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Does Your Employee Sick Time Include Mental Health Days?

July 20, 2017 By Morning Health Team Leave a Comment

What is your employer’s sick time policy and are you honest about using it?

Some years ago, I was an assistant manager for a large retail store and was floored one day when our furniture department manager called in well. He woke up feeling really good and felt the need to go fishing instead of coming in to work, he was buying some beer, picking up his dad and was heading to a lake to go fishing. I admired him for being honest, as he could have lied and said he was sick, but he didn’t, he called in well. The next day, when he came to work, I spoke to him and he explained that he had been very stressed lately and just needed a day to relax and unwind. Our company policy gave me no choice but to write him up with a written reprimand, but I did comment about his honesty and understood his need to unwind.

In today’s world, one could refer to that as a mental health day. Back then, mental health wasn’t really considered to be a concern, at least not nearly as important as physical health, but times are changing and some employers actually allow for mental health days.

Madalyn Parker lives and works in Ann Arbor, Michigan as a web developer. She felt that she needed a couple of days off for mental health reasons. In 2015, she had written about her battle to overcome mental health hurdles at work, so many of her colleagues were aware of her struggles. Like my furniture manager, Parker was honest about why she was taking a couple of days off and sent an email to her team, which read:

“Hey team, I’m taking today and tomorrow off to focus on my mental health. Hopefully I’ll be back next week refreshed and back to 100%. Thanks, Madalyn.”

What do you think your employer would say if you took a couple days off and sent an email stating the same reason that Parker gave?

Her fellow workers accepted her reason for taking the time off, largely because they knew her and of her struggles. The surprise was the response she got from Ben Congleton, the CEO of the company where she works.

Congleton replied to Parker’s email, writing:

“Hey Madalyn, I just wanted to personally thank you for sending emails like this. Every time you do, I use it as a reminder of the importance of using sick days for mental health – I can’t believe this is not standard practice at all organizations. You are an example to us all, and help cut through the stigma so we can all bring our whole selves to work.”

Parker was so pleased with the CEO’s response that she asked to share it on Twitter and he agreed. Once she tweeted it out, she has received thousands of likes and it’s been re-tweeted thousands of times.

Psychotherapist Any Morin gives several reason for needing to take a mental health off. They are:

• When you’re distracted by something you need to address. If you’re behind on your bills and taking a day off to tackle your budget could help you feel as though you’re back in control, it may make sense to take a day to address it so you can reduce your anxiety.

• When you’ve been neglecting yourself.  Just like electronic devices need recharging, it’s important to take time to charge your own batteries. A little alone time or an opportunity to practice some self-care can help you perform better.

• When you need to attend appointments to care for your mental health. Whether you need to see your doctor to get your medication adjusted or to schedule an appointment with your therapist, taking a day off to address your mental health needs is instrumental in helping you be your best.

Why Leaders Should Care About Employees’ Mental Health

It would be wonderful if all employers supported employees’ efforts to take care of their mental health in the same way Congleton did. But clearly, the tweet went viral because most employers wouldn’t have had the same reaction.

In today’s America, more emphasis has been placed on our mental health as much as on our physical health. Do you know if your employer recognizes the need to take a mental health day off as well as a sick day off? If not, you need to find out, because staying mentally healthy can have a direct impact on staying physically healthy.

Filed Under: Health, Mindset Tagged With: Mental Health Days, Personal Days, Relaxing, stress, Work

Mid-Life Memory Problems? Try Exercising!

May 3, 2017 By Morning Health Team Leave a Comment

Image result for exercising after 40

A friend commented that when she turned 40-years-old, her kids lovingly told her that she was beginning to get a little forgetful at times. She joked and said it was raising kids, which in part may have been true.

On April 25, 2017, I shared six main reasons for memory loss. They were: chronic stress, alcohol abuse, depression, health conditions, medications and physical exhaustion.

There is no doubt that raising kids these days can be stressful and physically exhausting at times and possibly times of depression, all of which can lead to some memory loss.

By the time a mom reaches 50-years of age, she is marrying off her kids. It’s not nearly as hard on her if she has boys, but marrying off a daughter or daughters, can take quite a toll on mom. It’s definitely a stressful time to make sure all of the arrangements are made. Leading up to and the day of the wedding is often very physically exhausting. After a daughter and her new husband drive away, it’s not uncommon for mom to experience some periods of depression, as well. Again, all of these can lead to memory loss.

In the post mentioned above, it was reported that researchers found a protein in umbilical cord blood that appeared to improve and even restore memory. However, this is still in the experimental stage and may be some time before it’s approved for use. So, what can you do now to help you keep from losing more memory and even help restore some of the memory issues you may be facing at this stage in life?

Would you believe that exercise may help? Yes, the dreaded ‘E’ word – exercise. I can hear you now – I don’t have time or I can’t afford to go to a gym, but if it’s important enough, you can find the time and you don’t need to go to a gym.

It’s not just any exercise, but a combination of exercises and they have to be done on a routine basis. Check this out:

“Can a new exercise regimen boost your brain health if you’re over 50?”

“Possibly, suggests a new research review that found middle-age folks can improve their thinking and memory skills by adopting regular moderate-to-vigorous routines involving aerobic and resistance exercise.”

“‘When we combined the available data from [39 previous] studies, we were able to show that undertaking physical exercise was able to improve the brain function of people aged 50 and over,’ said study lead author Joseph Northey. He’s a doctoral candidate and teaching fellow at the University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise in Australia.”

In the studies, participants did their exercises under supervision. The type, duration of time and intensity of the exercises were noted and then compared. Afterwards, the participants took tests that measured brain function, also associated with memory.

Interestingly, tai chi and aerobic exercises seemed to enhance overall brain function. Resistance exercises seemed to improve memory. Northey commented:

“…being able to show that resistance training — such as lifting weights or using body weight — was similarly beneficial is a very novel and important finding.”

“Combining both aerobic and resistance training is ideal.”

“In addition to improving your brain function as our review shows, you should expect to see improvements in cardio-respiratory fitness and muscle strength, which are important for maintaining general health and being able to undertake day-to-day tasks.”

The researchers also said that the more physically active you are, the better the benefits for brain function. So, as you reach that 40-year mark and especially the 50-year mark, it’s important not only for your physical health to stay active or exercise regularly (aerobic and resistance), but it’s also important for maintaining brain function and reducing memory loss.

Filed Under: Anti Aging, Exercise, Fitness, Health Tagged With: aging, depression, exercise, memory loss, stress

Your Health Skeletons May Come Back to Haunt You

March 6, 2017 By Adam Morgan Leave a Comment

Everyone has some sort of skeletons hidden away in the closets of their past. Things they’ve done, said, should have done or didn’t do that they don’t want anyone to know about or hide from themselves. Some call it guilt. Others chalk it up to that embarrassing and sometimes uncontrollable time in our lives called youth or our teen years.

Some of these skeletons we hide away may have been something we did that was illegal or just wrong. A sin which we are now ashamed of. Some may be bad habits that we finally grew out of or changed. They tell us that with age comes wisdom, but we’ve all met some people that seem to defy getting any wiser as they grow older.

If someone asked you about the skeletons in your closet, would you even consider the fact that they may be talking about health-related skeletons? How many of you ever consider the fact that these health-related skeletons of our past may have a significant influence on our future health?

Obviously, one of the first skeletons most people think of is smoking. Did you smoke in your youth or sometime in your past, but quit? Did you know that how long your smoked and how long ago you quit may still be affecting your health today or in the future? Ask yourself if you quit smoking over a decade earlier if you are safe now? According to a report released by Fox News:

“You smoked a pack a day a decade ago
Safe:
 (Eh, almost.) It’s better if you never did. But kicking the habit before age 39 cut men and women’s smoking-associated risk of death from any cause by 90 percent in a 2013 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. That’s the equivalent of nine extra years to pile candles on your birthday cake.”

What about your lack of activity? What if you were lazy or married to your desk job and just didn’t have time to exercise? What if you were a couch potato?

“Your butt used to be glued to your couch
Safe:
 A 2014 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that when older adults logged just one moderate or vigorous exercise session per week, they were three and four times, respectively, more likely to age healthfully — even if they used to be complete couch potatoes.”

What about your sleeping habits? The news has been filled for years with reports of how important it to your health to get enough sleep every night, but could your lack of enough sleep be one of your health skeletons hiding in your closet?

“You skimped on shut-eye regularly
Safe:
 Sleep deprivation is no joke. “You’re taking away vital energy that your brain needs to properly function,” Peterson, who also works with the digital health platform Zocdoc, told Fox News. “But luckily, most of the effects quickly disappear after giving your body the time it needs —and deserves — to rest and repair,” she said. The National Sleep Foundation recommends adults younger than 65 aim for seven to nine hours per night.”

Trust me, I know firsthand the effects of too little sleep. Between living in constant pain and having 3 distinct sleep disorders, I feel extremely fortunate if I get between 4-5 hours sleep a night. It’s generally closer to around 3 hours of sleep in an 8-hour period. Consequently, I feel like I have chronic fatigue. I can fall asleep very easy but I can’t stay asleep. A result of my sleep deprivation and chronic pain has resulted in a suppressed immune system, leaving me susceptible to far too many of the illnesses that sweep through the area.

What about stress in your life? Is stress something you used to have, but have finally gotten away from it and hid it in your health closet?

“You let stress build up
Not safe:
 Unfortunately, getting keyed up from even minor things can drag down your health a decade or two in the future, a 2014 study in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine suggests. However, having a better perspective on those stresses — not letting them bother you — can mitigate those ill effects.”

There are other health skeletons hidden in many closets that can have a direct impact on your current and future health. Too much exposure to the sun or use of tanning beds may have left your skin with enough damage that years down the road can develop into skin cancer.

Diet is another big skeleton in many health closets. Regardless if you are overweight, underweight or perfect weight, your past diet may still have an impact on your future health. Like those salty fries, potato chips and popcorn? If you have or are susceptible to high blood pressure, you need to consider cutting your salt intake as that has a direct impact on your blood pressure which can lead to other serious and fatal conditions.

“You loved your BBQ and burgers
Tie:
 Loading up on red meat is linked to weight gain and developing diabetes. However, over a four-year period, reducing red meat consumption by at least a half serving per day can drop your likelihood of the disease by 14 percent, a 2014 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests. Peterson advised eating no more than 15 ounces of red meat per week.”

“You considered cookies a food group
Safe:
 Unfortunately, the sugar industry has historically downplayed the health effects of sugar, research reveals. And while eating too much of the sweet stuff can boost your odds of dying from heart disease by nearly threefold, according to a 2014 study in JAMA Internal Medicine, other research from 2015, in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism suggests you can undo some of the metabolic damage in a week or so of cutting down your consumption.”

Eventually, our past habits, those health skeletons in our closets, may and often to come back to haunt us in the future. What skeletons are in your closet? Are there any that you can eliminate? If not, what can you do now to try to keep them in the closet as long as possible?

See your doctor and get regular check-ups. Be honest with him or her because the more they know of your skeletons, the better they will be able to help you keep them there or help you deal with the ones that won’t stay hidden.

Some of my health skeletons came back to haunt me. I let myself get very overweight, knowing there is a family history of Type 2 diabetes. Once I was diagnosed as having the same, I stayed on a diabetic diet for a while but then stopped. After nearly 2 years of not watching what and how much I was eating, I ended up in the hospital with a severe bout of vertigo. I found out that my blood glucose and blood pressure levels were dangerously high. Once I got home, I took action and made changes. With my doctor’s supervision, I went on a strict diet and began walking 1-2 times a day. I lost over 80pouds, brought my blood pressure and blood glucose levels down and my last A1-C was below the diabetic level.

Filed Under: Future of Health, Health, Wellness Tagged With: health, red meat, sleep, smoking, stress, sugar

Bird Watching Good for Mental Health

February 28, 2017 By Morning Health Team Leave a Comment

More and more Americans are becoming health conscious these days. They are eating less red meat, more fish, more leafy and colorful vegetables and more whole grain foods. The infamous food pyramid is constantly being reworked, leaving many people confused as to what food groups are what and how much of each they should be eating. Which dairy products are good and which aren’t?

One day some new study is being reported by the media that shows that coffee is good for you and then another one says coffee is not good for you.

Nuts like raw almonds and walnuts help lower blood pressure and blood glucose levels yet they contain a lot of fat that isn’t good for diet and weight loss.

Then there are always new reports on how much exercise one needs or should get every day or every week. One report says 20 minutes a day, seven days a week and another says 30 minutes a day at least 3 days a week. Other reports says that too much exercise lowers a person’s sex drive so that could be a problem as well.

But what about our mental health? Are there things we can do that are proven to improve our mental health?

YES!

I’ve seen many reports that indicating that doing things like puzzles help with mental health and can even help keep the mind of an older person sharper. I’ve read several studies that things like Sudoku puzzles are great for mental health, if one can keep from becoming frustrated. They force the mind to think and reason and are considered to be exercises for the mind on same par as walking and jogging are for the physical body.

Don’t laugh or scoff but now you can add bird watching to the list of things that are said to be good for one’s mental health. According to a new study conducted by the University of Exeter, University of Queensland and the British Trust for Ornithology:

“People living in neighbourhoods with more birds, shrubs and trees are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and stress…”

“The study, involving hundreds of people, found benefits for mental health of being able to see birds, shrubs and trees around the home, whether people lived in urban or more leafy suburban neighbourhoods.”

“The study, which surveyed mental health in over 270 people from different ages, incomes and ethnicities, also found that those who spent less time out of doors than usual in the previous week were more likely to report they were anxious or depressed.”

“After conducting extensive surveys of the number of birds in the morning and afternoon in Milton Keynes, Bedford and Luton, the study found that lower levels of depression, anxiety and stress were associated with the number of birds people could see in the afternoon. The academics studied afternoon bird numbers – which tend to be lower than birds generally seen in the morning – because are more in keeping with the number of birds that people are likely to see in their neighbourhood on a daily basis.”

“In the study, common types of birds including blackbirds, robins, blue tits and crows were seen. But the study did not find a relationship between the species of birds and mental health, but rather the number of birds they could see from their windows, in the garden or in their neighbourhood.”

Bird watching is easy and doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment or knowledge. One can get a bird guide to their area and binoculars if they want, but simply watching out a window, sitting in the yard or talking a walk down the street or to the park can be all it takes to watch our feathered friends. It can be coupled with physical exercise or it can be done by anyone with physical limitations and limited mobility.

Whenever you find yourself feeling stressed, anxious or even depressed and down in the dumps, take some time to look or go outside and watch our feathered friends. According to this latest study, your stress, anxiety and depression will fly away along with the pigeons, Cardinals, robins, sparrows, wrens and more.

Although the study didn’t address added benefits of bird watching, from what I’ve read of other studies about exercising the mind, learning to identify the different birds by sight, their song or the way the fly should also prove to help with one’s mental health and keeping the mind active.

Filed Under: Anti Aging, Health, Mindset Tagged With: anxiety, depression, memory, mental health, nature, stress

The 6 Supplements You Need to Recover From the Holidays

December 22, 2016 By Ed O'Keefe Leave a Comment


www.bodynutrition.org

Holidays, stress and travel. You are exposed to more germs, struggle to stay on track with exercise, splurge on party food and drinks and I’m guessing you feel sleep deprived too. By the time the holidays are over and it is time to go back to work, you might feel like you need another vacation to recover!

This time of year takes a major toll on your health. However, there are things you can do to help get your mind and body back on track after the holidays. Check out this holiday supplement survival guide for your healthiest holiday yet!

1.Probiotics


www.clevercultures.com

Taking probiotics all year is important and this is a reminder that your body needs consistency when it comes to probiotics. A minimum 50 B probiotic will help keep you regular, keep your digestive system operating smoothly, and will help keep your gut in check.

Recommended: Essential Flora 7 

2. Super Food Green Powder


www.adamvonrothfelder.com

Cookies, pies, mashed potatoes and cheese balls….these all make it a little tricky to get your nutrients in.  Chances are the veggies are the smallest portion on your plate. A super food green powder is the perfect way to pack vitamins, minerals, and photo-nutrients into your day to support detoxification and immunity.  

Recommended: Organifi 

3.Vitamin D


www.drlandsebring.com

Sunlight is our most important source of vitamin D and during the holiday season, for most of us, that is when we get the least amount of it. Vitamin D has several important functions. Perhaps the most vital are regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorous, and facilitating normal immune system function. Getting a sufficient amount of vitamin D is important for normal growth and development of bones and teeth, as well as improved resistance against certain diseases.

Recommended: Marine-D3 

4. Omega-3 Fatty Acids


www.newhope.com

What makes omega-3 fats special? They are an integral part of cell membranes throughout the body and affect the function of the cell receptors in these membranes. They provide the starting point for making hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls, and inflammation

Recommended: Omega Flex 

5. Chamomile


www.stylecraze.com

Chamomile has been used for centuries in teas as a mild, relaxing sleep aid, treatment for fevers, colds, stomach ailments, and as an anti-inflammatory, to name only a few therapeutic uses.

Recommended: Shop for a variety of chamomile products at Thrive Market

6. Turmeric


www.shape.com

Turmeric is a bright, yellowish-green spice that comes from a root. It is used in traditional Indian and Asian dishes and has a few powerful health benefits that you don’t want to miss out including naturally relieving pain and inflammation.
Recommended: Purathrive Liposomal Organic Turmeric Extract 

Filed Under: Health, Supplements Tagged With: holidays, sleep, stress, supplements

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