McKinley Grapevine

Good Morning Everyone!

We’re in the middle of week 2 of the Stress Relief Challenge – I hope you’re all enjoying this challenge and are having great success with finding ways to relive your stress :-).

Music is a very effective way to relive stress – whether you’re listening, playing or singing at the top of your lungs, music can have incredible healing effects psychologically and physiologically.  Check out the 2 articles below (quick reads) that explain the benefits and give suggestions on how to incorporate music into your daily routine.

The Power of Music To Reduce Stress – By Jane Collingwood

http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-power-of-music-to-reduce-stress/000930

• “When people are very stressed, there is a tendency to avoid actively listening to music. Perhaps it feels like a waste of time, not helping to achieve anything. But as we know, productivity increases when stress is reduced, so this is another area where you can gain vast rewards. It just takes a small effort to begin with”.

12 Ways to Reduce Stress with Music- By Frank Fitzpatrick, Director / Founder of EarthTones

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/12-ways-to-reduce-stress-with-music.htm

1. Rise with music
2. Sing with music
3. Play with music
4. Reprogram with music
5. Move with music
6. Commute with music
7. Work with music
8. Meet with music
9. Tune in with music
10. Recline with music
11. Unite with music
12. Dance with music – no coordination required…just have FUN!!!

Have a fabulous day everyone!!!

Yours in Health and Wellness,

Meredith

Good Morning McKinley!!!

Here’s a really fun challenge we’re going to participate in as a team!!  For the month of May we will be participating in the Commuter Challenge organized by The Ride.  Last year Zingerman’s won and I think this year, we can beat them!!!

Here are the details:

• Register: http://challenge.getdowntown.org/register.php
  • Choose “McKinley” as your team and fill out the rest of information.
  • Email or let me know in person once you’ve registered so I can give you your Commuter Kit.
  • Start logging your commutes by clicking “My Profile” and choose “Log Trip Data”.  You can start logging your commutes today to get in the habit of doing it BUT the challenge doesn’t begin until May 1^st.
  • How to earn points:
    • Car pool with a friend to work
    • Take the bus to work (even if it’s only part of the way)
    • Ride your bike or walk to work
    • Telecommute – working from home
    • Walking meetings
    • Walk or ride a bike to:
      • Lunch
      • Post Office
      • Shops downtown
• Uber/Lyft (ride-sharing companies) Check this out if you’re interested in learning about the differences between Uber and Lyft: http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-Uber-and-Lyft-1
  • Uber –  Get a ride within minutes: https://www.uber.com/
  • Lyft- A ride whenever you need one: https://www.lyft.com/
• Weekends count too – ride your bike to the grocery store or car pool with a friend and go grocery shopping together.
• May 1^st is Green Commute Day – Wear green, log your first commute and submit your photos to challenge@theride.org and let them know you’re on Team McKinley for extra points!!
• Prizes – click the link to check out the cool prizes: http://challenge.getdowntown.org/learn-prizes.php

Get registered today so you’re ready for May 1^st!!!!!!!

Thanks everyone!

Yours in Health and Wellness,

Meredith

Hi Everyone!!!!

We are moving into a VERY busy time of year for many of our team members.  For this reason, I chose to make this challenge The Stress Relief Challenge.  Stress is present in all of our lives in one way or another.  Stress can be a good thing – it keeps us alert and ready to avoid danger.  But when our stress isn’t managed, we put our health at risk.  We can experience physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension and elevated blood pressure.  It can also lead to weight gain if you find yourself reaching for food to relieve your stress!!  Check out these stats from www.webmd.com:

• 43% of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress.
• 75-90% of all doctor’s office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints.
• Stress can play a part in problems such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depression, and anxiety.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) declared stress a hazard of the workplace. Stress costs American industry more than $300 billion annually.
• The lifetime prevalence of an emotional disorder is more than 50%, often due to chronic, untreated stress reactions.

Let’s do something about our stress instead of letting one stressful event piggy-back the next one without any kind of relief.  Exercise is a GREAT way to relieve stress but it’s not the only way, so here’s the challenge:

–          20min/daily, 4 days weekly– participate in some kind of exercise (walking, running, riding a bike, yoga, Zumba, pilates, boxing, push-ups & planks etc…)

–          10min/daily, EVERYDAY – Do something for YOU to help you rejuvenate!  Some days you may be able to take more than 10min (AWESOME!) but the challenge is to find time EVERYDAY for yourself.  One more thing – I want to encourage you to put your phone on silent (not vibrate) while you are taking time for yourself – no distractions :-).  Here are some examples of ways to relive stress:

• Read, meditate, play an instrument, listen to music, go for coffee with a friend, LAUGH with a friend, play a game with your family, go to the park with your kids, cook with your kids, paint, garden, watch a sunset or a sunrise, get a massage, play with your pets…

–          Drink 64oz of water 5 days/weekly

Points – PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING THOROUGHLY!!!!!!

This is going to be a PARTNER CHALLENGE!  You and your partner will BOTH need to complete the following to earn points:

–          Each partner will exercise 20min daily, 4 days weekly = 1 point/weekly (if one person only completes 3 days of exercise for the week, you don’t receive the point)

–          Each partner will participate in a stress relieving activity for at least 10min daily = 1 point

–          Each partner will drink 64oz of water 5 days/weekly = 1 point

***EXTRA POINTS***

–          If you have not competed in a Healthy Habits Challenge in the last 6 months, you will receive 1 extra point.

–          If you find a partner who has not competed in a Healthy Habits Challenge in the last 6 months, you will receive 1 extra point.

–          If you and your partner have not competed in a Healthy Habits Challenge in the last 6 months, you will receive 2 extra points.

This Partner Challenge will be a 6 week challenge.  The challenge will begin this Monday, April 13^th 2015 and will end on Sunday, May 24^th 2015.  The maximum amount of points each team can earn for each week is 3.  The team with the most points at the end of the Stress Relief Challenge will win a $100 gift card!!

If you would like to participate in this challenge please email me by the end of this week with your name, your partner’s name and whether or not you have competed in a challenge in the last 6 months.  If you would like to participate in the challenge but need some help finding a partner, email me and I will help partner you up :-).

Yours in Health and Wellness,

Meredith