When you are the caregiver of a loved one, it’s important to also take care of yourself. Here are some signs that you may be suffering from burnout: *Withdrawal from family and friends, *Changes in sleep patterns, *Feelings of irritability, helplessness and resentment.,*Decline in your own health. Things you can do to support yourself include talking to a trusted friend or co-worker; finding a support group and being realistic about your loved one’s state of health. Recognize that the time may come when your loved one will need specialized long term care and know that it is available in your community.
Community News
Community Partnerships & Resources
At Wellnessnews Choices for Healthy Living®, we are proud to be active in our communities. We promote events and activities that help bring health and well-being into people’s lives. This month, we have partnered with the Victoria HarbourCats and the Nanaimo NightOwls Baseball Clubs, The Victoria Goddess Run and the Aging Well Seniors Expo in Cowichan. Our health and wellness resources include our printed newsletters, our online WellnessHubVancouverIsland.ca, the “Wellness Wednesday” radio show on CHLY 101.7 FM or CHLY.ca and our Expos. Check out the Hub for more information and to enter our June contest.
Father’s Day Gift – Wellness
Does your dad have a closet full of Father’s Day ties? This year, show him that you care about his wellness and give him socks – VoxxLife socks. They have wearable technology that works with the brain to reduce pain, increase strength and endurance and enhance stability and balance. Knee-high socks with mild compression are great when standing for a long time or excess sitting. For the active walkers or runners, chose moisture-wicking socks to keep the feet cool in summer. Socks are available for pick-up or delivery in Central Vancouver Island or order directly from the website.
Senior Brain Health
It’s important for people of all ages to keep their brains healthy with regular workouts, but especially so for seniors. Here are five ways you can keep your mind sharp as you age: 1) Play a game. Try a sudoku, crossword, or jigsaw puzzle, or play a game of cards with friends. 2) Get moving. Regular exercise increases blood flow to your brain and increases neurons. 3) Listen to or play music. Science shows that music is a great brain booster. 4) Eat right. A diet rich in healthy fats is crucial for cognitive health. 5) Learn something new. Keep your mind engaged!
May is a Great Time to Clean
May is a great time to spring clean your home and spruce up your exercise and eating habits. We welcome you to check out the Wellness Hub, our local, online Health and Wellness resource. The Wellness Hub features hundreds of health tips and articles on a variety of health and wellness topics along with a directory of hundreds of local businesses and practitioners offering services and products. It is easy to search, access and share information. While you are checking out the Wellness Hub, don’t forget to enter the May Contest for a chance to win Baseball Tickets.
Boost Well-being with Fresh Air & Exercise
One of the best things about living on Vancouver Island is having nature right in our backyard. With summer just around the corner, it is a great time to take advantage of everything our island has to offer. Whether it is just a walk around the block or a hike up a mountain, the fresh air and exercise boost our well-being. So lace up your shoes and wear VoxxLife socks with HPT for enhanced balance and stability. Additional benefits include; enhanced pain relief and management, especially PDN pain and improved mobility.
There Are NO Bad Foods
Contrary to popular opinion, there are no truly “bad” foods. There are indeed foods that are better and worse when it comes to nutrition, but food, even cake, has no “morality”. We tell ourselves that these “junk foods” are “bad”, yet we often celebrate milestones in life with them. Weddings, birthdays, getting into college, or even retiring come with a cake that is shared with friends, family and colleagues. Although cake might not be the most nutritious form of calories, it can still be enjoyed in a balanced diet where nutrients come from other sources throughout the day.
Get Help Wherever You Are!
Now that the world is opening up, you may be heading out on longer adventures or travelling again. Wherever you go, you will want to feel secure knowing that help is available! Whether in your home, walking in the park or on a road trip, there are devices available that give you 24/7 access to help. These on-the-go devices can send an alert when you press a button, sense when you fall, and provide direct, two-way communication with a 24/7 Response Center. They are designed to help locate the user in a variety of situations – home or away, indoors and out.
Keep Gambling in Check
Have you heard of Canada’s Low-Risk Gambling Guidelines? They recommend keeping it under 1% of gross household income, four days/month or less and only two types of gambling. Also, consider the following which can increase your risk of developing a gambling problem: 1) If you struggle with mental health and addictions issues or have experienced gambling problems in your family, 2) If you are drawn to fast-paced games that involve frequent betting like slot machines, in-game sports betting, or many online forms of gambling, and/or 3) you’re playing for escapism or to make money. Check out GamblingGuidelines.ca #LRGG.
Stay Healthy While Travelling
Long-distance travel, either by air or land, can lead to a small risk of blood clots. If you have cancer, had recent surgery, abnormal blood clotting disorders or obesity you should be assessed by a healthcare practitioner before travelling. Tips to prevent blood clots during flights that every traveller can benefit from include; *Maintain adequate hydration as it also encourages mobilization, *Contract the calf muscles regularly or get up every 1-2 hours, *Wear below-knee graduated compression stockings, and *Choose an aisle seat when possible as it is proven to encourage mobilization. Talk to your pharmacist about ways to stay healthy while travelling.
Take Time to Smell the Flowers!
How often do you take time to just BE? This is what the phrase ‘stop and smell the flowers’ means. It is taking time out of your busy, complicated life to sit, relax, connect with nature and do nothing. Remember you are a human BEing! It is time to stop thinking that taking time for yourself is selfish. Taking time for yourself will make you happier, more productive and better able to support your loved ones. A Certified Body/Emotion Code Practitioner can help you release any unprocessed negative (trapped) emotions to allow YOU to take time for YOU.
