I learned the hard way this past weekend that me time is important. How you wonder? I blew up screaming at everyone in the house when my brother and niece were goofing around. The problem was she was screeching like only a 16 year old girl can. My nephew, sick with a cold, would not blow his nose or wear a jacket....but the night before begged me to get him sudafed PE. My brother was complaining about my dog's toys........
Enough....all of you can use inside voices. I don't want to hear how sick you are if you won't wear a jacket and that nose thing is making me crazy. CAN YOU DO JUST THESE COUPLE OF THINGS FOR ME!!!
Maybe it was not appropriate to scream back but I needed to be heard. I have been spending so much time planning stuff for the weight watcher meetings, getting to jazzercise every morning even when I can't move without pain. Planning the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award roll out, getting the dog's pill/nails trimmed...this on top of my every day requests at the office. I was at my max.
I love taking the dog for a walk. We do it nightly........no matter how much pain I might be in with my plantar fasciatis. Usually by the end of the walk my muscles are warm and not as aggravated. Nice thing is I have a smile on my face and am ready to sit in front of the tv or veg in front of a 'words' game (words with friends, scramble with friends, hanging with friends). I also love looking at my fitbit (pictured on the side of this blog) checking to see how many calories I have burned, steps I have taken and looking at the encouraging statements that flash across the screen!
I love making time for me and wandering the malls. I don't have to buy anything but just going in and out of the stores to see what is out there. If something strikes my fancy I have been known to make an impromptu purchase.
Cooking helps me relax too. The repetition of cutting, the smells melding together and of course the end result of a (hopefully) good meal.
It seems I have a full plate but will continue to look for more. Gardening will be on my agenda again soon. I want to try raspberries this year. I never plant before mother's day (isn't that an old wives tale?) but will get the pots ready for the raspberries. According to the books I need to really fertilize the soil in the pots. Living in a townhouse complex I can't plant in the ground but can have a crazy time with pots. My pretty pot garden! I have never tried them before and am always up for a challenge.
Ashton Kucher convinced me to get a Nikon 1 J1 camera this weekend too. (we are close personal friends......NOT) I am looking forward to wandering about the Morton Arboretum snapping shots of nature. I am excited for the fact that when I take sassy to rescue events she can be a star with her pug friends and I can capture these moments.
I am really looking to spread my wings and try new things this next season....how about you?
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
Being the Pied Piper...
I feel like the Pied Piper of wellness at the office. Maybe my enthusiasm is contagious, but I truly believe that moving more and eating well (and clean) are huge.
I am also the pseudo HR assistant here at the office. I see the insurance expense and exposure. If we all did something just a little better today than yesterday, how much better would we feel? Down the road, how many health meds (bp, cholesterol, diabetes, etc) would we be able to stop taking?
When I have had spots of time with nothing to do (truly does not happen often) I contacted the insurance administrator to ask what could the Company do to promote wellness? What wellness programs are available, low to no cost, and easy. Let's face it, there are not more than 24 hours in a day!!
The first thing I promoted and pitched to the company was Weight Watchers. Would Elite be willing to comp out a small portion of the bill? While the boss contemplated that, I called weight watchers to see what it would take to have on site meetings. I needed to get 15 people to commit to the program and weekly meetings. Have I mentioned in the past that I work in an office with 3 girls and 50+ guys?? It took me 2 months, lots of begging/cajoling, and offering the deal to some friends outside of the office but we finally got there. On a weekly basis I have 4 girls and 11 guys attending meetings. To help them along, I have posted Points Plus Values (ppv) on the vending machine in the kitchen, by the candy jar (chocolate candy) on my desk. It is odd to hear the guys talking up the ppv on different foods, to hear them say "that is not worth the points"....didn't we think only women felt that way?! Everyone is having success, the guys are moving faster than the girls but they always lose faster. Grrrr!!
This pied piper then set up a wellness screening at the office. Everyone was offered the opportunity to do a short fasting blood screening. There was a brief questionnaire that needed to be completed. I had about 40% participation. It is a start. Again, to hear them talking about their cholesterol and what it takes to get it lower makes me smile. The best part is it was free to all employees and their family.
In the spring I will be putting together a wellness fair where different vendors/stores from the area will stop by with a service/sample/etc to make the employees aware they are here in the area, participating in our PPO.
These are all great strides......and speaking of strides I have purchased pedometers for anyone in the office who wants it. Truly no cost to them. I am also rolling out a walking program. There is a Presidential Active Lifestyle Award that I am asking the guys to join me in. Get steps/activity anyway they want, just record it. If they can't figure it out they can give me the information and one time per week I will update the forms. I have offered them a discount on Jazzercise classes (my favorite form of exercise) but not many have taken me up on the offer........what? Are they afraid of a little spandex??!!
All of these things will make us a healthier, happier work force. I have had a few guys come up to me to tell me that their doctors are impressed with the strides they have made to date. Again, a big smile on my face to think I might have had a little something to do with it.
I am their cheerleader and support. If they have questions/concerns they know if I don't have the answer I will find it. I see people all around me (at work/ facebook buddies) that are doing it and doing it consistently.
Maybe that is the key? Consistently moving, eating better and not stressing about it.....whoodathunk?
I am also the pseudo HR assistant here at the office. I see the insurance expense and exposure. If we all did something just a little better today than yesterday, how much better would we feel? Down the road, how many health meds (bp, cholesterol, diabetes, etc) would we be able to stop taking?
When I have had spots of time with nothing to do (truly does not happen often) I contacted the insurance administrator to ask what could the Company do to promote wellness? What wellness programs are available, low to no cost, and easy. Let's face it, there are not more than 24 hours in a day!!
The first thing I promoted and pitched to the company was Weight Watchers. Would Elite be willing to comp out a small portion of the bill? While the boss contemplated that, I called weight watchers to see what it would take to have on site meetings. I needed to get 15 people to commit to the program and weekly meetings. Have I mentioned in the past that I work in an office with 3 girls and 50+ guys?? It took me 2 months, lots of begging/cajoling, and offering the deal to some friends outside of the office but we finally got there. On a weekly basis I have 4 girls and 11 guys attending meetings. To help them along, I have posted Points Plus Values (ppv) on the vending machine in the kitchen, by the candy jar (chocolate candy) on my desk. It is odd to hear the guys talking up the ppv on different foods, to hear them say "that is not worth the points"....didn't we think only women felt that way?! Everyone is having success, the guys are moving faster than the girls but they always lose faster. Grrrr!!
This pied piper then set up a wellness screening at the office. Everyone was offered the opportunity to do a short fasting blood screening. There was a brief questionnaire that needed to be completed. I had about 40% participation. It is a start. Again, to hear them talking about their cholesterol and what it takes to get it lower makes me smile. The best part is it was free to all employees and their family.
In the spring I will be putting together a wellness fair where different vendors/stores from the area will stop by with a service/sample/etc to make the employees aware they are here in the area, participating in our PPO.
These are all great strides......and speaking of strides I have purchased pedometers for anyone in the office who wants it. Truly no cost to them. I am also rolling out a walking program. There is a Presidential Active Lifestyle Award that I am asking the guys to join me in. Get steps/activity anyway they want, just record it. If they can't figure it out they can give me the information and one time per week I will update the forms. I have offered them a discount on Jazzercise classes (my favorite form of exercise) but not many have taken me up on the offer........what? Are they afraid of a little spandex??!!
All of these things will make us a healthier, happier work force. I have had a few guys come up to me to tell me that their doctors are impressed with the strides they have made to date. Again, a big smile on my face to think I might have had a little something to do with it.
I am their cheerleader and support. If they have questions/concerns they know if I don't have the answer I will find it. I see people all around me (at work/ facebook buddies) that are doing it and doing it consistently.
Maybe that is the key? Consistently moving, eating better and not stressing about it.....whoodathunk?
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