Tips To Feel Better Right Now
This week, I spoke to Tina Wiskow, Director, Global Wellness, who oversees the design and delivery of innovative programs that support employee wellbeing at Manulife.
Tina has been working in the area of health and wellness for over 20 years and is driven by a passion for raising awareness, providing education, and motivating individuals to practice proactive, preventive, healthy habits so they can thrive physically, emotionally, financially, and socially. She believes that people underestimate the power of good self-care; being physically active, eating nutritious food, getting adequate quality sleep, and managing stress daily is critical to our wellbeing, and it enables us to take better care of others.
She is of the mindset that it doesn't need to be complicated. Go for a walk outside listening to a stress relief podcast, eat real food instead of processed junk food, figure out how much sleep your body needs then go to bed and get up at the same time every day, set aside discretionary money in an emergency savings fund so that you have peace of mind knowing you're prepared for the unknown. It’s the little things that make a big difference over time and can lead to the development of new healthy habits.
Tina has been working in this field for 20 years, after starting out in Employee Benefits. She is driven by helping colleagues reach their wellbeing goals so that they can enjoy their life - at work and at home.
While the return to some normalcy is top of mind for us all, it may take some time to get there. And as we explored in the post of re-entry, it may also come with its own set of challenges, feelings, and hesitations.
So, what can you do today to improve how you feel right now? What can you do daily, creating healthy habits over time to help prepare you for the bounceback?
Tina shared her top three tips for a healthier, more balanced routine.
Get outside every day to get fresh air and experience nature, even if it's just for a few moments. Research supports its benefits.
Listen to an uplifting podcast while you're going about your day. You'll get the benefit of movement, the satisfaction of accomplishing your tasks, and a boost to your mental wellbeing. Tina’s recommendation: Ten Percent Happier.
Set a reminder to stand up for 1 second every 20-30 minutes throughout the day. It's a gravity-defying strategy, based on current research.
This last tip is derived from the NEAT Theory - the idea that the bulk of the energy we burn is from all the little movements we make throughout the day. It doesn’t have to be a 30-minute workout or a long trip to the gym.
NEAT stands for Non Exercise Activity Thermogenesis; it supports the concept that simple, non-exercise activity is the primary source of our wellbeing. Find out more about NEAT, and the science behind it here.
Self-care doesn’t need to be a long, or expensive activity. It is the little moments of prioritizing yourself consistently that will have an impact.
Please join me in adapting these practices recommended by Tina. Easy to include in your routine, and backed by data.