Life - Well Balanced Challenge

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Feeling a little unbalanced? Participate in our summer challenge which will focus on overall life balance. Each of the 4 weeks will have a different focus to help you find or maintain a great life balance! Sign up today in the portal!



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How to Build a Low Cost Home Gym

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So many of us wish we could get more use out of our gym memberships, but with hectic lives and unpredictable schedules, it's not always so easy. If you find it too hard to get out of your house every day for a workout, why not bring the gym to you? Creating a gym in your home can save time and money -- there's no need to own the same heavy, expensive equipment found at a standard gym. You may be surprised at how easy it is to tailor a home gym to fit you personal needs. All you need are a few tangible pieces and a motivational vibe! Below are five necessities to start building your home gym. Atmosphere: Think about what you like most about the gym and figure out how to bring some of that atmosphere to your own space. If natural light is a must have for you, find a space upstairs with great windows to create the look you want. If you like to watch TV while you sweat, set up your gym in a room that has screen access. Need a little visual motivation? Try something simple like...
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Developing a Workout Routine

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Developing a routine when working out is important for achieving fitness goals and protecting your body from injury. Below are some tips and tools on developing the perfect workout routine. Use these tips to customize a workout routine that works for you! Tip 1: Consistency Building a strong fitness routine does not happen overnight. You must develop a process and work at it regularly. Decide how many days you are going to work out each week and commit to fitting it into your schedule. Tip 2: Recover Your muscles need time to recover to completely benefit from your physical efforts. When creating your routine, make sure there are days for rest! You do not have to remain completely inactive on recovery days. Long walks, light yoga and casual swimming are all things that get your body moving while still allowing time for your muscles to recoup. Tip 3: Variety Consistency is important when you are thinking about duration and frequency of exercise. Variety is import...
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Let's Keep Nutrition Simple

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March is National Nutrition Month - a time to reflect on how the food we eat can support our energy, mood, focus, and overall wellbeing. Addressing our nutrition can become complicated or overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Research shows that small, sustainable changes are more effective than dramatic overhauls. When change feels manageable, we're more likely to maintain it. Instead of trying to do everything differently, think about some small shifts you can make in your daily life to support your wellness goals. Here are some ideas to get inspired: 1. Add, don't subtract. Rather than focusing on things to cut out, try adding what you may be lacking, whether that's fruits, vegetables, whole grains, or something else. This could look like adding fresh fruit to your morning yogurt or oatmeal, packing some salad at lunch, or stirring frozen vegetables into pasta, soup, or side dishes. 2. Pair fiber with protein. Combining these nutrients can help support steady en...
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Get The Best Nutrient Bang for Your Buck!

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Nonphysical Benefits to Exercise

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Health & Wellness Resources!

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It was suggested by a VT Wellness Blog reader that we provide a resource list of websites where State employees can access healthy recipes. Below is a compilation of not only websites where you can obtain healthy recipes, but also resources for information about health & nutrition, exercise, mindful eating, stress management and more. Enjoy! Healthy Recipe Resources: Eating Well Magazine  - A content-rich website including free healthy recipes contributed by local Vermont Dietitians and e-mail newsletters. Food Fit  - Four proprietary, interactive tools to assess your current health habits; a delicious database of 2,500 healthy, customizable recipes with in-depth nutritional analysis; hundreds of suggestions for celebrating the foods of the season with a guide to seasonal foods and "Season's Picks"; and a fitness section to help you get motivated, keep up on fitness trends and get information to help you create your...
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