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Doing Good For Others Can Help You Feel Better And Live Longer. Pay It Forward by Volunteering.
When life gets you down or you’re feeling especially overwhelmed, helping others may be just what you need. Make a plan to give back April 16-May 3, 2023 for National Volunteer Week.
Whether you lend a helping hand at a local food pantry, animal shelter, community event, senior center, religious organization or by tutoring or mentoring youth, you’ll not only experience the emotional rewards of making a difference in the lives of others, but there are many other upsides too.
And don’t forget everyday acts of kindness. Holding a door, offering to lend a hand to someone who is going through a tough time, or giving compliments to others can all go a long way to brightening someone’s day.
Ralph Lauren Give Back Campaign
Visit RLToday.com to learn more about ways to participate in a virtual or in-person volunteering event or donate to your favorite nonprofit and have your gift matched by the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation through the new RL Matching Gift Program.
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April is Stress Awareness Month. Know the harms and how to destress or ask for help.
We all have stress in our lives. Some level of stress can actually be helpful. It can keep us motivated and energized.
But too much stress, especially over long periods of time, can wreak havoc on your health, general mood and relationships. When faced with high levels of stress, your body reacts by releasing stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. It can also cause your heart to race and your blood pressure to spike. This is often called the “fight or flight response,” which happens when the body prepares to defend itself.
So what are some healthy ways to cope with stress?
- First, know what triggers a stress response for you. Keep a notebook and write down your top sources of stress. Common causes of stress are usually related to money worries, loss of a job, work-related pressures, poor health, divorce, death in the family and moving.
- Fuel your body with good nutrition. Try not to let your body run on empty, which can leave you feeling jittery and weak. Eating a well-balanced diet is important and there are even some foods that are said to help relieve stress naturally – for example, oatmeal, berries, chamomile tea, oily fish and dark chocolate.
- Carve out time to destress. Listen to calming music, practice deep breathing or give yoga a try.
- Talk it out. Things often seem worse when we bottle up our feelings and aren’t entirely honest with ourselves or those around us. Share your worries and how you are coping with a trusted family member, friend, doctor, pastor or counselor. Doing so will also deepen your connections.
- Get into a regular sleep routine. Try to get 7 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. That means putting away devices and not exercising for at least one hour before bedtime. Try taking a warm bath or shower instead.
- Make plans with people who are life-giving and boost your spirit. Limit time with people you find to be overly judgmental or who see the glass as half empty.
- Accept that some things are beyond your control. When you do, you’ll find a sense of peace.
- Find a positive outlet, whether it’s getting together with friends, going to a concert, or picking up a new hobby like painting or taking a cooking class. Exercise is a natural stress buster. When you’re active, your body releases feel-good endorphins. Exercise also helps you sleep better, boosts your mood, and helps you focus and make healthier choices overall.
- Don’t turn to alcohol or drugs to feel better or more relaxed. Doing so can create additional problems and may even increase the stress you’re already feeling.
- Lighten your load. Make a purposeful decision to live more simply. Clear your life – whether it’s your living space or calendar – of things that stress you out.
- Find ways to give back to your community or to people who may not have as much as you. Doing so can often help you feel better and put your worries into perspective; perhaps things aren’t as bad as they seem.
- Know when you need to ask for help. If you start to feel consumed by anxiety, are short with loved ones or no longer feel the same joy from activities that you used to find fun, you should talk with a psychologist, social worker or counselor.
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Resources To Help Manage And Cope With Stress
- Onsite Counseling: Betsey Brooks, MS, EdS, LCMHC, NCC is the Ralph Lauren onsite Counselor. Betsey is here to help employees and their families. Her services are free to employees and their qualifying spouses and dependents.
Individual counseling appointments are available on Tuesdays at HPD and Wednesdays at NC66. Contact Betsey at 336-416-3623.
- Life Care: EAP offers counseling, webinars and articles to help with stress.
- Thrive: Ralph Lauren has partnered with Thrive Global to support your mental and physical well-being. The Thrive Global app supplies you with the latest science-based actionable tips, storytelling from role models and RL peers and micro-steps that you can take at your own pace. Your experience in the app will help you with managing stress, sharpening focus, strengthening connections with others and increasing overall resilience. Membership is FREE for all part-time and full-time Ralph Lauren employees globally.
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New Benefits Portal
The newly enhanced benefits enrollment site is live. The US benefits enrollment and communication portal has been enhanced to be more robust and user friendly!
Access to the site will remain myRLbenefits.com and you will use your normal Ralph Lauren username and password to log in there. If you need help, you can find more information in Workday.
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Protect Yourself from Strains and Pains from Poor Positioning and Ergonomics
Many of us spend whole days doing much of the same thing. Whether it is sitting at a desk in front of screens, or moving/lifting boxes or equipment, your body needs a break. Over time, poor positioning and repeated motions can lead to back and neck strain, carpal tunnel, hernias and other injuries. Make sure you keep your body in the proper alignment and be sure you have the right setup in your workspace – your desk, computer, and chair – should be set up in such a way that:
- You’re able to sit close to your desk and avoid long reaches, hunching over or scrunching up your shoulders.
- Your computer monitor is at eye level (if it’s too low or high you’ll end up straining your neck and shoulders) and your keyboard is at or slightly below elbow height so that your arms are at a natural 90-degree angle.
- You can keep the natural curve of your spine; adding a lumbar (back) support pillow or rolled towel in the small of your back can help.
Adjustable chairs and standing desks can also help. Many companies have experts to evaluate workspaces to be sure they promote healthy movements and positioning.
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