Work Life
ByDaveScott ByDaveScott
Mostmiddle-classgenerationsinthepast believedthatworkinghardwasthekeyto financialsuccess,whichwouldprovidehappiness. Incertaineras,liketheDirty'30safterthestock marketcrash,manywerejusthappytohaveajob! LifeandjobswereatstakeduringtheSecond WorldWar,andwomenbecameanimportant workforcecomponent.
The'50sshowedgrowththroughoutNorth AmericaandtranscendedwiththeBoomer generation.
Unionssoonemergedwiththeideatoprotectthe workersandstriveforbetterpayandbenefits.
Today,thejobforcecontinuestochange,andone ofthemainconcernsoftheworkforceisthefocus onaproperwork-lifebalance.
Iwanttosharethefollowinginformationfromthe GovernmentofCanadawithyousothatyouand Icanbetterunderstandthatbalance.
Work-LifeBalanceStatisticsforCanadians:
•Canadaranked24thforwork-lifebalanceina surveybytheOECD.
•Ottawahasthebestwork-lifebalanceamong Canadiancitiesandranks7thintheworld.
•88%ofCanadianssaidtheyenjoyedworking fromhomemoreoftenduringthepandemic.
•21%oftheCanadianworkforceworks full-timefromhome.
•40%ofpeopleover54saytheywouldpreferto continueworkingfromhomefull-time.
•56%wouldconsiderleavingtheirjobiftoldto returntotheofficefull-time.
•HalfoftheCanadianworkforcehasthought aboutfindinganewjobinthelastsixmonths.
•39%ofCanadianswouldbehappytotakea paycutinordertoworkfewerhours.
•72%ofpeopleworkingfromhomesaidthey hadagoodwork-lifebalance,comparedto 58%ofpeoplewhoworkoutsidethehome.
•60%ofpeopleworkingoutsidethehomesaid theyweresatisfiedwiththetimetheygetto spendwiththeirfamilycomparedto70%of peopleworkingfromhomefulltime.
Whatismeantbywork-lifebalance?
Thereareoftentwomainaspectsassociatedwith work-lifebalance–thefirstislackoftimeand schedulingconflicts,andtheotherisfeeling overwhelmed,overloadedorstressedbythe pressuresofmultipleroles.Balanceisnot necessarilyaboutsplittingtimeequally,butrather thattheindividualfeelsfulfilledandcontentwith bothaspectsoftheirlife.Work-lifeconflictoccurs whentheoveralldemandsofworkandpersonal rolesareincompatibleinsomerespect,making participationinonerolemoredifficultby participationintheotherrole.
Balance
HealthCanadahasidentifiedfourbroad categoriesassociatedwithwork-life balance:
•Roleoverload:Thisformofwork-life conflictoccurswhenthetotaldemands ontimeandenergyassociatedwiththe prescribedactivitiesofmultipleroles aretoogreattoperformtheroles adequatelyorcomfortably.
•Work-to-familyinterference:Thistype ofroleconflictoccurswhenwork demands,andresponsibilitiesmakeit moredifficulttofulfillfamily-role responsibilities(e.g.,longhoursinpaid workpreventattendanceatachild's sportingevent,preoccupationwiththe workrolepreventsanactiveenjoyment offamilylife,workstressesspillover intothehomeenvironmentand increaseconflictwiththefamily).
•Family-to-workinterference:Thistype ofroleconflictoccurswhenfamily demandsandresponsibilitiesmakeit moredifficulttofulfillwork-role responsibilities(e.g.,achild'sillness preventsattendanceatwork,conflictat homemakesconcentrationatwork difficult).
•Caregiverstrain:Caregiverstrainisa multi-dimensionalconstructdefinedin termsof"burdens"inthecaregivers' day-to-daylives,whichcanbe attributedtotheneedtoprovidecare orassistancetosomeoneelsewho needsit.
From:ReducingWork-LifeConflict:What Works?WhatDoesn't?,HealthCanada, (2008)
Balanceisalsooneoftheidentifiedpsychosocialrisk factorsthatcanimpactanindividual'smentalhealth.
Whyisitimportanttomaintainagoodwork-life balance?
Eachpersoncanbeaffecteddifferentlybasedonfactors suchasfrequencyanddurationofwork,thenatureof thejoborrole,rolesoutsideofwork,etc.
Whenanindividualmustspendmoretimeatwork,they mayexperienceanycombinationofthefollowing: Work-relatedmusculoskeletaldisorders,includingthe impactsofpsychosocialfactors;Occupationalinjuries; Fatigue;Burnout;Poormentalhealtheffectssuchas stress,depression,anxiety,etc.;Jobdissatisfaction; Absenteeism;Lowerqualityofwork.
Whenanindividualmustspendmoretimewithother roles,theymayexperienceanycombinationofthe following:
Missedworkorlower-qualityofwork;Job dissatisfaction;Lossofincome;Boredom.
Ihopethisgivesyouamorecompleteunderstandingof theimportanceofaproperwork-lifebalanceintoday's world.
Yourworkisessential,butyourlifeneedstocomefirst!
HemetElviswhenhewaselevenyearsold, inspiringhimtobecomeamusician.Oneofhisfirst guitarteacherswasDonFelder,wholaterbecame famouswiththeEagles.Hedroppedoutofhigh schooltojoinarockbandandtookoddjobsatthe UniversityofFlorida,whereheplantedalimetree, whichisstilltheretoday.
HisbandappearedeighttimesonSaturdayNight Live.OneofhisnicknamesisMuddyWilbury.He alsovoicedcharactersinbothTheSimpsonsand KingoftheHill.
Doyouknowwhowearetalkingabout?
Thismonth,RandydivesintothemusicofTom Petty!
WhatComesNaturaLeigh
Ingredients
11/2cupswholegrainoats
1/2cuppumpkinseedbutter
1/3cuprawhoney
1scoopveganvanillaprotein powder
1tspvanillaextract
1/4tspsalt
1/2cupdarkchocolatechips
Directions
Combineingredientsinafoodprocessorandblenduntilstickyandcombined(about1minute).Scoop byheapingteaspoonandusefingerstoshapeintoballs.Rollincocoapowder,hempseedsorcoconut ifdesired.Placeinfridgetofirmup.Makesapproximately20bites.Storeinfridgeupto2weeksor freeze4-6weeks.
“WhyIRun”
By:HeidyVanDyk
ThedateisMarch5,2014.Thetimeis9:00am. Iamsittinginadoctor’sofficeattheJuravinski CancerCentre,waitingfortheresultsofmy breastandlymphnodebiopsy.Iknowthatthe doctorIamabouttoseeisasurgicaloncologist, andIknowthatsheprimarilytreatsbreast cancerpatients.Ialsoknowfromtheradiologist thatapositivebiopsyisexpectedbasedonwhat wasseenonthemammogramandultrasound. Iknow,butIstillcan’tquitebelieveitwhenIhear forcertainthatIhavestagethreebreastcancer. Thetumourinmybreastandoneofthelymph nodesundermyarmwerepositiveforcancer. Itwasjusttwomonthsaftermy40thbirthday whenIfoundalumpinmyleftbreast.Mygut toldmethatitwasn’tgood.Afteranexamby myfamilyphysician,amammogram,ultrasound andbiopsy,IfoundmyselfenteringaworldI neverimaginedIwouldbein.Iamoneofthe1 in8womeninCanadawhowilldevelopbreast cancerinherlifetime.
Afteranumberoftestsandscanstomakesure thecancerhadn’tspreadfurther,Imetwitha medicaloncologistwhowouldmanagemy treatment,andthenIstartedthetreatmentthe followingweek.Mytreatmentplantook16 monthstotalandincluded:8roundsof chemotherapy,oneeveryotherweek;adouble mastectomyincludingremovalofthelymph nodesundermyleftarm;20roundsofdaily (Monday–Friday)radiation;andadditional medicaltreatmentstoadjustthehormonelevels inmybodytohelppreventarecurrence.Breast cancertreatmentrequiresstrength,braveryand determination.Italsorequiresalotofrest.
Fromthebeginning,ontheadviceofmysister, IfacedtreatmentwiththephilosophythatI neededtoslowdown,nottryto“muscle through”itandworkwithmybodytoheal.I knowmanywomenthinkoftreatmentasa
battle,andthatgivesthemtheenergytokeep going.Ithinkeveryoneneedstoapproach cancertreatmentinwhateverwayworksbestfor them.IchosetofocusonstayingascalmasI could,usingmeditationtomanagemyworry andfearandtogetmymindandbodyworking togetherwiththetreatmenttohealthecancer. Thetreatmentwastough,anditwasscary,but forme,itworked.Iamincrediblygratefulthat thisyearIcelebrated10yearsofbeingcancer free!
Wehaveeffectivetreatmentsforbreastcancer becauseofresearchandthebravewomenwho havegonebeforeusandparticipatedinresearch trials.Thislifesavingworkisfunded,inpart,by donationsthatareraisedeachyearatthe CanadianCancerSocietyCIBCRunfortheCure. Thisyear’sRunfortheCureisthe25th anniversaryoftheSimcoeRun.Todate,in Simcoe,wehaveraised$2.9milliondollars!This year’sgoalistoraise$100,000togettoatotal amountraisedof$3million.Withthe community’shelp,wecandoit!TheRunwillbe heldonSunday,October6,attheSimcoeLions ParkonDavisStreetinSimcoe.Registration startsat9:00am.Thereare1kmand5kmroutes available.Weencourageeveryonetoparticipate inwhateverwayyoucan–walkersandrunners arewelcome.Youcanalsogiveyoursupportby donating,andifyoudonotknowsomeonewho isparticipating,youarewelcometodonateto theSimcoeRunCommittee’steam,the Simcoe RunCommitteeKnock-Outs.AlloftheSimcoe RunfortheCureinformation, includinghowtosignupand donate,canbefoundat support.cancer.ca,oryoucan checkoutourFacebookpage, Simcoe–CanadianCancer SocietyCIBCRunfortheCure.
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“Iamacompetitor.Ihavethatfire.Butdeepdown,Itrulyenjoytheartofcompetingso muchmorethantheresult.”
~ApoloOhno,Olympicspeedskater
Ienteredthe10-dayraceattheDomein Milwaukeewithonespecificgoal.Iwantedto beattheexistingworldrecordformyagegroup -593km.Mygoaldidnotseemoverlyambitious tomeaslongasIdidn’tbecometoohampered byphysicalissuessuchasblisters,anupset digestivesystemor,mostproblematicallyforme, thedreadedlean.Thelean,anailmentthat particularlyaffectsoldermalesinmulti-day events,introducesapaininmybackthatmakes itdifficultformetocontinue.Uponarrival,I learnedofoneotherpossibleimpediment.For unexplainedreasons,thetrackwassticky.Atthe pre-racemeeting,wewerewarnedthatitmight beaproblemforshufflers,those,includingme, whodon’tlifttheirfeetupmuchwhenracing. Nonetheless,Iwasrelaxedandconfidentasthe eventbegan.Ieasilycompleted47milesonthe firstday,muchaheadofthe37perdaythatI wouldneedtoaveragefortherecord(369miles). Thesecondandthirddayswentwell,withalittle over42milesoneachofthem.Myonlyissuewas thestickytrack.Itcausedmetostumblea numberoftimes,particularlyifItriedtopickup mypace.AlthoughIhadn’tfallen,Iwas becomingmoreworriedaboutthatpossibility andwaslosingmyconfidenceasIgotmore fatigued.
Bill,althoughIbelievedIhadracedagainsthim twicebefore,finishingaheadofhimbothtimes. However,hehadanimpressiveresume.Ashe latertoldme,Billgraduatedinnuclear engineeringandworkedondesigningsystems fornuclearreactors.Whenhetiredofthat,he becametheownerofamotorcyclerepairshop, ashewashimselfamotorcycleracer.Heisan adventurer,havingtakenpartinultrarunning racesallovertheworld,withresultsincluding thirdplaceina1000milerinSouthAfrica.One time,heattemptedtocrosstheAtlanticsoloin his36-footvintagesailboatenroutetoanultra inEngland.Hewasrescuedbyatankerinthe middleoftheoceanwhenhewascaughtina severestorm.BillholdsthreeAmericanagegrouprecordsfor24hoursand48hours.His personalbestfor24hoursexceedsmineby55 km.
Aboutthistime,throughinformationpassedon tomebyanotherrunner,Ilearned thattherewasanotherfactor looming.BillHeldenbrand,a77 yearoldfromFlorida,wasalso seekingtherecord.Ihadnevermet
AttheendofDay3,Iwasabout8milesahead ofhim.Itwaseasytotrackhowrunnerswere doingbecausetherewasascreensetupnear thetimingmatthatrecordedeachlap.Ifyou passedoverthematclosetosomeone,their resultswouldstillbeonthescreenasitrolled throughtherecentrunners.Theinformation wasquitedetailed,includingnames,positionin thestandings,lastlaptime,overalldistancein milesandkilometres,andmore.Iwaswell awarethatBillwastrackingme,asIcouldsee himstoptostudythescreenoccasionallywhen Iwasnearby.Up-to-the-minuteresultscould alsobeaccessedthroughone’sphone.Hedid
nothaveanoutgoingpersonalityandwehad notexchangedaword.AsIhavealwaysbeen, bynature,averycompetitiveperson,Ibegan checkinghisprogress.IthoughtthatifIcould openagapofabout50laps,itmightbreakhis spirit,andhewouldbackofftryingtochaseme. Imanagedtoincreasemyleadabit,andbythe endofthefifthday,itwasupto41laps,about 11miles.
Butbythistime,twothingswerehappening.I wasnotbreakinghimbecausehewasstaying onthetrackmuchofthenightwhenIwas sleeping.Day5provedtobemylastgoodday becausemysevereleanbeganforcingmeto takemanyshortbreakstotrytoalleviatemy discomfort.Iwasstretching,usingmy massager,andlyingonmyanti-gravitychair.
AndBillwasgettingstronger.Hewasgenerally walkingabitfasterthanmeandhewasdoing somerunning.Iwasstumblingmoreasmy balancewasbeingimpactedbythelean.Hehad caughtandpassedmebytheendofDay8.I can’trememberexactlywhen,butprobably earlyintheninthday,Istartedtochatalittle withhim.Aspeopleoftenareonceyoubeginto talkwiththem,hewashappytoconverseaswe walkedintheouterlanes.
Iwaspleasedwithmyownreactiontothe situation.IfeltthatIhadgiventhebesteffortI could,andIwasencouraginghimandcheering forhimtogettherecord.Onthelastday,itwas obviousthathewasgoingtogetit.Hepushed hardtogetthemostdistancepossible,only sleepingfor2.5hoursattheendofDay9and stayingupforallofthelast24hoursdoing loops.
Atonepoint,hecameupbehindmeandtoldme hefeltalittleguiltyaboutgettingtherecord, hopingIdidn’tfeelbad.Isaid,“No,no,” emphaticallyandverysincerely.ItoldhimIwas happyforhim.Hewasthebettermanatthisrace. Heseemedtodeeplyappreciatemywordsand toldmehethoughthehadmadeanewfriend. Thatmademyrace!IhopeIgettoseeBillat anothereventdowntheroadandthatwecan helppusheachotheragaintobeourbestselves.
“Everyone thinksthey havethebest dog.Andnone ofthemare wrong.” ~Unknown
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SCANME
SCANME
Asaglobalsociety,somuchofwhatwe experiencecanbeattributedtoeitherdeficiency orexcess.Whetheritisfood(physical,fueling nutrition),water(hydration),sleep,exercise, mental,physical,emotional,orspiritual connection,environmental(heat,cold,noise,air quality,etc.),orsubstance(alcohol,drugs, medications,supplements),whenweexperience animbalance,whetherduetoexcessor deficiency,symptomsareourclues.
Bydefinition,a"symptom"issomethingaperson experiencesthatmayindicateanimbalanceor change,diseaseorcondition.Symptomscanonly bereportedbythepersonexperiencingthem. Reportingorjournalinganyrecurringsymptoms accuratelyandconsistentlycanbeinvaluable. Doneinrealtime(whetheronacalendar, notebook,oryourphone),itwillgiveyouan accurateperspective,butmoreimportantly,itwill giveyourhealthcareprovideraclearand accuratetoolandperhapssomeassociationsyou mayhaveobserved.Therearenomedicaltests forsymptoms,butbeingprecise andclear-headedallowsyouto communicateandadvocatefor yourselfeffectively.
Preoccupationwithsymptoms canmagnifywhenyouare worriedyoumightforgettotellyourphysician, pharmacist,orprimaryhealthcareprovider.Most ofusrecognizethatloneliness,isolation,stressor fear,lackofsleep,etc.,willmagnifyour symptoms,butwhenwearedistracted, comforted,orfocusedonsomethingpleasant,the unpleasantexperienceofsymptomsdecreases. Innatewisdomiswithinallofus,though.We shouldadvocateforourselvesratherthanmask theproblem.Itisimperativethatwedonotselfdiagnose,self-medicate,ordisguiseapotentially seriousissuewithover-the-counterproducts.Just becausemillionsofotherpeoplemayhavethat symptomortherearehundredsofproducts advertisedtosuppresstheissuedoesn'tmakeit normal.Ifthereisnoknowncauseortriggerand yoursymptomscontinuetoimpactyourlife,seek theappropriateprofessionalassistance.
AsaRegisteredHolisticNutritionist,myscopeof practicedoesnotinvolvediagnosingor prognosticatingdiseasesormedicalconditions.In myhomeofficepracticeandincollaborationwith Hauser'sDoverApothecary,Ihelpeducate, empowerandassistmyclientsintaking responsibilityfortheirownhealththrough evidence-basednutritionandlifestylechanges. Aroundtheglobe,manyofourchronicdiseases
willhavetheiroriginsinthebasic,everyday habitswerecreate.Whetheroutoffamiliarity, comfort,lackofknowledge,apathyorlackof recognition,symptomaticdisharmonymaybe easiertorectifythanyourealize.Yourhealthis nevertobetakenlightly–persistentsymptoms withnoknowncauseortriggeralwaysneedto beinvestigated.
Payattentiontofrequency,severity,situations, foods,environment,andmovement.Journal andrecordbecausethetotalityofassociations createsapictureorpatterntocompletethe puzzle.
Mostdisruptionstoourhealthwillhavean origininorbeaggravatedbynutritionor lifestylehabitsthatareeitherdeficientor excessive.Thatshouldn'tbeamystery.Thecells ofourbodieswilleitherflourishorflounderdue totheinformationandfueltheyareprovided with.
Certainthingsinfluenceourbodiessubtly,while othersuseamoresledgehammerapproach.
Prescriptionmedicationsareacommonpartof life.Manyofthesemedicationsareknownto causeadeficiencyofcertainnutrients.Always discusswithyourpharmacistwhetheryou shouldtakesupplementstocompensateforthis depletion.Manysideeffectsreportedcanoften bealleviatedorreducedsimplybymakingup fortheshortfallthroughaqualitysupplement orfood.Wewillgetintothistopicinfuture articles.
Manyindividualsalsocombinenaturalhealth productswithprescriptions(orevenmultiple naturalproductstogether).Manycautionsand caveatsexistwiththispractice.Naturaldoesnot guaranteesafety.Timing,dosage, combinations,andtheprovenqualityand efficacyoftheproductsyouareusingneedto beexplored.Anutritionalconsultationor supplementreviewisagreatwaytobecertain youaredoingbeneficialthingsforyourself.
Alwaysbesureyourpharmacistandprimaryhealth careproviderareawareofanysupplementsand over-the-counterproductsyouareusing.Many excellentproductscanhaveserious contraindicationsornegativeeffectswhen combinedoreventimedincorrectly.
Trackingsymptomsandbeingself-awareis proactive.Itcanshedlightoncorrelationsorclues wemightotherwiseneglecttoshare.Itcancreate aclearpictureratherthanobsessing,misjudging, forgetting,andover-orunder-reporting.Itcanbe alogical,analyticaltooltomoreaccuratelyportray whatyouareobservingandexperiencing.Noone knowsyourbody,itsrhythms,patternsand nuances,quitelikeyoudo.Frequencyof symptoms,disruptionswithoutknowncause,and changesinseverity,alongwithmanyotherforms ofself-observation,areallpotentiallyvitaland valuableclues.Yourhealthcareteamcanassistyou moreeffectivelywhentheinformationprovidedis reportedwithconcisedetailsanddepictsamore accuratetimeline.Stress,pain,fear,andmany othervariablescancloudourperceptionsandlead toforgetting,misjudging,ordismissingcertain cluesaboutourhealth.Feelingnervous,anxious, orafraidmeanssymptomscouldbemissedor over-orunder-reported.Accuracyandclarity allowforbetterunderstanding.Establishabridge andshareinformationwithyourentirehealthcare team.Advocateforyourselfbyoptimizing nutritionandlifestylechoicesandsteppinginto betterhealth.
PhotoByCindyPichette
M���������P���
I’mherewithRachelHeart,talkingaboutthe SummerConcertSeriesinPortDover!
Howlonghaveyoubeenorganisingfreemusic inthepark?
10yearsatPowellParkwiththePortDover BoardofTrade.
Howdoyoufindthelocalartists?
Byattendinglotsofmusicfestivals,andpeople sendmelocalartistsonFacebook.
Doyouhaveanyvolunteeropportunities?
Forvolunteeropportunities,contactthePort DoverBoardofTrade.
Duringtheoff-season,doyouhaveaccesstoan indoorvenue?
Notreally,butthePortDoverLegionandthe LionsCommunityCentrehavebeengreat.
Whowouldalocalartistcontactiftheywanted toparticipateintheevents?
RachelHeartonFacebookorthePortDover BoardofTrade.
Arethereanyfood/drinkvendorsavailable duringtheevents?
TheMulestaysopenacrossthestreetfrom PowellPark.
Wouldyouhaveanyadviceforsomeonewho wantstostartholdingtheirowneventsor someonewhomaywanttobecomeanartist?
Havetheheartandpassionformusic,art,and yourcommunity.
Pluscreateasafeenvironmentformusicians andcommunitymembers.
