Health Hub

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.

Articles

Resources

Videos and Podcasts

How to build a home gym on the cheap

December 2020

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.

Articles

Resources

Videos and Podcasts

When someone close to you talks about suicide

February 2021

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.

Articles

Resources

Videos and Podcasts

Nutrition and sleep

February 2021

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.

Articles

Resources

Sucked in by the screen – present but always distracted?

July 2018

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.

Articles

Resources

Videos and Podcasts

Fitness when life feels frenzied

February 2021

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.

Articles

Resources

Videos and Podcasts

Getting a good night’s sleep

February 2021

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.

Articles

Resources

Videos and Podcasts

Women's Health Week 2020

September 2020

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.

Articles

Resources

Videos and Podcasts

Men's health in Australia

October 2017

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?

Heroes don't always wear capes

September 2017

Dreamt of being a hero and saving a life? How about starting with your own or even a colleague?

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2018), cardiovascular disease or heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia, affecting one Australian every 12 minutes (1). This statistic may include you if paired with working long hours with little sleep; or even your colleague on the next desk regularly taking cigarette breaks.

Lack of sleep, smoking, physical inactivity, as well as unhealthy food choices contribute to higher disease risk. These behaviours are commonly identified in employees whose work is stressful and inactive (2) which means that heart health could be impacted with a healthier workplace.

Developing healthy lifestyle behaviours needs to be considered to prevent problems from occurring, in addition to managing existing cases of cardiovascular disease. Workplaces are an excellent environment to start healthy behaviour change, in an attempt to minimise disease when done correctly, usually in collaboration with industry experts. Positive change in the workplace works best when it stems from an executive level, encouraging healthy behaviour change amongst staff and essentially creating a downward ripple effect. The introduction of workplace interventions are cost-effective, as they may reduce absenteeism due to ill health. Absenteeism refers to an employee purposefully skipping work without a valid reason. In doing so, it negatively affects the organisations output, as well as its culture. So what are you waiting for? 

Fly Into Change!

To assist you in your endeavour, we have some tips to assist you:

  • Provide health checks or other screenings which staff are encouraged to access in an attempt to optimise job performance. For example, participation in cholesterol tests provides an indication of the early onset of heart disease with further medical examination referred if necessary.
  • Consider policies that encourage employees to limit access to work-related emails outside of work hours, in an effort to reduce stress and anxiety. This will potentially help improve levels of sleep and result in a productive workforce.
  • Introduce stretching or movement work breaks (2-3) per day initiated by team or line leaders/managers, ensuring that no-one works through without an occasional break. This will encourage employees to walk around or outside of the office for fresh air in an attempt to reduce fatigue.
  • Encourage employees weekly to bring a lunch that relates to a particular colour, vegetable or letter; the most creative healthy lunch gets a reward. Encouragement in participation of affordable cooking demonstrations provided by offsite companies can also inform employees that healthy eating isn’t associated with being difficult or boring.
  • EAP clients can participate in SMG Health ‘Ask the Expert’ where professional advice is available online, making it easily accessible without leaving your office and from the comfort of your own desk.

References:

  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2018. Causes of Death, Australia, 2017. [Online] Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@nsf/0/47E19CA15036B04BCA2577570014668B/Opendocument [Accessed 23 Nov. 2018]
  2.  Corbett, D., Fennell, C., Peroutky, K., Kingsley, J. and Glickman, E. (2018). The effects of a 12-week worksite physical activity intervention on anthropometric indices, blood pressure indices, and plasma biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk among university employees. BMC Research Notes, 11.

 

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