Struggling With a Regular Exercise Routine? Here Are 4 Ways to Get Started
Exercising is one of the best ways to remain limber, fit, and healthy for years and even decades to come, regardless of your current age. Ensuring you provide your body with enough physical exercise can help you to find physical relief while also allowing your body to remain limber and flexible with ease. If you are struggling with sticking to a regular exercise routine, there are a few ways to get started that can help you to stay on track.
Set and Stick to a Daily Routine
If you are adamant about sticking to your daily exercise routine, create a daily routine and start your day off right each morning. Creating an early morning exercise routine is a way to help start your day off with a motivation and confidence boost. Rising early can also help you to feel as if your day is much longer, providing you with more time to exercise and complete other tasks that are important to you.
Invest in Exercise Equipment for Your Home
One of the best ways to ensure you stick to a new regular exercise routine is to invest in exercise equipment and tools for your own home or workout area. Whether you prefer indoor cycling, weight lifting, or even following cardio exercises using videos and visual guides, the options are virtually endless when it comes to creating a home gym and exercise location of your own.
Learn About Routines That Are Right for You
If you are unsure of where to begin when it comes to exercising and setting up a routine at home, conduct a bit of research. Research fitness experts and influencers that align with your own line of thinking and current way of life to determine the best methods to help set up a workout routine at home that is genuinely beneficial and right for you.
Set Aside Time Each Day
Are you having difficulties focusing or committing to your exercise routine(s)? Set aside time each day where you no longer have access to your smartphone, computer, or other forms of technology to help remain focused and on track. Use tools to keep yourself from becoming distracted or interested in other projects, tasks, and even household chores. Minimizing distractions is key to building and carving out new routines, especially ones that include physical exercise.
Knowing how to start a regular exercise routine may seem challenging at first, but once you begin making the effort, you can create and stick to any routine that is beneficial for you and your health.
The Ontario Brain Institute Marks Ten Years Of Excellence In Brain Health
OBI brings together a community of experts through collaborative research, commercial innovation and connected care
TORONTO, March 25, 2021 /CNW/ - Established in November 2010 with funding from the provincial government, the Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) marks a decade of excellence in brain health – improving the lives of the 1 in 3 people impacted by brain disorders.
Ontario ranks in the top five globally for science productivity, is home to over 1000 neuroscientists, world-class brain research centres, a vibrant neurotechnology cluster, and an engaged and empowered patient community. In recognition of the world class community of experts, OBI was formed to harness this talent to improve brain health in Ontario.
Working in partnership with Ontario's brain health community, OBI has integrated research, commercialization and care into a learning healthcare system that accelerates discovery and spurs innovation. Some of the system-wide changes have been focused on advancing knowledge of brain disorders, sharing unprecedented levels of data through Brain-CODE, increase in clinically validated neurotechnology and the creation of tools and services to help manage brain health and wellness. OBI's positive impact on research, commercialization, and brain health from the last 10 years are captured here.
"Since our inception, OBI has championed collaboration within the brain health community. And thanks to the exceptional support from our partners, we have been able to produce quality results directly impacting the community through our translational work", said Tom Mikkelsen, President & Scientific Director of OBI. "Currently, living through a health crisis, we can fully appreciate the importance of teamwork, something OBI began a decade ago – and we look forward to the next 10 years with this renewed confidence."
OBI's work is grounded by its three pillars: research, commercialization and care with the end goal of moving research from the lab into the community. In the last decade alone, OBI has created a network that represents 192 researchers, 89 partners, 61 entrepreneurs, 163 interns, 81 portfolio companies and 29 community organizations. Together they helped leveraged $389 million, facilitated 128 open data requests, gathered data from 20,954 participants, brought 21 products to market and published 248 tools and resources.
"OBI has achieved some remarkable results over the last 10 years; and on behalf of the Ontario government, I'd like to congratulate them on this exciting milestone," said Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities. "Over the years, OBI has been successful in aligning with our province's priorities of improving the health and wellbeing of Ontarians diagnosed and living with brain disorders, enhancing collaboration in research and technology, and driving the province's long-term economic competitiveness through innovation and intellectual property commercialization. Through their hard work, dedication and collaboration with various research partners, OBI has successfully enhanced research and technology development in the brain health sector to improve the lives of Ontarians impacted by brain disorders."
OBI's strategic investments in bringing lab to life have been supported by its various programs and initiatives to build a system of integrated care. OBI's Brain-CODE, a state-of-the-art neuroinformatics platform was designed to promote open science and safe data sharing; the ONtrepreneurs Program offers support to early-stage entrepreneurs whereas NERD is built to help de-risk neurotech investments; OBI-GEEK supports community-led programs to spread and scale while the Priority Setting Partnerships with the community are meant to take community priority needs and questions back to research and policy experts.
Marking 10 years of accomplishments, OBI is set to continue its work with renewed rigour and to continue to improve the lives of the 1 in 3 people living with a brain disorder. For more information on OBI and its work, please visit the website here.
About the Ontario Brain Institute The Ontario Brain Institute is a not-for-profit organization that accelerates discovery and innovation, benefiting both patients and the economy. Our collaborative 'team science' approach promotes brain research, commercialization and care by connecting researchers, clinicians, industry, patients, and their advocates to improve the lives of those living with brain disorders. Welcome to Brain Central. Funding provided, in part, by the Government of Ontario. Visit www.braininstitute.ca for more information. Follow us on Twitter (@OntarioBrain).
SOURCE Ontario Brain Institute
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre to Deploy Novari Medical Imaging Requisition System
KINGSTON, ON, March 25, 2021 /CNW/ - Novari Health has announced that it has executed an agreement with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) to implement its medical imaging referral management software technology.
The Novari Medical Imaging Requisition Management (MIRM) software is being implemented at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. The software as a service (SaaS) technology is being provided as an electronic means to manage the processing and workflows associated with inbound referrals for medical imaging. Individual workflows for MRI, CT, mammography, nuclear and other imaging modalities are complex and still paper based at most Canadian hospitals. The Novari MIRM system's workflow capabilities can be configured to accommodate unique workflows for each modality and eliminate risks inherent in paper-based processes. The Novari technology provides front line staff and management with accurate and real-time data on the volume of requisitions, the status of every patient's referral and bottlenecks in the system.
The Ontario Ministry of Health, Ontario Health and hospitals across the province have been working to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients. Having a modern medical imaging wait list management and electronic workflow system complements these efforts for all patients including those waiting for surgical consults, surgery and other procedures.
Novari Health's innovative and unique access to care technologies are live and being implemented at dozens of hospitals and regional health authorities across Canada.
"Each medical imaging requisition represents a patient moving through the healthcare system whose care is dependent on imaging services. Streamlining the processing of these referrals and the use of state of the art wait list management technologies helps ensure that every patient receives timely care." - John Sinclair CPHIMS-CA, President of Novari Health.
About Novari Health
Novari Health designs, builds, and implements award-winning enterprise scale SaaS solutions that improve access to care, coordination of care, and the delivery of healthcare services. Based in Kingston Ontario and with offices in Vancouver, Australia, and New Zealand, Novari has become one of the largest Canadian based digital health solution providers. ISO 27001 certified, Novari Health is a Microsoft Gold Partner, with software solutions hosted on Microsoft Azure Canadian and Australian cloud data centres. For more information visit www.novarihealth.com.
SOURCE Novari Health Inc.
Alicia Bell - IFBB Pro - Online Coach
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It doesn't matter your level or goal I can help you with my individualized online coaching:
Throughout the last year as this country battled Covid 19, quarantines, loss of amenities, and freedom, fitness routines were some of the many things that suffered. Sure, a privileged few had the time, money and motivation to equip their homes like full gyms, but most didn’t. What resulted for many were more sedentary lifestyles and weight gain. As we all start to come out of a pandemic haze, many are wondering how to regain their pre-pandemic fitness routines, motivation, and shed “pandemic weight.” We turned to certified fitness NYC fitness trainer Jessica Mazzucco founder of www.thegluterecruit.com for some tips.
TAKE IT EASY
Don’t overdo it when you return to the gym, your trainer, or wherever you exercise. You can’t expect to snap back to your pre-pandemic level of fitness right away. It takes time and must be done gradually. Doing too much too soon will overwhelm you, you will risk injury and possibly burnout
Safe Ways To Resume
One of the safest ways to get started is to try brisk walking (or some other low-impact activity) for a time span of 10 minutes. Aim for a pace where your breathing and heart rate are elevated but you can still speak in sentences. This is called moderate intensity. Then try building up from one round of 10 minutes a day to two rounds of 10 minutes. You can do it all at once or break it into two sessions during the day. Start doing this every other day and work your way up. If 10 minutes a day seems too easy, start with longer, but you should still move up gradually. You can increase the time, intensity or both if you’re up to it. Ultimately your goal should be to do 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity exercise every week, unless you were doing more than that pre-pandemic. If you can include some higher intensity exercise once you have increased your endurance, you will reap even more health benefits.
Schedule
Not everyone is a morning person who can be up and exercising at 6 am. If that’s not your circadian rhythm, attempting that schedule as a lifestyle will fail. Perhaps your workouts need to be scheduled at a lunch hour or post-work. Maybe it’s not practical for you to do 4 days a week but 3 is doable. Think about your life and the free time it realistically affords, and schedule in the frequency and times of day/evening that best suit your life. Keep in mind that the body responds to consistency over time. Results will be achieved more rapidly if you keep a regular frequency and pattern.
Beginner Exercises to Know
It’s also always a wise idea to make sure you have the basics down before easing back into a regular workout routine. Basic strength training exercises like planks, lunges and squats have many different variations in various workouts. Make sure you know the fundamentals of these exercises. If you don’t have a personal trainer, you can google how to do them properly with illustrations, watch Youtube videos, learn them from fitness apps, or ask a trainer on duty in your gym to show you proper form.
Yoga is a great way to start an exercise program and you can perform it at various levels of intensity and in the comfort of your own home. Stretching and other moves improve flexibility and strength. Yoga is also a great form of stress relief.
If you have put on weight
Many of us have put on weight due to the pandemic and that is nothing to feel ashamed of. If you are resuming exercise with added pounds be mindful of the fact, that depending on the amount you have gained, this can place greater strain on joints, especially the knees, back, and ankles. At first, it might be best to include exercise that reduces weight-bearing, such as stationary bikes, water exercise, or rowing machines. Once you’ve lost some weight and improved your cardio function, then you can add more walking or jogging to your exercise routine.
Warm-up, stretching and cool down are key
Your body can’t go from a full stop to a sprint. It must be “loosened” and warmed up. Proper warm-up and cooldown are vital for your workout in order to prevent injury and delayed muscle onset soreness. A good warm-up should include the entire body, even if the actual workout is going to focus on one area, such as legs or shoulders. The idea is to get the entire body warmed up and loose, and to get the blood flowing to all areas. A five- to 10-minute cool down, consisting of light aerobic activity, helps the heart gradually return to its resting rate and the body return to its resting temperature. The lack of a cool-down period can lead to lightheadedness and dizziness, which is caused by blood pooling in the lower extremities. You don’t want to abruptly end a workout. You need to stay in motion while gradually winding down. Stretching is more beneficial after the workout than it is before because the muscles are warm and more pliable, which offers the best chance for maintaining and improving flexibility.
Mistakes to Avoid
The biggest thing to keep in mind is to take it slow. For people who were in peak condition before the pandemic, it is human nature to want to “get back there” right away. This impatience and tendency to overdo it, will cause injury. A year with little to no exercise is a long time and it’s going to take time to get back to where you were before the pandemic. After a week or two of consistent exercise, you can bump up the intensity provided you're not losing form or feeling serious pain. Be patient with yourself in the process.
About Jessica Mazzucco
Jessica Mazzucco is an NYC area certified fitness trainer and founder of The Glute Recruit® A native New Yorker, she graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Social Work from Adelphi University. The latter enables her to use skills of therapeutic communication and client centeredness to help her clients transition through change. Jessica has over 7 years of experience in the fitness industry and a a multitude of diverse fitness certifications including :
World Instructor Training Schools (WITS) Personal Training Certification
National Posture Institute (NPI) Certified Posture Specialist + Certified Resistance Training Professional
SRT (Soft Release Technique) - Lower Body Fascial Stretch Therapist
Areas of Focus
Her specialties include butt sculpt/lift through exercise, resistance, strength and weight training for women, nutrition, muscle building, flexibility, mobility, posture enhancement, and pre and post-natal workout regimens. Jess has trained celebrities such as former MSNBC Legal Analyst Mimi Rocah and country singer Jessica Lynn.
Her personal journey
Jess has helped women worldwide achieve their fitness and lifestyle goals. She embarked on her own journey toward a healthier lifestyle in 2010 when she realized how unhealthy she was physically due to poor dietary choices and lack of exercise. Her weight gain had led her to develop low self-confidence and poor relationships with food. Healthy dietary changes and slow implementation of exercise helped Jess to become physically healthier and restore her self-esteem. This success gave her the platform to pursue a career in fitness and personal training. Her mission is to educate women on how to take control of their lives and become the healthiest versions of themselves without setting unrealistic goals of an "ideal" body type.
New Study Confirms Innotech Nutrition's ColFlex Oral Spray Inactivates Human Coronavirus
Penn State College of Medicine In Vitro Study Shows Very Promising Results
WINNIPEG, MB, March 24, 2021 /CNW/ - Innotech Nutrition, a Canadian manufacturer of natural health products, is excited to release the results of a Penn State College of Medicine research study that showed the company's COLFLEX Oral Spray inactivated 99 to 99.9 per cent of infectious human coronavirus 229E.
The study was conducted by Dr. Craig Meyers and his scientific team at Penn State University. It looked at both variations of Innotech Nutrition's COLFLEX Oral Sprays, examining the sprays' effect on human coronavirus 229E at a two minute contact time. The study showed promising results that the products were highly effective over that time, and were more than 90 per cent effective at inactivating the virus at a 60 second contact time.
Human coronavirus 229E is one of seven coronaviruses that can infect people, according to the Center for Disease Control in the United States (source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/types.html). It is a leading cause of common colds and respiratory tract infections. Coronaviruses are named for the crown-like spikes on their surface. Dr. Meyers' research has shown that compounds that are effective at inactivating 229E typically act similarly against other human coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 which is the novel coronavirus that causes the disease better known as COVID-19.
According to Meyers, the results with these oral sprays are promising and add to the findings of a previous study showing that certain types of oral rinses could inactivate HCoV229E in similar experimental conditions.
"The next step to expand upon these results is to design and conduct clinical trials that evaluate whether products like these oral throat sprays can effectively reduce viral load in patients," said Meyers.
As in previous similar studies, the Penn State scientific team prepared a standard laboratory test (viral inactivation assays) to replicate the interaction of the virus in the throat and oral cavities, with the oral spray product. Throat and oral cavities are major points of entry and transmission for human coronaviruses.
"We're excited by the Penn State research on our products and look forward to further research," said Wayne Friesen, president of Innotech Nutrition. "Although this study shows very promising results, it is not in any way to be interpreted as a form of prevention for COVID-19. We all use Colflex routinely with ourselves and our families, we like to think of it as an added layer of protection or another tool in your tool box. We strongly encourage everyone to continue practicing all of the public health measures that are currently in place and to closely follow the advice of your health care professionals. It may sound old-fashioned, but also don't forget your mom's common sense advice to eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, stay hydrated and keep smiling."
Innotech Nutrition's COLFLEX Oral Spray is a natural health product licensed by Health Canada and has been on the market since 2012. In a previous scientific study, conducted in 2017, the product was proven to kill staph, strep pneumonia, e-coli, and salmonella and was successfully tested for a full safety analysis at the University of Manitoba (source: Winnipeg Free Press https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/throat-spray-proven-effective-for-fighting-cold-flu-454627533.html)
When your physical and mental space is cluttered, stress takes over. With spring around the corner, it is the perfect time to declutter your home or office, but did you know this can improve your mental health as well?
Jaya Jaya Myra, former immunologist turnedmind-body wellness expert and bestselling author, highlights the importance of decluttering your physical space in order to improve your overall health and wellbeing.
“Physical clutter equals mental clutter: it’s impossible to have a clear head when your space is dirty or unorganized. When someone comes to me to learn meditation or mindfulness, one of the first things I have people do is clean their house and keep their primary living space organized and clutter-free. Eliminating external clutter makes it much easier to meditate and be mindful, and it will also improve your mood, reduce stress and anxiety and more.” says Jaya Jaya Myra.
Here’s Jaya Jaya Myra’s 3 spring cleaning tips to help reduce stress and anxiety brought on by clutter:
Tip #1: Start Small Maybe it’s your desk or the room you spend the most time in. Commit to keeping your primary work or living area clean and clutter-free. Once you do this it will become easier to tackle those other places that need more work.
Tip #2: Prioritize Positive Emotions If something you have doesn't make you feel good, for any reason, get rid of it to make space for something that does. This could be a piece or art, furniture, clothes, dishes, or just about anything. The stuff we have becomes a trigger for different emotional states, so when you choose to only have things around that evoke happiness or contentment, you create that in your life.
Tip #3: Breathe Even cleaning your space can be daunting, so take a moment to breathe deeply and focus on the space you want to create for yourself. Breathing is connected to good mental health and lowering stress levels, so take a deep breath or ten before you start. It will help you focus and get motivated.
If you are interested in learning more about how Spring Cleaning can help improve your mood and mental wellbeing with Jaya Jaya Myra, I’d be happy to arrange a phone, zoom/skype, or email interview. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
Thank you,
How CFK’s WASH Program Helped This Informal Settlement in Kenya Reopen its Schools Safely CDC chose nonprofit as lead implementation partner for its WASH initiative
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.–CFK’sWASH program was already in place to fight preventable diseases in an informal settlement in Kenya, but when the coronavirus pandemic began it was retooled, helping schools reopen in Kibera, one of the largest and most densely populated informal settlements in Africa.
The nonprofit, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and has offices in the U.S. and Kenya, first launched its WASH program in 2014 in Kibera, an area just outside of Nairobi that houses over 350,000 people with few government services and programs. Its goal at the time was to reduce diarrheal disease-related deaths, but when the pandemic began, it dramatically expanded the program to help fight the spread of the coronavirus.
“The same tools that we use to fight diseases like E. coli and rotavirus have been instrumental in reducing the spread of coronavirus,” said Hillary Omala, executive director of CFK who is based in Nairobi. “When the pandemic started, we immediately ramped up those efforts, working with schools and other volunteers, and we could see the positive results in a very short period.”
Short for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, the WASH program teaches students and the broader community about proper handwashing practices, helps install public and private hand-washing stations and makes and distributes liquid soap.
Through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has since designated CFK as its lead implementation partner for the initiative, CFK refocused its WASH efforts once the pandemic hit, installing more than 1,500 new handwashing stations, distributing over 15,000 liters of locally made soap and leading ongoing soap-making workshops.
Government-run and informal schools across Kenya re-opened in early January after being closed for nearly 10 months due to the pandemic. In partnership with its Education and Livelihoods Program, CFK's WASH project helped provide students and teachers with the tools and knowledge they needed to help them stay safe while returning to school.
Research indicates hand-washing programs are among the most cost-effective, with CDC data showing that every dollar invested brings a return ranging from $5 to $46 due to lower health-care costs and increased productivity. In addition, hand-washing programs help reduce the estimated 200 million hours a day women and girls spend collecting water, which takes away from the time they can spend in school and doing other activities.
“Hand-washing programs are amazingly effective,” added Omala. “They not only help us reduce other diseases, they help us continue to beat the coronavirus, reopen schools and give young girls, especially, more educational opportunities, all at a very low cost.”
***
About CFK Founded in 2001, CFK empowers residents of Kibera, one of the largest and most densely populated informal settlements in Africa, to provide world-class medical care, educational and job training programs, and mentorship and advocacy for young girls in the community. Through a participatory development approach, CFK works directly with residents of Kibera to bring new opportunities to improve lives and alleviate poverty. In 2020, staff members at CFK’s new Tabitha Maternity Home were acknowledged by the Gates Foundation as Frontline Heroes for ensuring continuity of care during the pandemic. For more information, visit www.carolinaforkibera.org.
Leaders in digital health: St. Joe's partners with the Ontario eServices Program to enhance patient experiences through eReferral
HAMILTON, ON, March 23, 2021 /CNW/ - St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) continues to showcase leadership in digital technology through the introduction of eReferral to facilitate smoother transitions in care among healthcare providers and enhance patient experiences.
In partnership with the Ontario eServices Program, SJHH has led the successful integration of CognisantMD's Ocean Platform and the Epic Health Information System to offer eReferral.
The transition to eReferral offers a number of benefits for both clinicians and patients, all of which contribute to the improved provider and patient experience within the healthcare system. Benefits include the following:
Patients are better informed regarding the status of their appointments and have the ability to confirm these appointments electronically.
Pre-populated forms for the patient chart on the referring end, ensuring up-to-date patient information is received, such as medication lists and allergies.
Access to wait time information through the searchable, map-based Ocean Healthmap directory.
Receiving complete referrals, eliminating the need to request additional information from the referrer and speeding up wait times.
Reduction in reminder phone calls to patients with automated patient alerts.
Elimination of faxes or phone calls to referring providers informing them of the appointment status.
The integration leverages Substitutable Medical Applications, Reusable Technologies (SMART) on Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) technology. SMART on FHIR is the most recent worldwide standard of secure data transfer for health care technology, specifically addressing the need to share and protect personal health information (PHI).
Phase one of the integration, which is currently live, allows end users to launch the Ocean eReferral platform directly from within the Epic Health Information System with single sign on (SSO). Single sign on allows users to launch and use Ocean from within EPIC, without having to log in to Ocean each time. Launching Ocean directly out of Epic allows hospital staff to interact with the referral without leaving their native system and preserves full access to Ocean functionality.
In the coming weeks, the Ocean and Epic integration will not only allow users to access inbound referrals (e.g. from primary care to hospital), it will also allow referrals from Epic to be sent to external destinations (e.g. specialists or community organizations such as Home and Community Care). The full integration consists of two phases:
Phase one: SSO and inbound and outbound referrals received using SMART on FHIR Ocean launch.
Phase two: Inbound referrals directly into EPIC HIS, including automated order generation and outgoing notifications supported through scalable middleware.
With the support of the Ontario eServices Program, which is funded by the Ministry of Health, full end-to-end digital workflow is scheduled for completion by the end of Spring 2021.
Phase two will include the elimination of manual transcription and will drive an increase in accurate referral status updates being passed back to the referring provider. Appointment information will also be updated directly from the health information system into Ocean, eliminating the duplicate entry of this information into Ocean and ensuring that patients receive timely and accurate information and reminders about their appointments.
SJHH is proud to be working with the Ontario eServices Program to bring the industry this ground-breaking integration with Epic. In collaboration with the Ontario eServices Program, SJHH is working on plans to scale this integration, once fully realized. This includes the development and dissemination of implementation guides, webinars etc. The eServices Program works with a variety of Ontario vendors including the consortium of Think Research, CognisantMD and Centre for Effective Practice.
Improvements in digital technology are key to improving the patient experience, and SJHH is excited to be leading this ongoing innovation. For more information on eReferral, contact the Ontario eServices Program at eReferral@ehealthce.ca.
Additional information:
About St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) is a leading research and academic health science centre located in the heart of Hamilton, Ontario. It is a pioneer of the Integrated Comprehensive Care model, a leader in patient-centred care, and a major provider of mental health and addiction services, respiratory care and kidney care, in addition to other acute care, surgical and outpatient services at its three distinct sites. St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, a proud member of St. Joseph's Health System, is a teaching hospital affiliated with the world-renowned McMaster University. For more information about St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, please visit www.stjoes.ca.
About the Ontario eServices Program The Ontario eServices Program delivers digital services (eConsult and eReferral are the first initiatives in the scope of the program) that support clinical workflows and facilitate smoother transitions in care and an improved patient experience. The Ontario eServices Program is co-led by the Ontario eConsult Centre of Excellence (eConsult COE) and the eHealth Centre of Excellence (eCE) and is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health (MOH).
About CognisantMD CognisantMD is Canada's leading provider of EMR-integrated patient engagement and eReferral solutions, built on the secure, cloud-based Ocean Platform. Ocean integrates with the nation's leading electronic medical records systems, provincial resources, and other digital health solutions to allow patients, healthcare providers, and systems to securely share and exchange patient health information. By replacing outdated, fax-based technology with EMR-integrated eReferrals, the Ocean eReferral Network is helping to reduce wait times and improve access to care. Ocean's full suite of integrated patient engagement tools is also helping improve digital access for patients, increase access to primary care, and support virtual care across Canada. To learn more, visit www.cognisantmd.com.
SOURCE CognisantMD
Stop Falling For the “Balance” Lie (and Do This Instead). Because life is unpredictable and ever-changing, we can never truly achieve balance in our lives. But don’t worry. Steve Cook shares tips to help you live a more ideal life and cope with the unpredictable parts.
Knoxville, TN (March 2021)—Most of us live hectic, intense, stressed out lives. We’re bombarded with all kinds of tasks, opportunities, and challenges every day. It’s no wonder we struggle to get everything on our list done. On rare occasions we might “crush it,” but most of the time we fall short and neglect the things that are most important to us, whether that’s family, friends, fitness, spiritual growth, or something else.
In other words, we long for balance but never seem to achieve it and this keeps us frustrated and unfulfilled. Steve Cook says that’s because balance isn’t possible.
“The efforts we take today to experience balance tomorrow assume that tomorrow will be the same as it is today,” points out Cook, the author of Lifeonaire: An Uncommon Approach to Wealth, Success, and Prosperity (Lifeonaire Promotions, LLC, 2018, ISBN: 978-0-9863228-7-7, $14.99). “Obviously, this will never be true.
“Everything is in a state of flux: The world around you, your family, your work,” he adds. “The way you do things today won’t be the same tomorrow. You’ll have to learn new things, allocate your time differently, and spend time with different people. So despite all the books that have been written on the subject, the very notion of balance is a lie. And when we chase something that doesn’t exist, we’ll never be happy.”
Cook, a life and business coach, speaker, trainer, and author, says the only solution is a fundamental mind shift. We need to accept and embrace this truth about how the world works. This will motivate us to revamp our life in a way that ensures that we’re putting what we really care about front and center. (Hint: His book Lifeonaire suggests many of us need to rethink our blind pursuit of financial wealth at the expense of everything else.)
Here are a few tips to help you stop striving for balance and live in a much more rewarding, intentional, and peaceful way.
Rely on your Vision when you lose your direction. An important Lifeonaire principal is creating and living by your Vision. Your Vision is a clear, written description of what your complete, ideal life looks like. It helps you to have a clearer direction and gives you a path to follow in life. Your written vision may map out a straight path, but there are usually curves, switchbacks, and detours along the way as you journey down this path. Your vision helps you to realize when you are getting too far off the path. It serves as a guide to let you know that some adjustments need to be made.
“If you haven’t done so already, take some time to think about your Vision for your life,” says Cook. “Write it down and revisit it often, especially when you feel overwhelmed with too many competing obligations. Referring back to it will help you ensure you are still on track.”
Finetune the art of counterbalance. No, balance isn’t possible, but recognizing when something is getting away from the ideal is. When you realize you’ve been neglecting your family because of work, obviously you need to devote more time to your family—you need to counterbalance. They need to feel valued and the only way you’re going to do this is by giving them your time.
Where is that time going to come from? Well, hobbies, work, and sleep may all be affected, so that you can give your family the time that they need. Next thing you know, work may be neglected, or friendships may suffer. Soon you will find that you need to now spend more time in other areas. Being able to self-correct is an important life skill.
Ponder this crucial question frequently: “I could do more, but should I?” When you are exhausted at the end of a long day, don’t be surprised when you feel tempted to complete just a few more tasks on your list. That’s when it’s time to really ask yourself whether you should keep grinding or give yourself a well-deserved break. That little voice is always going to be there telling you to do more, but you don’t always have to listen to it.
Don’t beat yourself up when you can’t get everything done in a day. Everyone struggles with having too much to do and not enough time to do it in. Accept that this is the norm, and that running out of time (or energy!) is not a personal failing. Remind yourself that what doesn’t get done today will get done later.
Stop fretting about tomorrow. Start looking forward to it. This simple shift can transform your life. When you look forward to tomorrow, with all of its challenges and surprises, dread disappears, and your obligations may not feel so harrowing.
Don’t overly rely on technology to help you create more time. “More and more these days, we seek out all kinds of technology to hopefully help us, and while technology seems to help us do more, in most ways it has actually failed at truly freeing up our time and is allowing us to do less,” says Cook. “Its fine to use technology as long as it really improves your life. But don’t go overboard. Being tethered to every app, device, and service is not going to simplify your life.”
Figure out what you can control. Focus on that. Again, everything is changing all the time. And most of it is out of your control. To reclaim a sense of peace and order, focus on things you can impact. A few places to start: Your own attitude and actions, what you read, think, and believe, what you and your family choose to intentionally focus on, etc.
When you simply cannot change things, go with the flow. Good and bad things in our life can throw off our perfectly laid plans. When this happens and there’s nothing you can do about it, try to relax and go with the flow. Embrace the situation and make the adjustments you can reasonably make but let go of any needless and unproductive worry or anxiety. We just can’t control everything.
“Always remember that the idea of balance is a lie that only causes more frustration,” concludes Cook. “No amount of planning or time blocking will work perfectly every time. And if you plan based on ‘the ideal’ one minute, it can literally be disrupted within moments. As long as you are doing your best, you’re doing the right thing.”
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About the Author: Steve Cook is the founder of Lifeonaire, an author, coach, real estate investor, speaker, father, and husband. He has a passion for teaching, giving, and his faith. After two failed restaurant ventures in 1998, Steve hit rock bottom and lost everything. With no money and nothing but a strong will to succeed, Steve turned to real estate investing, and his efforts were met with an uncommon success.
As a professional real estate investor, he has done over 550 deals and made millions of dollars, and it was that very success that led him to realize that having true abundance isn’t about a lot of money or possessions—it’s about having a wealth of life.
With this understanding, Steve founded Lifeonaire, and now his passion is sharing the message with others to help them live prosperous, abundant lives.
About the Book: Lifeonaire; An Uncommon Approach to Wealth, Success, and Prosperity (Lifeonaire Promotions, LLC, 2018, ISBN: 978-0-9863228-7-7, $14.99) is available from major online booksellers.
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