eKourier April 2020

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

WELL BEING BEST PRACTICE

- Fresh air helps improve blood pressure and heart rate. Avoid polluted environ- ments particularly if you need to improve your blood pressure. Stay away from the busy traffic as the body will need to work harder to get the amount of oxygen it needs over polluted car fumes. - Fresh air makes you happier. The more fresh air you get, the more oxygen you will breathe which will increase the amount of serotonin (the happy hormone) you inhale, consequently making you happier. REST Recent research has revealed that people perform better at work and in life if we practice strategic renewal aka rest. If you’re rundown you’re more susceptible to getting sick and miss days from work. Here are a couple of simple changes designed to improve rest. - Try to sleep and wake at consistent times. Your body’s Circadian Rhythm functions on a set loop, aligning itself with sunrise and sunset. Being consistent with your sleep and waking times can aid long-term sleep quality. - Optimize your bedroom environ- ment. Many people believe that the bedroom environment and its setup are key factors in getting a good night’s sleep. These factors include tempera- ture, noise, external lights and furniture arrangement. - Relax and clear your mind in the evening. Many people have a pre-sleep routine that helps them relax. Relaxa- tion techniques before bed have been shown to improve sleep quality and are another common technique used to treat insomnia. TRUST KSS has faced challenging times in the past. One thing we all trust 100 percent is each day will continue to present opportunities for us to achieve the very best outcomes for our customers and Teammates. Wayne Brown Training and Development Manager

G iven the current climate regarding the COVID-19 pandemic I though it would be suitable to share something a little different for this Kourier issue. The value of our health and well-being seems as though it has never been more important than in 2020. Here is some simple advice on how to improve our mental, physical and emotional well being. A simple way to remember is to think N.E.W.S.T.A.R.T. (Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Tempera- ment, Air, Rest, Trust) NUTRITION Good nutrition is one of the corner stones of physical well-being. Our diet impacts mood and therefore our interactions with others. In order to remain constructive (80% Blue) we must ensure we are fuelling our body adequately. EXERCISE With government mandated restric- tions on non-essential movement in the community, appropriate exercise is more important than ever. Physical activity and exercise can have immediate and long-term health benefits. Most importantly, regular activity can improve our quality of life. So whether it’s a gentle afternoon stroll, rigorous Sunday surf session or anything in between, get out there and enjoy. Having lived in sunny ol' England for 20 plus years I make a point to never complain about the wonderful weather in this part of the world.

WATER It's simple, if we do not stay hydrated our performance can suffer. Dehydration can have a noticeable effect if you lose as little as 2% of your body's water content. This can lead to reduced motivation and increased fatigue. Someone once said (me lol) “When I was young I used to think coffee and alcohol were grown up drinks but I realise its water.” SUNLIGHT Another simple one. Moderate sunlight exposure helps improve your mood and focus by boosting the serotonin levels in your body. Also known as the 'happiness hormone', it makes you calm and alert. Also, sunlight decreases the risk of depression in those at risk of seasonal affective disorder. TEMPERAMENT Our attitude is a form of expression of ourselves. We can choose to be happy, positive and optimistic, or you can choose to be pessimistic and critical, with a negative outlook on things. A positive attitude helps us cope better under stressful situations at work and in life. AIR Where possible during the current situation we should take advantage of the outdoors. Here are a few reasons we should spend time outdoors. - Fresh air is good for your digestive system. Fresh air increases the flow of oxygen helping you digest food more effectively.

19 Kennards Kourier April 2020