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The following resources have been prepared by the array of health professionals who make up SMG Health. Browse the latest articles, download resources, watch videos or listen to podcasts here.
Staying connected with our wellbeing allows us to make better-informed decisions about our health. Sometimes, small yet instrumental changes are needed to tweak our everyday habits which assist in long term behavior change.
Below you can find further information on a variety of general health and wellbeing topics.
Gym memberships can be expensive and when life gets in the way, or our motivation dips, it can be too easy to skip class. Enter the DIY, budget-friendly home gym that you can create with minimal fuss but plenty of rewards – here, physical health experts show us how to create a budget-friendly alternative to the gym in our own home.
As time has gone on, society’s understanding of mental health issues has improved significantly. Staying mentally healthy at home and at work is just as important as the food you eat or the exercise you do.
Below you can find further information on some of the most common mental health topics.
When someone close to you talks about suicide, it can be deeply troubling and difficult to know how to respond.
Good nutrition is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. The food and drinks we consume provide us with the necessary nutrients to provide our body with energy and maintain our wellbeing.
Below you can find further information on good nutrition from the array of health professionals who make up SMG Health.
Along with a healthy diet, exercise and lifestyle choices, sleep is a very important piece of the wellness puzzle. What we eat can have both positive and negative effects on our sleep quality and quantity.
Instilling healthy habits into children at a young age helps set them up for a bright, happy, healthy future.
Furthermore, children aged 5-12 years old are recommended to do 60 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity per day.
Below you can find further information on how to help with healthy eating habits and physical activity for children.
I give my husband a hard time about his smartphone use around our toddler. Don’t get me wrong; he’s a great dad – one of the best. But that shiny, electronic little sucker has a knack for hogging his attention at the expense.
Getting active throughout the day is a core component of a healthy lifestyle, whether that be time at the gym, or simply taking the stairs at the train station.
Furthermore, getting a good night of sleep can be an understated source of good performance for your day-to-day activities.
Below you can find further information on some of the most popular physical health topics.
Whether you travel for work, have a busy schedule with your family, or have frequent disruptions to your daily routine, life can feel frenzied.
Our sleep habits and hygiene pay a crucial role in our physical and mental wellbeing. Learning and improving our sleep cycles, and the understanding the importance of good sleep hygiene can assist in improving our mood, memory, judgement, and productivity.
Below you can find further information on a variety of sleep and fatigue management resources.
If you have trouble sleeping, you’re not alone. On an average night, 33 to 45 percent of the population have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Even people who usually sleep well may have trouble when they’re under extra stress or away from home.
Our lifestyles are busier than ever before and, as an ageing population, it has never been more important to invest in our physical and mental health so that we can enjoy a healthy, happy life. Checking in with how you’re fuelling your body, booking in for key physical health check ups, making time and space in your life for you, and moving your body in enjoyable ways are all great ways we can give ourselves the best chance at health.
Below you can find some helpful resources and guidance on how to support your mind and body through life’s challenges.
Our lifestyles are busier than ever before and, as an ageing population, it has never been more important to invest in our physical and mental health so that we can enjoy a healthy, happy life. Checking in with how you’re fuelling your body, booking in for key physical health check ups, making time and space in your life for you, and moving your body in enjoyable ways are all great ways we can give ourselves the best chance at good health.
For optimal health and performance throughout life, it’s critical for men to prioritise health and nutrition needs.
Below you can find further information on men's health and self-care.
Health remains one of few areas in life where men have the odds stacked against them, but what exactly are the biggest issues facing Men's Health in Australia?
You’ve probably heard that meditation is good for our health.
It can help us relax, de-stress, and improve concentration and sleep quality, to name a few benefits.
But if you’ve sat down to give it a go and felt everything but calm, you’re not alone.
Fortunately, this experience can change with just six simple steps.
Read on to learn how to get the most from your meditation practice …
1. Choose the right time and place
Find a quiet, comfortable place where you know you won’t be disturbed. You can sit on the floor or in a chair, or even lie down. When starting out, it can be helpful to meditate when you’re already relaxed, for example, after a bath. As you become more experienced, you may find the most benefit from meditating when stressed. Experiment to find the time and place which work best for you.
2. Start small
Meditation isn’t easy, particularly when you first start out, so it’s best to stick to short periods initially – say five or 10 minutes. Rather than trying to ‘empty the mind’, begin by simply sitting still, observing the thoughts that enter your mind and letting them pass without judgement. Learning to sit with our thoughts and be non-reactive is an important first step of meditation.
3. Focus on the breath
Thinking of ‘nothing’ is almost impossible and, in fact, not the end goal of meditation. Rather, meditating should help us to quiet the mind and connect with our inner selves. Concentrating on our inhalations and exhalations is a great way to do this, plus it’s often easier to centre your attention on the breath, than a blank mind.
4. Try a mantra
A mantra is a sound, phrase or word that you repeat silently in your mind when meditating. This, like the breath, can be a helpful tool to help focus your attention and still the mind. If you find yourself drifting from the mantra, simply return to it without reacting. It’s natural for the mind to wander, but with practice, this will happen less. A simple mantra to start with is the sound ‘ah-hum’. Think the sound ‘ah’ with an inhalation, and ‘hum’ with an exhalation.
5. Find the right fit
There are many different styles and varieties of meditation. You may prefer guided meditation (either recorded or in a class) or simply listening to soft music. You may focus on a mantra, a feeling (like contentment, for example), the breath or a colour. You may stay silent or chant or a mixture of both. Explore a few types until you find the best fit.
6. Practice makes perfect
Meditation is not a simple activity and can take time to learn. At the beginning, you may fidget, think every thought but the mantra, or only last two minutes. Don’t be hard on yourself, just try to persist with regular practice. Over time, your mind and body will become more accustomed to meditation and unwind faster.
For more guidance, consider trying a meditation class, available at yoga studios and some gyms, or downloading a free app, such as Smiling Mind or One Giant Mind.
