Gambling in the 21st Century has become a sophisticated, and in some cases, a more subtle wagering activity. The Responsible & Problem Gambling Program and the Centre for Addictions Research have partnered to create lesson plans for the BC’s new K-12 curriculum. Teachings include themes such as: 1 Every human society appears to have accepted gambling in some form; 2 Gambling can be fun but can also lead to significant harm; 3 As humans, we need to learn how to manage gambling and; 4 We can learn how to control gambling by examining the different ways people have thought about it, engaging in critical self-reflection and listening to each other.
Karen Hlady, Community Engagement & Prevention Service Provider, BCResponsibleGambling.ca

With the beginning of a new year, we may be asking ourselves things like; What were the highlights of the past year? What did we learn? How can we improve? Many people like to set goals for self-improvement in January. Here are some tips that may help get your own planning underway: Identify the “Why” – It’s often easy to know what healthy habits you want to incorporate into your life, but identifying the reason will often be the secret ingredient to success. Stick with it – A London study followed 96 subjects who were trying to make a change and found that on average it took participants 66 days to make a behaviour a habit. Incorporate the 3 R’s Pattern – REMIND ourselves why we are trying to create a healthy habit, establish a regular ROUTINE that develops that habit and REWARD ourselves along the way for our successes.
Tammy Toor, City of Nanaimo, Nanaimo.ca

Self-care is key to good health and happiness. Its many benefits include lowering blood pressure, slows aging, improves sleep and provides effective ways to deal with stress. It will help you experience more energy, mental clarity and inner peace. It supports you both internally and externally to take back control of your life. Self-care was once considered selfish but not anymore. Studies show that it is essential for good health. Massage is fantastic for self-care because you can let go of the worries and burdens of life. Simple breathing exercises and meditation are other great options.
Tammy Phye, R.A., EOT, Lifestyle Harmony LifestyleHarmony.ca

We hope that one of your healthy habits for 2018 includes being more active. If so, please take a moment this month to check out the City of Nanaimo Activity Guide which has programs for every family member starting in January. It is available online or pick up a copy at our recreation centres. From all of us here at Parks and Recreation, we wish you and your family a happy, healthy and active new year.
City of Nanaimo, Nanaimo.ca

Many overweight people think that they have a healthy diet and don’t understand what causes them to gain weight. Living at an unhealthy weight is a long term health hazard. This can be overcome by learning how to make smarter lifestyle choices. The first step to overcoming a weight problem is to understand what caused the weight gain in the first place. The next step is to use that knowledge to loose the excess weight and then maintain a stable weight for life. Once you have made a commitment to weight loss, look for a program that offers ongoing support that will help you achieve your goal.