| Wellness Connection: Physical Health
Quick tips and resources to support your wellness journey
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Fast Facts: Physical Health - Physical activity improves brain-related function and outcomes. (Nursing in practice, 2016)
- Exercise helps improve mental health by providing clarity to better handle stress effectively. (Forbes, 2019)
- Getting less than 7 hours of sleep each night on a regular basis can eventually lead to health consequences that affect your entire body. (Healthline, 2021)
- Increasing your fruit and vegetable intake may help protect you from cancer, while supporting your immune system. (SFGATE, 2018)
- Regular exercise may offer protection against diseases such as Alzheimer's. (Time, 2017)
Finding balance with professional and personal obligations is a constant reality especially during stressful times. Using wellness programs and adding physical activity to your regular routine can help increase productivity, increase employee morale, and help create a healthier workforce says the CDC. By participating in as few as 30 minutes of activity a day, you can increase protection against high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. Participating in activities and practicing eating balanced meals can also help you feel better. Practicing good physical health reduces stress and anxiety as well. Creating healthy habits can be beneficial to bettering your physical health while also having a positive impact on your mental health.
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Physical Health Tips and ToolsGet better sleep. Caffeine can only help so much. Instead of looking for energy during the day, focus on getting better sleep. 35% of Americans get less than 7 hours of sleep at night. One way you can practice getting better sleep is by establishing a sleep schedule. You can also try other practices such as eliminating phone use before bed or create a quiet time to allow your body to relax.
Eat to fuel your body.It is important to check your nutrition. Eating better fuels your body better. Studies show well balanced food intake of protein, carbs, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and most importantly water are necessary for a balanced body.
Get moving. Get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Moving around can improve your well being. A report found that physical activity was shown to improve concentration, aid memory, speed up learning, and lower stress. Find a physical activity you can look forward to doing, such as tennis, swimming, dancing, softball, or even vigorously playing the drums. Results show that you are far more likely to stick with an activity if you genuinely enjoy doing it.
Find time to relax.By setting up time throughout your day to take a moment to yourself, you can decrease your stress and anxiety that may build up otherwise. Use that time to accomplish a task or clear your head by listening to music. By clearing your mind and destressing, you are increasing your well being and taking a positive step to bettering your physical health.
While life can be hectic, finding time to put these tips into practice can improve your wellness journey at home and at work.
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Resources to WellnessIn collaboration, Human Resources and the UO Wellness Ambassadors program highlight the following wellness resources.
Wellness Ambassadors NewsletterThe Wellness Ambassador program is an extension of the Duck Nest that brings health and wellness education to UO employees in the workplace.
The May edition includes resources and ideas to explore the eight dimensions of wellness:
- 5 benefits of taking 10,000 steps a day.
- University health services offers resources and ideas to support your physical and mental health.
- Make your own Hopscotch board - learn the history, rules, variations, and benefits.
In additions to these resources, each addition of the monthly newsletter includes insights and ideas on a variety of way to help you enhance your emotional and physical well being.
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eLearning ResourcesContinue your path to wellness with the following LinkedIn learning courses that provide insights and ideas to improve your physical health:
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Benefits Toolkit: Get active with a fitness membership.Through PEBB's Active & Fit program, benefits-eligible employees can get a membership to a fitness center for just $25 per month and no long-term contract.
Visit the PEBB website for more information and instructions fro accessing Active & Fit through your medical provider.
Set and achieve fitness and physical health goals.PEBB recently launched a new well-being program—HealthyYou, powered by WebMD ONE! The HealthyYou portal helps you set goals, tracks your progress, keeps you motivated and provides valuable information along the way. Employees enrolled in a Kaiser, Moda, or Providence medical plan are eligible to enroll at no cost. Watch this short video to learn more and sign up today.
Get support through the EAP.
The following information is for benefits-eligible employees
The University of Oregon’s employee assistance program provider, Canopy, can provide one-on-one consultation to assist you with your unique needs. Visit the Human Resources website for more information about the EAP and to access services.
Canopy offers the following physical health ideas and resources:
Canopy's Upcoming webinar schedule includes a variety of wellness topics:
The UO Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Canopy is a free service that can assist benefits-eligible employees with a wide variety of issues that may interfere with their day-to-day activities. This confidential service provides telephone contact and/or in–person sessions as needed to assist with completing an intake, assessment, and referral.
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| Human Resources, 677 E 12th Ave., Suite 400, Eugene, OR 97403
P: 541-346-3159
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