The transition to remote and hybrid work and back to the worksite has been difficult for many reasons, and one consistent issue the idea of taking breaks. Taking breaks benefits both health and performance markers, such as energy levels, morale, and vigor, while decreasing job burnout, fatigue, and work stress. A bulk of research shows the best way to boost productivity is to take microbreaks every 60 minutes away from screen time. Try standing up, moving around, stretching, or practicing mindfulness and deep breathing exercises to keep you motivated during your work blocks.

Plants reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Plants have shown an increase in creativity, both in school and the workplace. They found plants brought a 37% reduction in tension and anxiety, a 58% reduction in depression and a 44% reduction in anger and hostility. Studies showed an improvement in preschooler’s memory, and cognitive function when participants walked in nature. Children with ADHD had better concentration after a walk in the park than after an urban neighborhood walk. Taking breaks to view or be in nature helps restore everyone’s attention.

The physical work of gardening, preparing soil, planting seeds, watering and weeding produces good chemicals in the brain such as serotonin and dopamine. Garden work can also help reduce blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels. Low cortisol levels keep inflammation down and manages carbohydrates and blood sugars. Being physically active through gardening provides lasting wellness benefits. Physical exercise – digging, hoeing and watering uses balance, muscles, and strength. While all physical activity is beneficial, your emotions benefit too!

Impaired driving is the leading cause of criminal death in Canada, and the #1 cause of death of Canadian youth. “Driving under the Influence” (DUI), is the term used in Canada since 1921, to describe the criminal offense of operating a motor vehicle, while the person’s ability is impaired by alcohol or drugs. “Driving While Impaired” includes: Swerving and weaving; jerky, sudden movements, failure to follow traffic signs and signals, tail-gaiting, or mishandling of vehicle equipment. The two terms can refer to the same offence, or the state you were in when you were pulled over.

SRWC is a unique, welcoming, recovery-oriented community, accompanying individuals, families and friends affected by substance abuse in their journey towards recovery. We offer, group individual, couples counselling, and family counselling and education programs during the day and evening, co-ed and gender specific programs and support for individuals and their families. The Access, program for those awaiting a program of their choice, Exploring Options participating in a recovery plan, gender specific Continuing Recovery Program, or our co-ed evening Work Sober Program focusing on recovery maintenance. We support your recovery by helping you find the services you need.

March 8 is International Women’s Day. The Government of Canada’s theme for 2022 is Women Inspiring Women. As a business, celebrate all the women who inspire us by demonstrating their leadership contributions to social, economic, cultural, and political spheres. Female leaders are known to encourage collaboration, provide more empathy and support to employees leading to a culture of engagement, retention, diversity, and compliance. Women in leadership positions also have significant positive impacts in the workplace i.e., increased profitability and client retention. If you are a woman in leadership, consider being a role model for other women through networking or mentoring.

No matter how clean, organic, and healthy you eat, if your body isn’t able to digest, absorb, and process essential nutrients properly, you are not benefitting from your efforts.
To do this, your stomach needs to fully digest, your intestines need to completely absorb, and your liver needs to properly process the food you eat.
One of the simplest ways to correct and improve any issue you may have with the digestive process is through nutritional testing.
If a weakness is found in a specific organ, nutritional supplementation can be added to your diet to improve the digestive process and in turn, help you benefit from your wise choices.

Sleep deprivation can play a role in the body’s inflammatory process, potentially increasing inflammatory molecules like cytokines, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein (an inflammation marker that’s often elevated in people at risk for heart disease and diabetes). Chronic inflammation can lead to the development of diabetes, stroke, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer. Studies have shown that acupuncture may help to improve insomnia symptoms, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency, as well as symptoms of conditions that can affect sleep, such as restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, pain, anxiety, and depression. Improving sleep may help to decrease inflammation in the body.

Dopamine, our motivation chemical, is highest in the morning. That’s why it can be helpful to tackle the “hardest” things first and set up a dopamine wave early in the morning. Have a morning routine consisting of discipline-building behaviours – a cold shower is perfect, as it is uncomfortable. Once you overcome an obstacle this big, the other “hard” tasks seem easy in comparison. Other examples are a morning workout or meditation session. This can help you face everything your day throws at you, big or small. Life is won with a series of decisions that build on each other!