British Nutrition Foundation healthy eating week 28th September to 4th October
Today’s challenge is to get active together. Why not plan a socially distanced walk with a friend or plan an active activity with the family, like exploring your local green areas or canals or make a splash swimming.
Why is it important to get active together?
There are many reasons why physical activity is important for health. However, being active together has a number of additional benefits, such as helping us:develop social skills;
-learn a new activity or sport;
-work as a team;
-enjoy new experiences;
-establish active habits for later years;
-look after our mental health;
-encouraging behaviour change through working together and setting targets.
We may be more likely to stick to being active if we have the motivation of others. Getting active together can be a great way to socialise and can be a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends. It is also a way of making new friends and feeling part of a community.
Many of us have busy lives and with the rise of pressures from the Covid pandemic, tasks and worries can start to build up; leading to a sense of feeling overwhelmed. Ultimately, this can have an adverse effect on our health and well-being.
The Control Influence Accept Model (CIA model) was developed by HR specialist Neil Thompson and social-work lecturer Sue Thompson in their 2008 book, “The Critically Reflective Practitioner” and identifies 3 ways to respond to challenges (as seen in the diagram below):
This model aims to help put things into perspective and clearly identify what is achievable compared to those challenges or tasks which aren’t.
Mindtools.com describe 4 simple steps to use when you’re feeling overwhelmed with a situation:
Describe the situation. What has happened and why has it become difficult? List every aspect of it that makes it overwhelming. An Elephant List exercise might be useful here. This encourages people to be candid about the problems that they are facing – in other words, to name the “elephant in the room.”
Sort and place items on the diagram. Once you’ve completed your list, write each item down on a separate sticky note and place it on the area of the diagram that it belongs in – control, influence, or accept/adapt. You can also use their interactive diagram to do this.
Consider each item in turn. Ask yourself or discuss with your team whether it is something that you could realistically control. Can you solve the problem using existing resources? Or will you need outside help? If you believe you can realistically control even part of the problem, place it in the Control section of the diagram. If you think the situation is beyond your control, consider whether it’s something you can influence. Do you, for example, have useful skills or knowledge that you can provide to someone else to solve the problem? If so, add it to the Influence section of the diagram. Place the remaining problems in the Accept/Adapt part of the diagram.
Take action. When you’re done sorting through the problems, address each section of your diagram in turn, starting with the things that you can control.
To find out more or to identify other tools to combat stress and anxiety click here.
British Nutrition Foundation healthy eating week 28th September to 4th October
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.
This year has seen an increase in both the number of smokers attempting to quit and an increase in the success rate of quit attempts. Stoptober is offering a range of support tools including the Stoptober app, Facebook messenger bot and online communities, SMS and daily emails.
Survey finds 1 in 5 people are unlikely to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The COVID-19 Social Study by UCL researchers showed substantial levels of misinformation about vaccines. 22% of people surveyed said they were unlikely to get a COVID-19 vaccine when approved, with 10% being ‘very unlikely’ and only 49% being ‘very likely’ to get vaccinated.
British Nutrition Foundation healthy eating week 28th September to 4th October
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;
