Wellness Wednesday

The best way to keep your blood pressure down is to know what makes it go up. – Meister Johansen

It’s never too late to take control of your blood pressure and improve your overall health. – Sarah Jenkins

A part of self-care is taking part in community events. Here is a short article that gives us reasons how participating in a social event is positive for your mental health: Why Celebrating is Good for You.

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“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas A. Edison

Here are 5 tips to make your New Year's resolutions stick.

1. Start with small goals.
2. Make it measurable.
3. Be realistic.
4. Make a plan.
5. Stay positive.

Here are 2 articles, both one-pagers:  Make Your Resolutions Stick and  More Tips on Making Your Resolutions Stick.

Wellness begins with self-awareness and self-care.” – Unknown

Here are 8 Must-Do Ideas for all "Educators Self-Care" along with a Self-Care Challenge: Educator Self Care

www.randomactsofkindness.org
 

The phrase "practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty” was coined by Anne Herbert in 1982. It was a response to another phrase about random acts of violence and senseless acts of cruelty — and written with the aim of putting an end to violence. A random act of kindness is in most cases, a non-organized and spontaneous gesture of kindness towards someone who needs it.

It’s a celebration of all the ways we can become a positive influence in each other’s lives. Even one small act of kindness can mean a great deal to somebody. It is important for us to constantly be reminded to be kind to one another and to give others hope whenever we can.

• Give Compliments: Offer sincere compliments to friends, family, and even strangers to brighten their day.
• Pay It Forward: When you’re at a coffee shop or drive-thru, pay for the order of the person behind you.
• Send Thoughtful Messages: Send uplifting messages or notes to friends, reminding them of your appreciation and support.
• Help a Neighbor: Assist a neighbor with tasks like shoveling snow, mowing their lawn, or grocery shopping.
• Donate to Charity: Contribute to a charitable organization or cause that you’re passionate about.
• Visit the Elderly: Spend time with elderly individuals in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, offering companionship and a listening ear.
• Volunteer Your Time: Volunteer at local charities, shelters, or community events to make a positive impact.

Fraud is everywhere. Staying up to date on the latest scams can help you protect yourself and your loved ones. One source of information is from AARP: AARP Fraud Watch Network. They offer several free webinars for tips to help you spot, avoid and report common scams, including romance, gift cards, Medicare and more cons.

Another source of information is from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. We usually feature short videos on Wellness Wednesday but this one at 17 minutes but is worth the time: CFPB Helping Patrons Spot and Avoid Fraud.

"Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: They feed the soul. When writers make us shake our heads with the exactness of their prose and their truths, and even make us laugh about ourselves or life, our buoyancy is restored."  Anne Lamott

Why reading is important to your mental health: Mental Health Benefits of Reading Books. We spend a lot of time advocating for our students to read. You must read, too!

Click here: Slideshow of 7 Reasons Why Reading is Important for Children and Adults.

Governor Proclamation on Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developmental disabilities are defined as impairments in physical, learning, language or behavior areas and include

• Autism spectrum disorders
• Cerebral palsy
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Learning or intellectual disabilities
• Hearing loss
• Vision impairment
• Other developmental delays

This is a nationwide event to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and address the barriers that those with disabilities face. Inclusion is necessary since about 15% of the world’s population lives with a disability. We need to understand the relationship between the way people function and how they participate in society and making sure everybody has the same opportunities in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities.

More information about what how you can participate can be found here: National Disability Awareness Month.

The Mayo Clinic offers up these five tips to help people create a workout routine that fits into a busy life: 5 Simple Tips To Fit A Workout Into Any Schedule.

Today we are sharing information that was presented to our retirees at their chapter meeting in October. This information comes from The Alzheimer's Association, which has a local chapter in southeast Michigan.

Metro Detroit Office - Chapter Headquarters

25200 Telegraph Rd., Suite 100
Southfield, MI 48033
248.351.0280
Open: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

You can also seek help by calling 800.272.3900, email helplinegmc@alz.org, or visit their website https://www.alz.org/gmc.

Worldwide, 55 million people are living with Alzheimer's and other dementias. 6 million live in the United States.  Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease and the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is not a specific disease. It's an overall term that describes a group of symptoms.

There are 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's and this 45 second video names them: 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's & Dementia.

The following tips are for everyone!