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Tips to help you cope with stress at work Extra work k load l d takes k its toll ll on the h mental l health h l h of f employees l The workers of the world are working more. So says an annual study of employee benefit trends from MetLife. In 2010, 40 percent of employees admitted their workload had increased compared with the previous year. While there are many reasons that can account for a heavier workload at the office, heavy layoffs in countries across the globe has, in many instances, left those who weren't laid off with extra work. And companies might be surprised to know just how much this approach isn't working. TheMetLife study also found that 68 percent of employees surveyed reported that the quality of their work had suffered and that fear of losing their jobs played a significant role in how well they did their jobs. · Manage time effectively. One of the problems with an increased workload is the time in the day to complete that work does not simultaneously increase. This reality makes it easy to become overwhelmed with stress. But a few time management techniques can help. Prioritize certain tasks, ensuring projects that are time-sensitive get done ahead of f those that aren't. When setting a schedule for work, be realistic. If a schedule isn't realistic, that will only cause more stress. Brush up on nutrition habits · Maintain a personal life. Effectively managing stress at work involves having a personal life away from the office. All work and no play is a recipe for stress. No matter how big a workload awaits you at the office, be sure to make time for enjoyable activities away from work. Spend time with friends and family, plan a weekend getaway or simply relax at home. Such time, even if it's not as often as you might like, makes dealing with stress at the office that much easier to handle. · Remain physically active. Exercise is a great remedy for stress. In fact, the American Psychological Association notes that studies have suggested physically active people have lower rates of anxiety and depression than sedentary people. While research is ongoing, some researchers feel exercise enhances the body's ability to respond to stress. In addition, exercise seems to give the body practice at dealing with stress. While exercising, the body's physiological systems are forced to communicate with one another. These same systems must also communicate with one another when responding to stress. Regular exercise helps the body communicate more efficiently, something that helps when the time comes to respond to stress. Stress at the office is likely always going to be a concern for working men and women. However, there are ways to effectively cope with stress no matter how daunting a workload might be. (MNS) Heavier workloads have left many workers dealing with elevated levels of stress. 17 · Thursday, October 20, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com 21 · Thursday, January 17, 2013 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Advertising Section (NC)--Canadians practice bad habits on a daily basis. Often, these habits have been so ingrained into our routines that we rarely think twice about what we're actually doing and how it affects our health. Dr. Janet Tamo, a consulting dentist for Crest and Oral-B, along with registered dietician, Christine Asik, teamed up recently to discuss nutrition and oral care. They both agreed that our most common and misunderstood bad habit is the overconsumption of liquid calories. "Sugar-sweetened beverages such as pop, iced tea, lemonade and even many 100 per cent fruit juices are packed with sugar, but they don't contain any fibre so won't fill you up," said Asik. "Research also shows that those who over-consume these high sugar beverages are at greater risk of being obese and developing diabetes." These sugary drinks can wreak havoc on your teeth too. "It's impossible to eliminate everything bad from your diet ­ we all need to indulge once in a while," says Dr. Tamo. "That is why it's really important to follow a proper at-home oral care routine every day, which includes a multi-protection toothpaste such as Crest Pro-Health Clinical Plaque Control, this toothpaste is clinically proven to help pre* Determine what is causing the stress. Stress triggers vary depending on the individual, so men and women who are coping with excessive stress should write down anything that causes them a negative response, whether that response is physical, emotional or mental. After a week, sit down and look at the various things that triggered these negative responses. Choose one and work to resolve it. Determine if there is a way this trigger can be avoided. Do this with each trigger one by one. It might not be possible to successfully address each trigger, but it's worth the try and it is likely that certain triggers can be successfully avoided. Good stress and bad stress While employees might not be able to quell their fears of one day being laid off, there are things they can do to reduce the stress that often accompanies such fears. Stress is a part of most professions and can even be a good motivator. However, when stress is prolonged or excessive, the results can be very unhealthy. Men and women with high stress levels are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and cardiovascular disease. When faced with prolonged or excessive stress at the office, men and women can take the following approaches to avoid succumbing to stress. 20 010 Gold Aw ward Winne er Oa akv kville e Be Beaver eaver vent plaque buildup, fight cavities, gingivitis, tartar and treats tooth sensitivity." Dr. Tamo and Christine Asik share these tips on how to break common bad habits related to nutrition and oral care: · Rather than drinking juice, get your recommended daily servings of fruit by eating fruit, and drink water between meals. · Don't bring too many sweet foods into your home. If they aren't accessible, you won't be so inclined to indulge - your waistline and teeth will thank you for it. · Make it a priority to practice good oral care habits daily to help prevent plaque and tartar build-up that can lead to gingivitis. You'll also be showing your kids how seriously they should be taking their oral health. More information is available online at www.facebook.com/CrestCanada. y Januar l Specia initial personal training session 50 % OFF Our highly skilled PERSONAL TRAINERS will help you to acheive your goals this year in our private, upscale, fully equipped gym Do you want to lose 3-7 lbs a week safely, our Naturopathic Doctor can help you achieve that goal! 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