just turn our brains off when we’re at work!
So, if you’re someone who’s out to support mental health in the workplace, but you’re just not sure where to start, we’ve collected a few ideas together for you to look into. Mental health matters a lot more than people tend to think, and as a small business leader, it’s time to advocate for healthy management.
Your employees deserve to have one on one time with you or with a supervisor they’re under the care of. Give them the chance to have private and/or personal meetings, where they can air their struggles or concerns. Because when you make time for meetings like these, you show your employees that their thoughts and feelings matter; you show them that the workplace doesn’t have to be just another problem on their plate.
Try Out a Workshop
A workshop or a training program is essential for supporting mental health in the workplace. With a strategy like this, you create an environment of education about mental health, and you place some positive emphasis on creating an open workplace that people can be productive in.
Indeed, a mental health workshop can be beneficial for all kinds of reasons. It can lead to more sensitivity in the workplace, it can lead to further treatment options to be explored, and it can even just mean a healthy, honest, and open dialogue about mental health at work is being had. Give a keynote speaker the platform, and give your employees the chance to take some time and put their needs at work first.
Provide Options
And finally, be sure to provide as much information on the options for mental health that are available to your employees. Let them know there’s help out there, and that the company can help them get it. Of course, plenty of businesses work closely with mental health charities and private organisations to ensure there’s always a counsellor on hand for an employee to see if need be.
But if your company hasn’t taken a step like this yet, it might be time to do so. Look into your own options for providing mental health care to those in your workplace; companies such as Meridian Psychiatric Partners are out there, and could become part of the healthcare package you provide. Even just storing helpful leaflets or official pamphlets on the front desk allows a person to pick up the information they need when they need it.
Supporting mental health in the workplace is essential to working well. Make sure you’re leading by example and providing the right resources for your employees. For a modern workforce, mental health and wellbeing should be a top priority.
Two focuses of my blog are Health/Wellness and Technology. Many illnesses and conditions that made life unbearable a century ago are now treatable and curable due to technology. What’s also true is that our new medical technologies are driving down the costs of healthcare. The following contributed post is entitled, Technology Is Finally Pushing Down Healthcare Costs. Thank Goodness.
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Experts evaluating the costs of healthcare tell us that it is nothing but up, up, up from here on out. The prices of advanced technology combined with an aging population mean that we have no choice but to bite the financial bullet. As the health of the nation deteriorates, the cost of medicine will go up. There’s no way around it.
But is this the whole truth? Is there really nothing we can do to push down the cost of healthcare?
It turns out that technology may hold the answer to the problem. While it is still early days, there are indications the tech – as applied to the medical industry – will likely have the same effect as it does everywhere else: namely, bringing costs down.
Telehealth Brings Down Costs Tremendously
Imagine if you could connect with a doctor and talk to them via the internet, no matter where you were in the world. A technology like that could dramatically bring down the costs of medicine.
Think about it. When doctors operate using telehealth systems, they no longer have to be tethered to an expensive clinic. Instead, they can work from wherever they like, eliminating transport and overhead costs. There’s no longer a need to charge fees to pay rent or anything like that. It is just a direct transfer of services via the world wide web.
Furthermore, Delaware County telehealth research indicates that there is no substantive difference between in-person and online appointments. Patients get the same quality of care, regardless. So could this be a technology of the future? Almost certainly.
Anti-Aging Medications Could Prevent Disease
Experts believe healthcare costs will spiral out of control in the coming years because of the aging population. As millennials retire, they will get all the same expensive health conditions as boomers, and the nation’s finances will deteriorate.
But that logic assumes that aging is an inexorable force we can do nothing about. It is not. In fact, there are already techniques that you can use to improve the chance that you will live considerably longer than otherwise.
Basics such as diet and exercise are one option. But researchers at Harvard and The University of California are making headway in their quest to find chemicals that tap into anti-aging pathways. You can already buy a bunch of supplements based on the technology through Amazon, and many of them stand a good chance of working. It is the closest thing we have right now to a fountain of youth.
Cheaper Diagnostics Improves Efficiency
Diagnosing patients is costly. Doctors have to take samples and then ship them to expensive labs where paid technicians carry out the tests. The whole process is long and time-consuming.
The emergence of cheap diagnostic devices, however, could change all that. Instead of requiring an entire lab, technology miniaturized it down to the size of a large office printer, thus reducing the cost. Physicians can then take samples, feed them into the machine, and get an output they can interpret for diagnosis.
