Whenever someone changes to a healthier habit, they go through several stages of change. Knowing these stages can help you achieve your change goals. Pre-Contemplation: This is before you see it as a problem or are motivated to change it. / Contemplation: You are aware of the problem but still deciding whether to change. / Preparation: Willing to change and making plans. / Action: Do the plan. intentionally choose new habits. / Maintenance: Sustain the new habit with increasing less effort over time (6 months.) / Slip: Brief return to previous habits. Can happen anytime. It is a natural part of the process.
Community News
Dealing with Stress at Work
If you are experiencing work-related stress, consider these strategies. Exercise regularly: This helps your body build resilience to stress. Focus on your breathing. Breathe slowly and evenly. Focus on what’s going on in your body as you inhale and exhale. Remember, what you are experiencing is temporary. Understand what you can and cannot control. Work on changing the things you can. Practice accepting the things you cannot change. You can still change how it affects you, and how you respond to it.
Dealing with Addiction?
When you are ready to take back control of your life, we can help. SRWC has been helping people get and stay sober for 25 years. We are open-minded, non-judgmental, and we help people enter a life of recovery from substance use, addiction, and other mental health issues. We are a diverse group of professional staff and volunteers, committed to providing personalized, ongoing recovery support. Our groups, individual counselling and day or evening programs are designed to fit your schedule. SRWC is conveniently located in downtown Winnipeg, 225 Vaughan Street (2nd floor).
Avoiding Boredom While Living with Limited Mobility
Hobbies are a great way to keep your mind engaged and prevent boredom. Activities that don’t require a lot of moving around include cooking, baking, birdwatching, knitting, crochet, indoor or container gardening, playing a musical instrument, or learning a language. Reading is also a fun way to spend time and keep your brain engaged whether you choose books, magazines, an e-reader, or listening to audiobooks. Organizing a book club with friends combines the joy of reading with socializing. What interests and hobbies did you have before that you might try again?
Medications & Your DNA
Did you know that your unique genetic profile can determine how your body processes certain medications? For some people, they may metabolize drugs too quickly and as a result, get little or no benefit from a particular medication. For other people, they may metabolize medications too slowly and as a result, have an increased risk of side effects. Genetic testing can help to personalize your treatment by using genetic information to customize drug therapy and the doses that work best for you. As your DNA does not change, the testing only needs to be performed one time.
Have a Smoke-Free 2022
Something about leaving an old year behind and looking ahead at the clean slate of a new one inspires most of us to try. We think about making lasting positive changes in our lives, and we do it with hope and enthusiasm. If you’re planning to start the new year without a cigarette in your hand, but have had no luck sticking with past New Year’s resolutions, consider laser therapy. Laser therapy can help to control cravings and withdrawal symptoms. In clinical studies, patients report a noticeable reduction in cravings, and have a higher chance of success in quitting.
Tis the Season to be Mindful
The holiday season has begun and overwhelm is a reality for many. If you are juggling, work, anxiety around the pandemic, and family needs, a little bit of mindfulness can help us gain perspective. The science indicates just five minutes a day can help us be more focused, less stressed and less anxious. Try one of these three tips. One: take five minutes a day to just observe non-judgementally. Two: practice the 5/5 rule by noticing five things about each of your senses once a day. Three: Try uni-tasking (doing only ONE thing at a time) as much as possible. For free resources to cultivate a healthy culture at work, visit wellnessworkscanada.ca ~ Victoria Grainger, Wellness Works Canada
Looking for a way to Release Stress?
Raindrop Technique is a type of body therapy that aims to reach all levels of the body, mind, and emotions. The purpose is to stimulate every organ, and muscle of the body at a cellular level using natural essential oils that support the immune system with the intention of bringing the body into balance and encouraging the release of toxins. A Raindrop session may support symptoms associated with anxiety, stress, headaches, muscle/back pain, etc. Sometimes the detoxification process results in bodily soreness, headache, sinus drainage, coughing or a rash on the skin. For most, their experience is a pleasant sense of improved wellbeing, relaxation, and increased energy.
Local Spotlight: Heart to Home Meals
Heart to Home Meals delivers delicious, nutritious meals right to your door. The company’s team of experts has developed a wide-ranging menu to suit many tastes, dietary needs, and lifestyles, including high-protein, low carbohydrates and/or saturated fat, low sodium, high fibre, vegetarian, and no added sugar options. Heart to Home Meals has a useful diet coding system to help you choose meals that are right for you. Meals also come in mini versions (for smaller appetites), hearty versions (for larger appetites), as well as minced or pureed options. It’s as easy as ordering online or by phone!
https://www.hearttohomemeals.ca?utm_source=wellnesshub&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=alwayson_winnipeg_local&utm_content=education
Dealing with Difficult People
In the holiday season, we may have to spend more time with people we would prefer to avoid. They could be anyone from embarrassing co-workers to judgemental family members. Want to reduce your stress this season? When dealing with difficult people at a holiday gathering, try these tips:
• Excuse yourself and walk away.
• Smile and listen while breathing calmly to relax.
• Think positive things about yourself.
• Change the subject of the conversation.
• State your feelings in a non-aggressive way.
• Interact with someone else.
• Be empathetic and think about why the person is acting this way.
• Take the high road and remain tolerant, kind, and respectful.
Looking for Donations
SRWC is a small, local charity that depends on your donations. You can make a difference! Your HELP is vital to saving lives. Be a HERO today. Ways to donate:
Online: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/id/78266
Mail: 2nd floor, 225 Vaughan St. Winnipeg, MB, R3C 1T7
Phone: Candace at 204-956-6650 ext. 104
