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The University of British Columbia
- a place of mind
- The University of British Columbia
- UBC Human Resources
With February being Heart Health Month, and Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I’ve been thinking about the health of the human heart – in both a literal and metaphorical sense.
People often think to take care of their heart by exercising, but the emotional decisions we make with our “hearts” can be a greater burden on our physical health than we care to acknowledge.
Certainly exercise, eating nutritious foods and other such healthy habits help us to deal with stress. What we often ignore, however, is the fact that we might emotionally involve ourselves with people that negatively impact our habits and health.
We all have people in our lives who raise our blood pressure. Some of us choose to surround ourselves with people who do not bring joy or well-being into our lives, and these relationships put both physical and emotional stress upon our hearts.
With so many positive people in this huge world, we have the option to choose to spend more time with those that bring us comfort, support and even love. It is up to us to stop letting the negative influences bring our blood to a boil.
Whether you have a great support network or you are still working on developing it, I hope you spend some time on your heart health this month. Choosing to invest in your emotional or physical well-being in respect to your heart is an investment in ensuring to keep your blood moving well into your later years.
Have a very happy heart month.
All my best,
HSE Coordinator (Health Promotion Programs)
604-822-8762
Book a spot with the Travelling Health Fair and welcome a team of health consultants into your office for coaching, health assessments and health workshops.
Full-day or half-day bookings are available and they’re free to UBC faculty and staff.
Our team of health consultants will offer various services such as:
The Travelling Health Fair will be customized according to your department/unit’s needs, and will be available at all UBC Vancouver sites (including areas outside Point Grey Campus) on weekdays between 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, March 1 – 12.
Reserve a visit to your department/unit or building by contacting Suzanne Jolly at suzanne.jolly@ubc.ca or 604-822-8762. Health Fair timeslots will be claimed quickly, so book now for the health of yourself and your colleagues.
Whether your work requires you to sit at a desk or crawl through an air duct, stretching can help prevent repetitive strain injuries.
Just like in sport, it’s important to stretch before and after heavy work (e.g. lifting a heavy object, holding a static posture) to prevent injury.
Stretching beforehand warms up muscles and prepares them for work, making the job easier and prolonging the onset of fatigue.
Stretching after heavy work increases the blood flow to the involved muscles, delivering oxygen and nutrients to exhausted tissues and aiding in the recovery process.
Plus stretching when the body is already warmed up is the best way to improve flexibility.
Spend a lunch hour with colleagues picking up a new skill. These monthly free events are available to all UBC faculty and staff members. All events are held at UBC Point Grey unless otherwise indicated.
