HELPFUL TIPS TO MAKE NEW HABITS STICK - Part 2

Continued from 1/3/15 post - -

Get feedback - Talk with friends and bounce ideas off those who are interested in maintaining healthy habits.  Seek professional help.  Sharing and accepting feedback will help you in your goals.

Believe in yourself - Healthy habits are for your benefit, for your health, for your longevity.  Trust yourself, listen to your healthy instincts.  You are your own strongest advocate.

Accept setbacks - Anything worth accomplishing takes effort and of course, the ability to overcome the occasional setback.  Remember to rely on your support system to help get you back on track.
Source: Plus One Fitness


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CONQUERING THAT TO-DO LIST - Part 1

Guest Author: Beverly Zibrak, President of the Word Doc, Brookline, MA

Do you feel like you never make progress on your to-do list?  You're not alone.  A recent LinkedIn poll found that only 11% of respondents said they finish what's on their to-do lists.  But that doesn't mean you should give up your to-do list -- we all need lists to stay on track.  Here are some tips to make that to-do list more manageable:

Log Your Day - Keep a log of your activities for a week to see if you're spending time on unproductive tasks.  Be diligent in tracking your activities, carefully noting how long a task takes.  If you do some of the same things repeatedly, think of how you can save time so that you are not constantly reinventing the wheel.

More Is Better - When you create your to-do list, put anything and everything on it, even if it's something menial, such as eating lunch or reading the mail.  That way, there's more satisfaction in crossing things off.

More tips next month!

Beverly Zibrak is President of the Word Doc, a writing and editing services firm dedicated to helping small business with all their communication needs, including web content development, press releases and marketing communications, and blog posts.  You can reach Beverly at www.worddocusa.com.

HELPFUL TIPS TO MAKE NEW HABITS STICK - Part 1

Set S.M.A.R.T. goals - Goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and within a time-frame will encourage you to keep working.

Monitor your progress - Track your weight loss each week or record how far you were able to run in a journal.

Find support - Asking a friend or co-worker to join you in your healthy habits will help you stay accountable.
Source: Plus One Fitness

More tips next month!


I APPRECIATE YOUR REFERRALS TO MY PRACTICE -- THANK YOU!

BE SMART WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE (AND OTHER DEVICES) - Part 3

Continued from 10/18/14 post . . .

- Don't fall for text spam.  It is on the rise.  Links in text spam can lead to websites of scammers or those that download malicious software, so do not click on unfamiliar links within a text.  You can go to your wireless carrier's website and ask to have texts sent over the Internet blocked.  Or install an app that can block them.

- Turn off location tracking.  Disable it except when you need it, such as for driving directions or finding a nearby business.  Turn it off for individual apps if your phone's operating system lets you.

- Clean out your old phone.  Before you sell or recycle your phone, remove memory card, restore factory settings, and make sure all sensitive information is deleted.
Source: Consumer Reports



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IS THE FITBIT ACCURATE?

New technology can give us miles, calories, and hopefully get us moving!  Wearable activity monitors by BodyMedia Fit(R), DirectLife, Fitbit(R) One and Zip, Jawbone UP(R), Nike+Fuel Band, Basis Band, and Actigraph GT3X+ were evaluated against a portable metabolic analyzer.

Results showed good accuracy in a wide variety of activities.  However, when measuring steps taken, monitors worn on the wrist tended to overestimate step counts.  In contrast, clip style monitors were very accurate in measuring steps.

The bottom line: these monitors can help with motivation and provide good information about activity levels.
Source: American College of Sports Medicine



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BE SMART WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE (AND OTHER DEVICES) - Part 2

Continued from 9/13/14 post . . .

Many of us forget that a smart phone is just another computer.  Clicking on QR codes, apps, games, and Wi-Fi can expose your personal information.  Here are some tips for minimizing the dangers:

- Install apps cautiously and be alert to malicious impostors that look like brand-name products.  If an app contains sensitive personal information, use a password.  Consider getting a security app and screen lock.

- Be cautious when using Wi-Fi.  If you're transmitting information over a Wi-Fi network it can be intercepted.
Source: Murdoch University, Consumer Reports

Next month: More tips to protect your devices . . .


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REPETITIVE STRESS INJURY . . . OUCH!!! - Part 2

Continued from 9/6/14 post . . .

Here are some tips for preventing and relieving the accumulation of microscopic tears in your muscles that can produce a chronic, painful, activity-limiting condition:

- Good posture allows for more freedom of movement and reduces the strain on muscles and joints.  An ergonomic assessment of your workspace can help.

- Pay attention to your body as you perform daily tasks.  Habits such as hunching over the phone and tensing your shoulders and face contribute to symptoms.  Learning to recognize and change these patterns can bring relief.

- Take frequent breaks and drink lots of fluids to keep tissues hydrated.

- Exercise regularly to stretch and strengthen muscles -- but don't overdo it.

- Experiment with applying cold, heat, and elastic supports to sore areas.

- Pay attention to early signs of discomfort and seek professional help.

Therapeutic massage can be a useful part of your treatment -- please feel free to contact me at 617-738-8222 to discuss whether scheduling therapeutic massage and ergonomic assessment would be helpful in your case.
Source: Yoga Journal


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