Category: Health and Wellness

April is Stress Awareness Month. Stress is something that everyone deals with and not many people know how to manage. Chronic and sudden stress can change productivity in your daily functions such as decision making, work performance, and overall self-confidence and motivation.

Here are some suggestions for centering yourself and helping manage stress:

1. Try deep breaths such as breathing in, count to four and then exhale. Try it three to four times.
2. Listening to music or mediation is a great way to manage stress and create positive energy. There are also apps that you can download to help you meditate.
3. Put yourself first! If you have a lot going on, try moving your schedule around to create more open time for yourself. Make a commitment to give yourself some free time throughout the day.
4. Get away from technology. Try taking a break from your computer and other technology around the office/home. Give up technology 30 minutes before bed to increase a deeper sleep.
5. Get outside. Spend some time outside throughout your day at work. Spring finally seems to be here, so start walking outside on your lunch break. Take advantage of our beautiful campus!
6. Energy: If you become tense, irritated, or annoyed, realize what’s happening and act on your energy. Create some space between you and that person and reflect on how you feel. Don’t ignore your feelings.
7. Take time for yourself with a massage. There are some resources available at Olin Health Center for stress as well. They offer services with State of Relaxation such as massage, reiki, and reflexology.

With these seven tips, you can manage your stress better. Try at least one of these tips and see how you feel. Learn what works for you and be open to trying new methods for figuring it out. For more information on managing stress check out these two articles from Health4U, Got Big Stress and Taking Care of You While Taking Care of Business.

Additionally, sign-up to the Sustainable High Performance course through Organization and Professional Development on June 21/22.

Laughman, L. (2017, February 13). Taking Care of You, While Taking Care of Business. Retrieved from http://health4u.msu.edu/articles/2017-taking-care-of-you-while-taking-care-of-business

Laughman, L. (2017, February 13). Taking Care of You, While Taking Care of Business. Retrieved from http://health4u.msu.edu/articles/2017-taking-care-of-you-while-taking-care-of-business

MSU is now offering a new health care benefit – Livongo for Diabetes. The Livongo for Diabetes Program empowers individuals to make living with diabetes easier by providing a connected meter, unlimited strips, and coaching. Livongo is available to all benefits-eligible employees, their spouses, and dependents.

Once you register, Livongo will send you a welcome kit which includes its connected glucose meter, a lancing device, test strips, lancets, and a carrying case. Livongo gives you online access to blood glucose readings along with graphs and insights.

Benefits of the program:

• More than a standard meter: The Livongo connected meter provides real-time tips and uploads readings.

• Unlimited strips at no cost: You can get as many strips and lancets as you need with no hidden costs or copays. When your supplies are about to run out, Livongo ships more supplies, right to you.

• Coaching anytime and anywhere: You can connect to a Livongo coach for one-on-one support by phone, email, text, or mobile app to help with questions about nutrition or lifestyle changes, and live interventions triggered by acute alerts.

Registration is fast and takes less than 10 minutes to sign up and start your profile. Registration for Livongo is now open and you can enroll at any time. Enrollment is not restricted to the MSU Open Enrollment season. If you have any questions about this program, visit the Livongo website or call Livongo Member Support at (800) 945-4355.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, as well as National Nutrition Month. Nutrition is an important part of taking care of your body to help prevent health problems. Proper nutrition is a combination of daily exercise and having the right diet.

Both factors are important for colorectal cancer awareness and overall colon health. One of the most overlooked areas of general health and wellness is the maintenance of colon function and colorectal cancer screening. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women. Poor colon health can lead to many other problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, and chronic fatigue.

The colon stores and transports human waste material, creating an opportunity for prolonged waste storage to burden your entire body

Here, are some of the most common causes of colon problems:

• Not drinking enough water
• Eating too much sugar, white flour, or refined foods
• Lack of exercise
• Prescription drugs
• Food allergies
• Bacteria, viruses or parasites

Having your screenings done is essential for colon health, especially for people over the age of 50. In addition to cancer screening, there are many other steps you can take to improve your colon health such as stress reduction, increasing fiber in your diet, and making sure you stay hydrated. If you are unsure about your colon function, your Best Doctors benefit can help you eliminate uncertainty and add an expert perspective to the information you are gathering. For more information, call 866-904-0910 or visit bestdoctors.com.

Spring is just around the corner and with that comes Daylight Saving Time. We’re losing an hour of sleep to get ready for the warm weather. Here are seven tips to help you adjust:

1. Make small adjustments to help you transition. That could mean going to bed a little earlier each day.
2. If you feel sleepier after Daylight Savings, try taking a short nap each day to help you feel more rested. Make sure it is not too close to when you go to bed.
3. Keep your regular sleep schedule. That means going to sleep and waking up each day at the same time, even on the weekends. This will allow your body to naturally adjust to the new time in a few days, and make it easier to wake up on those Monday mornings.
4. Get active by working out! Working out is a great way to get your energy up. Being active will decrease your anxiety, stress and other sleep disorders. Try being active for at least 30 minutes each day.
   
5. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and tobacco before bed, as these can negatively affect your sleep by keeping you stimulated. Avoid certain drinks and food that has caffeine in it for at least 4-6 hours before bed.
6. Turn off the television! It is not a good idea to watch television right before bed, as it can keep you more alert when trying to fall asleep. The same is true for other electronic devices (phone, tablet and laptop). The blue light emitted by electronic devices can suppress melatonin, which is the hormone that controls your wake and sleep cycles. It is best to get off your phone 30 minutes to an hour before bed.
7. Try alternatives for relaxing and reducing stress and anxiety. Essential oils, such as lavender, eucalyptus, orange, and bergamot are used for increasing sleep and helping you become better relaxed.

With these seven tips, you can increase a better sleep schedule for this year’s Daylight Saving Time. Try at least one of these tips and see how you feel the next day. Remember to spring forward this Sunday by setting your clock forward one hour.

The workstation – during the working day you are constantly revolving around your desk and work space, even if you’re in and out of meetings all day. But is your workstation set-up to optimize your comfort and productivity? Here are a few tips on organizing your workstation for the best results:

• Focus on your keyboard, hands/arms, chair, and monitor first. Keep your keyboard center, elbows relaxed and slightly open and your chair at a level where your feet are flat on the floor.
• Utilize support pads such as wrist, lumbar and armrests. These will alleviate pressure on the lower back and other joints.
• Center your keyboard, mouse and monitor so the portion you use the most is center to your body. You should not need to twist to see the screen comfortably.

Other best practices include getting up to walk around throughout the day and to utilize angles for your chair, monitor and keyboard that are the most comfortable.

To learn more visit health4u.msu.edu.

Are you the primary caregiver for a parent, grandparent, ill spouse/partner, or child with special needs? We understand this can sometimes make life feel stressful and overwhelming. The WorkLife Office has put together the following tips to help make this season a smooth one for all.

• Maintain daily routines, meal times and habits
• Plan ahead. Dinners, travel and other tasks that need to get done
• Ask for help and input from loved ones
• Keep your sense of humor. Laugh, don’t cry when mistakes happen
• Put down your technology and fully engage with the people around you

Lastly, take care of you. Carve out time each day to reflect, relax and practice gratefulness for the joys in your life.

To read more in-depth into these tips, check out the WorkLife Office newsletter here.

Diabetes is a leading cause of death in many nations. While complex, it is manageable.

Diabetes is a disorder of the metabolism that requires diligent attention to manage. Based on the two types of diabetes, prevention and treatment vary.

Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5-10 percent of people who have diabetes. Type 1 causes the body’s immune system to destroy cells that release insulin. It is not known how to prevent type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for a majority of people with diabetes. Type 2 causes the body to not be able to use insulin correctly. It can be prevented in some cases by:

• Weight management with a healthy low-fat, high-fiber diet
• Regular exercise
• Moderation of alcohol consumption
• Elimination of smoking
• Use of prescribed medications

The single best thing people with diabetes can do it to keep their blood sugar level within the suggested range every day. Glucose can be controlled through regular blood sugar checks, a balanced diet and appropriate medical treatment.

Best Doctors can give you peace of mind about diabetes with comprehensive expert reviews of medical records and reports that eliminate uncertainty and provide a valuable perspective on your medical care. For more information call 1-866-904-0910 or visit members.bestdoctors.com.

Most professionals sit at their desks all day long, which leads to fatigue, back pain and reduced productivity. One easy way to combat these negative side effects is through stretching!

MSU Health4U tells us that stretching at work can:

• Relax the muscles that may have become tense after extended periods of stationary work, sitting or repetitive movement
• Relieve stress
• Improve productivity
• Give yourself a jump-start of energy

Some best practices to get the most out of your stretch include warming up, moving slowly, breathing normally and holding each stretch for 20-30 seconds on each side of the body 2-3 times.

To learn more visit the Health4U website.