The new edition of ‘Making Every Contact Count’ bulletin is now available to view and download.
This edition features current awareness for the following topics (with relevant articles related to the Covid 19 pandemic):
Smoking Cessation
Healthy Weight
Healthy Eating
Alcohol
Physical activity
Please remember to contact katie.roper@lscft.nhs.uk with any topics you would like to see in future bulletins.
Today’s challenge is to be mind kind; do something that fulfills your mind. This may be something simple like having an early night to ensure you get enough sleep, taking the time to help others, or going for a walk in your lunch break.
Why is it important to be mind kind?
Mental health is a vital aspect of overall health and wellbeing. It is estimated that around one in six adults in England have a common mental health problem but less than half access mental health treatments. The figure in children (5-19 years) has risen to one in eight with the figure at its highest in older children. Mental health issues can include anxiety, depression, stress, addiction, loneliness and personality disorders. It is especially important to care for your own mental wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic, for information on how to manage this, click here.
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For more top tips click here.
Today’s challenge is to move more and get more active. Adults should have 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, so why not use this week as an excuse to try a new class, go on a walk or make simple changes to your daily routine- like taking the stairs instead of the lift.
Why is it important to get active and move more?
Physical activity is beneficial because it can:
help to manage the balance between energy in and energy out, to maintain a healthy weight;
improve heart health and strengthen muscles and bones;
improve sleep, relieve stress and lift mood.
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For more top tips click here.
Today’s challenge is to drink plenty – try to drink 6-8 unsweetened drinks a day.
Why is it important to drink plenty?
On average, water makes up more than half of our body weight and we need fluid for our body to work properly.
Water is constantly lost through sweating, breathing and using the toilet, so it is important to drink throughout the day to keep hydrated.
Being dehydrated can make it difficult to concentrate and may cause headaches and tiredness.
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For more top tips click here.
We all know exercise is good for us but research has shown that exercise in older adults is linked to lower disease risk, reduced risks of falls and better overall health. Our bodies change as we age, but this shouldn’t change our attitudes towards exercise. We simply need to choose the type of exercise that is suitable for our ability. Whether it’s low intensity activities (walking, jogging, cycling), HITT (high intensity interval training) or resistance training- don’t let age be a limiting factor.
Exercise is also shown to improve mental health, well being, cognitive function and improve life expectancy. We should all aim to be physically active daily and get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week . Simple things like reducing the amount of time sitting or lying down can make a difference.
So not matter your age- let your ability be the factor that determines your physical health.
To read more about this topic click here.
For those of you who attended the LiA conference last Tuesday, I’m sure you too will have been inspired by their guest speaker – Natalia Cohen. She was part of a 6 women team who were the first team to row from California to Australia on an ocean rowing boat to raise money and promote their 2 charities. She highlighted what she learnt while living in the ocean for 9 months and how life really is ‘like a wave’, which we have to ride one wave at a time.
So what can we learn from her? She highlighted tips for a great team, to be thankful for the life we have and highlighted the importance of focusing on the positives – something we probably need to do now more than ever.Some of her top tips, which are applicable both in our home and work lives;
An inspirational story from an inspirational woman! To watch her speech click here.
With current data showing that obese people are significantly more likely to become seriously ill and be admitted to intensive care with serious illnesses including COVID-19 -compared to those with a healthy BMI- the campaign encourages adults to introduce healthier lifestyle changes to help people achieve a healthy weight. Support has been identified to eat better, drink less alcohol and get active through access to a range of apps including; Easy Meals, Food Scanner, Couch to 5k and Active 10.
The campaign has partnered up with a range of partners offering exclusive discounts including:
To find out more click here.
This briefing provides information about the evidence on active mile initiatives, ideas for how to implement them and examples of practice. It is aimed at public health teams, schools and commissioners.
Read the briefing here
Sport England have launched a campaign to help people stay active at home during the Coronavirus outbreak. It provides information and advice, while encouraging people to share on social media with the hashtag #StayInWorkOut
Read more here
