February 20, 2014  

Good Afternoon! Have you noticed the days are getting longer? With the above 0 temperatures today and the rain scheduled to begin later today, we have a glimmer of hope that spring is on the way…I am told it will get colder again soon but at least it helps lift our spirits for a few days! Here are some little known facts about February ….  

In the Georgian calendar, (the calendar that most of the world uses), February is the second month of the year. Most of the months have 30 or 31 days in a month but February is shorter.

In leap years, it is the only month that ends on the same weekday it begins February is the only month of the year that can pass without a single full

moon. It is also the only month of the calendar that once every six years and twice

every 11 years, will have only four full 7-day weeks. February had 28 days until Julius Caesar gave it 29 days every four years.

This is because the Roman emperor Augustus took one day from February and added that to August because August was a month that was named after him.

February is a very cold month however, there are sunny days in February that indicates that spring is almost here. Different from the northern half, the southern hemisphere usually enjoys midsummer weather.

Some days to celebrate in February….

Leap Day: February 29 (Every four years, the next one will be in 2016)

Black History Month (United States and Canada)  

National Bird-Feeding Month

If you are lucky enough to be travelling in the Caribbean this month maybe you will have the opportunity to celebrate…..

Independence Day in Saint Lucia: February 22

Flag Day of Mexico: February 24

Dominican Republic Independence: February 27

Enjoy the rest of February!     

Tickets are now on sale for the Dr. Duxbury workshop on April 10th! On Thursday, April 10, Dr. Linda Duxbury, one of Canada's leading experts on workplace health, will be the featured speaker at a one-day workshop at the Dante Club, Sarnia. Dr. Duxbury will offer insight into a number of key factors in managing a generational mix of employees:

Work family conflict

Supportive work environments

Use and impact of office technology

Supportive management

Author of hundreds of papers, journals, and books, Dr. Duxbury will present work-life strategies that benefit the business bottom-line, by gaining a competitive advantage in a marketplace that will become increasing driven by worker needs and wants. Tickets for the April 10th workshop are $99 and can be purchased online at www.drduxbury-sarnia.eventbrite.ca For more information call 519 663-5317 ext. 2412, or email me at sandy.richardson@mlhu.on.ca

Presented by the Southwest Region Public Heath Workplace Network and Western region Workforce Planning and Development Boards.

  

    

 

Imagine your ideal vacation

How to take this break Think about, or actually look into, a special vacation destination. Thinking about it and planning it will move you closer to the actual experience, may help to free your mind from stress and give you something to look forward to.

Why this counts - Calming Engaging in activities that calm us and reduce anxiety helps us to continue to function and respond more rationally in difficult or stressful situations.

Ideas for this activity were contributed by Stan Murray, Independent Consultant, Resilience Canada.

Stretch at your desk

How to take this break Some of the activities you can do in your workspace include:

1. Adjusting your space so you can stretch and move as you stand and work 2. Doing arm raises with a heavy stapler or paperweight 3. Sitting at your desk raising your legs

Some workplaces also provide walking desks so that you can walk while working. A walking desk is a piece of equipment that encompasses a treadmill, a computer on a desk, a phone, etc.

Why this counts - Energizing Paying attention to our energy levels at work is important because it impacts our ability to stay focused, productive and positive.

Ideas for this activity were contributed by Jennifer Krueger, Canadian Regional Director, Global Corporate Challenge (GCC); Jennifer Workman, Health Promoter, Region of Peel; Nicole Rusling, Health Promoter - Workplace, Niagara Region Public Health; Morris Lowe, Public Health Nurse, Toronto Public Health; Andrea Hamblin, Director - EAP Account Management, Morneau Shepell.

Go to Workplace Strategies for Mental Health for more ideas, tools and resources to help with the prevention, intervention and management of workplace mental health issues

TakeYourBreak activities should be approved by your employer/leader prior to initiating them. TakeYourBreak activities are provided for general information only and are not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your physician or appropriate health care provider with respect to your particular circumstances.

  

Ohio State University Leadership Centre http;//leadershipcenter.osu.edu

Leadership Moments 

The Language of the Mind From: Cornwall, M. (2010). Go suck a lemon: strategies for improving your emotional intelligence. Emotion is an inner language, the language of the mind, learned through exposure, shaped by thought and expressed through behavior. Your current emotional language, the language found in your self-talk (the things you say to yourself about what is happening to and around you), is the language you are most comfortable using. Self-talk, the way you talk to yourself, greatly impacts your emotional life. Each of us tends to use our own inner language, with limited variability, to determine how we will think and feel about anything, from the death of a loved one, to lying, being ridiculed, stealing, being in love, getting a failing grade, cheating and social injustice. And we have emotional expectations of each other, because most of us speak a similar emotional language (p. 3-4).

Conversation for Appreciation

From: Hayashi, S.K. (2011). Conversations for change: 12 ways to say it right when it matters most. New York: McGraw-Hill. A little appreciation goes a long way. Conversations for Appreciation are uplifting deposits into the emotional bank account between people. You have likely created many of these in the past. They specifically acknowledge the contributions others have made. These conversations can be used anytime you sincerely want to express gratitude (p. 195).

Different Ways to Show Appreciation: Affirmation Quality Time

Gifts Acts of Service http;//leadershipcenter.osu.edu

ANNOUNCEMENT: We Have Moved!

The Workforce Planning and Development Board has moved. The phone and emails remain the same. The new address is: 647 Wilton Grove Road, Unit #3 London, ON N6N 1N7 519-672-3499 info@workforcedevelopment.ca

www.workforcedevelopment.ca

 

 

http://psychcentral.com/ Effects Of Bullying Can Be Persistent The duration, or how long a child is bullied, is a major factor toward assessing the damage the activity may cause on a child's overall health. The longer the period of time a child is bullied, the more severe and lasting the impact. Loneliness Can Be Lethal For Seniors The impact of loneliness on premature death is nearly as strong as the impact of disadvantaged socioeconomic status.

Telltale Signs It's Time To Treat Your Anxiety Anxiety prompts us to pay attention to both internal and external events. But when anxiety becomes acute, uncontrollable or chronic, it can interfere with our lives. And that's when seeking professional treatment is key. Here's a list of the obvious and not-so-obvious signs that it's time to get treatment. Check out these articles from Psych Central and more here….http://psychcentral.com/

 

 

Income Tax For Small Business Presented by Ashley Didone, Collins Barrow KMD Income tax season is almost here - are you and your business ready? Attend this seminar and learn:

Basics of the Canadian income tax system Procedures for reporting business income Allowable criteria for deducting expenses Completing your tax return Record keeping best practices - how and why CRA and you Tax planning tips Top 10 common problems and how to avoid them

Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 9:15 AM- 12:15 PM London Small Business Centre - Cost $25.00 +HST

Visit sbcentre.ca/advanced or call 519.659.2882 ext. 0 to complete your advance registration by Monday, February 24. 

Invitation to attend a Smoking Cessation Best Practice Champions Workshop!

The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) invites all nurses, nursing students and other health care professionals to attend a FREE one day workshop on Smoking Cessation Best Practices

WHEN? Tuesday March 4, 2014 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Sign in from 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.) Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided WHERE? Delta London Armouries Hotel 325 Dundas St. London N6B 1T9

During this workshop you will:

Learn proven effective smoking cessation counseling techniques and brief intervention strategies that will make a difference to your patients/clients

Receive tools and resources to help with implementation of evidence-based practice.

Gain access to a network of Best Practice Guideline Champions for ongoing consultation and resources.

RegisterOnline Today ---> https://survey.rnao.ca/SC_Workshop_Registration_2013_14

For more information visit www.TobaccoFreeRNAO.ca

Contact: Paige Hillier (phillier@rnao.org/ 1-800-268-7199 x 252)

  

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training 2 Day Workshop 2 Spring Dates!

March 19-20, 2014 and April 22-23, 2014 - 9 am – 5 pm Facilitators: Linda White, Nada Barraclough and Trix VanEgmond Cost: $185 - Fee includes all participant materials and lunch. Location: CMHA, London-Middlesex 648 Huron St., London, ON

Participants must attend all 15.0 hours of training in order to receive their certificate. Payment is only by cash or cheque, payable to CMHA, London-Middlesex. (We do not accept credit cards or online payments at this time.) You may also pay by visiting our reception staff during office hours. Go to www.livingworks.net and download the registration form there.

For more information on this workshop or other ASIST workshops, please go to www.livingworks.net

Words In this vThe Ritz

Start YL

For the pgoes beyserving l In the sppowerfulon every

In this they can Maybe y

 

of Inspiraideo, he talk Carlton.

Your MeetinLeadership

people who yond their taadies and g

pirit of keepl question thy shift, every

video, he tn make.

your compa

ation fromks about on

ngs with Th Developm

work for Thasks. They agentlemen”

ing this storhat inspires yday - to se

talks about

any can lea

m Dr. Johne of the gre

his Questioent Tips

he Ritz Carltare instructe

ry core to th people ee the highe

the importa

arn from th

n Izzo http:eatest servic

 

n --

on, their roled to view t

heir day-to-

er purpose in

ance of insp

his exampl

://drjohnizzoce hotel cha

les have a hthemselves

day, they b

n their work

piring your p

le?

.com/ ains that has

higher purpo as “ladies a

begin every

k.

people to se

s ever existe

ose that and gentlem

meeting wit

e the differe

ed,

men

th a

ence

New antdiagnosedA major inthat stigm MovembMental heare pitchinRead Mor

Policing,Across Caindividualspolice and

Twitter hAs of Janu5,000 Twihealth resin. Read M

What

Answers f

Researcconcern

a clusterbody fat

Too mucand can

Just [INFOdown-

i-stigma initd with mentalnitiative is und

ma can be bea

ber update –ealth has joineng in to offer e

, justice, andanada, the juss. It’s time tod people expe

helps keep tuary 2014 theitter followerssonating throuMore

t are th

from James A

chers have s, including

r of conditiot around the

ch sitting alcer…more

How DOGRAP-infograp

tiative reach illness reportderway to reaaten. Read Mo

– Manion raised physical hesupport. See

d mental hestice system so talk about theriencing men

the mental he Mental Heals, with multipughout the tw

he risk

A. Levine, M.D

linked sitting obesity an

ons that ince waist and

lso seems t… http://ww

DangeroPHIC] hphic/

hes out to Ct being stigmach students, ore

ses thousanealth as a tope what one ma

ealth the focstrives to accohe interactionntal health pro

health conveth Commissiole conversatio

witterverse. Ev

ks of sit

D., Ph.D.

ng for long nd metabol

cludes incre abnormal

to increaseww.mayocli

ous Is http://ma

Canada’s youatized. educators, a

nds for men’p-of-mind issuan’s fundraisi

cus of Marchommodate the between oblems and il

ersation moon of Canada ons about meven well-know

tting to

periods of tic syndrom

eased bloodcholesterol

the risk of nic.org/sitti

Sittingashable.c

uth Sixty per

nd communit

’s health ue among meng efforts ach

h conferencee needs of th

lness. Read M

oving forwar(MHCC) has

ental wn Canadians

oo muc

time with a e —

d pressure,l levels.

death fromng/expert-a

g All Dacom/201

cent of youn

ty leaders wit

en, and both mhieved.

e he community

More

rd surpassed the

s like Rick Me

ch?

number of

high blood

m cardiovasanswers/faq

ay? 11/05/09

ng people

th the messag

men and wom

y with the nee

e goal of acq

ercer are chim

health

d sugar, exc

cular diseaq-20058005

9/sitting-

ge

men

eds of

uiring

ming

cess

ase 5

-

And ….be sure you are getting……150 minutes per week Did you know? According to the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, adults 18-64 years should accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate - to vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity per week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more.

It is also beneficial to add muscle and bone strengthening activities using

major muscle groups, at least 2 days per week.

More daily physical activity provides greater health benefits.

For more information about the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines visit Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology website for Canadian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines.

For more information on physical activity and physical activity and the workplace visit the Middlesex-London Health Unit website

 

 

.

Venture London is a city-wide competition for new and growing businesses. . Planning to start a business? Operating less than 3 years? Venture London offers cash, prizes and business support services that can help take a new venture to the next level. . New this year - an easy online application captures all your information without the need to submit your full business plan. . Visit venturelondon.ca to learn more.

A few announcements from www.healthunit.com

 

Do you want to quit smoking? The Health Unit is hosting workshops in London to help you quit. Learn More

Do Something for the Ones You Love: Enter the 2014 Driven to Quit Challenge  

Health Canada - Consumer Product Recalls:  http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/advisories-avis/index-eng.php?cat=2 Provided here for your convenience …..check out the web-site for more…. Sterling Rope Company recalls Sewn Cords http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2014/38011r-eng.php Souris Mini recalls children's clothing with neck drawstrings

2014-02-18 | Consumer products  

JCorp Inc., Division Frenchies recalls children's clothing with neck drawstring

2014-02-14 | Consumer products     

Have you registered yet?

In case you missed it….Registration for the Dr. Linda Duxbury workshop on April 10th in Sarnia is now live on Eventbrite Purchase your tickets online at www.drduxbury‐sarnia.eventbrite.ca *Please forward this information on to all managers/ leaders and employee representatives who you feel could benefit from attending this event This exciting opportunity to hear from a world class speaker and researcher is being made possible through a partnership between 7 Public Health Units in the Southwest Region and our 4 corresponding local Workforce Planning and Development Boards. MLHU is one of the sponsoring partner Health Units.

Workforce demographics are changing because for the first time in history we have 4 generations working side by side in workplaces. This is having a profound effect on the dynamics in workplaces so employers, leaders, managers need to be aware of the issues

and to develop the skills to engage, build and manage the new realities on their multigenerational teams

For more information call 519 663-5317 ext. 2412, or email me at sandy.richardson@mlhu.on.ca Hope to see you there!

  

SandyRichardsonR.N.B.Sc.N.CCHN(C.)PublicHealthNurseHealthatWork4All!ProgramCoordinatorMiddlesexLondonHealthUnit50KingStLondonOnN6A5L7Phone:519‐663‐5317ex2412Workplaceline:519‐663‐5317ex3333fax:519‐663‐9276

"coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success" Henry Ford