The Benefits of a Break

Last week we celebrated the Fourth of July. In the Northeast, it was fabulous weather and I am sure there were many barbeques, picnics and family and friend gatherings. An article in the Boston Globe referred to July Fourth as a “happy holiday” in contrast to Memorial Day and Labor Day which represent more somber or more serious commemorations.  I feel that all holidays should provide an opportunity to recharge and share fun with others and to not think about work or other stresses in life.

Speaking about recharging and summer, this is a prime time to try to fit in either a breather from our normal day to day routines, or a complete vacation if you are able. True vacations from work are so important because they ward off burnout, promote creativity, recharge our batteries, and overall improve quality of life.  According to Susan Krause Whitbourne, PH.D., in a recent Psychology Today article on the importance of vacation, chronic stress takes a toll on everything from our resistance to infection, sleep, our ability to ward off injuries and certainly our mental state. Taking a break from the stress of life can break the cycle at least for a while. 

Not all of us have the luxury to get away from it all but if you do, try to unplug and detach from work email and Smart Phones. Dr Krause says that if you are a person who dreads going back to work and having to plow through thousands of emails, look at your work email for 10-15 minutes a day and then shut down.  If you are unable to take a total vacation away somewhere, a stay-cation at home can be restorative if you plan day trips and step out of your normal routine.  Even a long weekend can help re-charge your batteries whether it is home or away with the goal of trying to disconnect from work either completely or as much as possible.  Planning fun activities that you enjoy in advance can help keep you from straying from the goal of having a true break. There are many resources on the internet to help plan local trips such as The New England Vacation Guide.

If you are in a management position try to encourage your employees to take time off, even for a few days since in the long run the company will be rewarded by having employees coming back with renewed energy and focus. Finally, vacation doesn’t have to be the time to totally blow the diet and healthy eating habits. Take a look at Healthy Destinations and see what you can do to control the waistline and enjoy the fun!

Here’s to a good summer and hoping you can take a break!!

The Gift of My Job

Last week I took the train to Manhattan to provide a day of wellness at the field office of one of our bio tech clients. As I was walking the dogs this weekend I was thinking back on that experience and reflected on the true joy and gift it is to be in the health and wellness business.  

I went down on Tuesday night and stayed at a very surreal, uber hip hotel called the “Hudson” that gave the vibe of being in a nightclub and was designed by the founder of Studio 54. Wild scene and rumor had it that Lady Gaga was staying there that night so the place was nuts.  Anyway, I spent most of Wednesday in the client’s facility teaching back–to-back sessions on topics such as Back Care, Stretch Breaks at Your Desk, Abdominal Training and Fitness on the Fly.  Went non-stop from 9:00am – 3:00pm. At the end of the day on the train ride home, I was one tired puppy but had a huge smile on my face from the experience.

 Every time I do one of these wellness days for a client, the consistent wonderful reaction I get from the participants amazes me.  Employees, especially those that don’t normally have health and wellness programs available to them, are so appreciative and grateful for the opportunity to learn ways to take better care of themselves.  It is a joyful experience to make so many people’s day and get to experience the transformation in someone learning (many for the first time) how they can stretch at work so they don’t go home with aches and pains, help relieve back tension, learn how to do exercises anywhere without needing equipment…etc.  I will have this group’s happy, smiling faces in my mind for quite a few days.  I know they felt like I had given them a gift by being there providing this event but it was actually me who got the gift, the gift of experiencing once again the powerful impact the health and wellness field has on those we touch.  Thanks to all of you in the NY office for reminding me how lucky I am.

To Your Health,

Iris

Iris' Eye Blog

In launching our new website, I have reflected on the amazing journey of not only Fitness Works at Work but on the evolution of the whole corporate health and wellness industry and the culture changes companies experience when they bring wellness to the workplace.  This March, we will be celebrating our 28^th year, quite an amazing feat for a company that began with just me teaching group exercise in a small high-tech company in Cambridge.

I started teaching corporate fitness in 1982 (hence the name Fitness Works at Work) and had a passion and gift for teaching a unique type of class which gave participants a good work out but also focused on body alignment and provided cautions and options for those with body problems, all of which made me sound like a freak in the 80’s.  Think back to that time of do-it till-you-die, body pounding aerobics, Jane Fonda and leg warmers.  Ok, I did wear the leg warmers (and matching leotards), but I had a very different approach to teaching that really spoke to people and was a perfect match for the corporate world.

Teaching these classes in that organization then led to my offering other wellness programs to all of its employees, not just those who took my classes. From this high-tech company our client list grew and I got to experience firsthand the transformation that occurred by bringing employees the opportunity to improve their health and fitness, right at the workplace.  Companies’ cultures changed, the employees who participated in the programs lives changed and with each new client we got to witness this wonderful transformation and how the program became such an important, highly regarded and indespensible benefit.

So back to the launching of this new website 28 years later. We have stayed firm in our roots and belief in the importance of bringing health and wellness to the workplace.  It is more than just a way to help contain health care costs.  It is how you change the culture of your company, one employee at a time.

To Your Health,

Iris