Safety and Health Week – Put Active into Action and Reap the Benefits of Mental Health
There are many mental and emotional benefits of staying active including; better sleep, increased energy, higher self-esteem, sharper memory and stronger resilience. We often associate being active with hours of lifting weights or running on the treadmill at the gym. This is a misconception and not the only way that we can be active in our every day lives.
You can get moving by conducting a walking meeting with a colleague or by getting up to stand when you are talking on the phone. Consider activity as part of your routine. Schedule 15 minutes every day at lunch to go for a walk. For those looking for more rigorous activities, there are many resources available to help get the heart rate going in just a brief 5-10-minute workout. From McMaster’s Department of Kinesiology, Dr. Martin Gibala and Dr. Stuart Phillips have a number of short videos with simple activities designed to reinforce key concepts of being active. https://www.coursera.org/learn/hacking-exercise-health
In these unprecedented times of physical distancing, individuals may also be interested in activity resources for their children. There are several free resources available online. We have included a few below to help get you started.
https://www.gonoodle.com/good-energy-at-home-kids-games-and-videos/
https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
By committing the time to be active even if just briefly, you will most certainly realize the additional benefits to your overall health and wellbeing.
Employee Well-being, Health & Safety