LiveWell Vermont

 Make your New Years Resolutions SMART goals! What do you mean? Of course it's smart to make goals!  But how can we increase the chances of us sticking to them? We can use the acronym S.M.A.R.T to clarify our goals, keep tabs on our success, and increase our confidence to reach our dreams! S- specific M- measurable A- achievable R- relevant T- time bound Let's break down a few of the most popular resolutions and turn them into SMART goals. 1. This year, I want to stress less. Specific- What actions are you going to take to help yourself manage your stress?      M editation, walking, reading, bubble baths, yoga, or hiking Measurable- How many times are you going to do these de-stressing actions? How long will you spend each time?    E very day! For one hour! Achievable-   Did you choose a realistic number?     Actually, maybe every other day for 30 minutes to start out. I'll increase when I'm ready! Relevant- Why is choosing to stress le...

Understanding New Year’s resolutions and the power of a fresh start New Year’s resolutions are a popular way to mark the start of a new year. In fact, it is reported that 2 in 5 Americans made a New Year’s resolution for 2021. But have you ever stopped to wonder why? What is it about the new year that makes it easier to think about changing our habits? The power of a fresh start New Year’s resolutions are powerful because they give us the chance to have a fresh start. This is what Katy Milkman’s research suggests in her book, How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. Milkman writes: “If you want to change your behavior, you’re at a huge advantage if you begin with a blank slate—a fresh start—and no old habits working against you.” Each new year offers us the chance to start over because, as people, we tend to think about our lives in chapters. This means we may think of our life in terms of our “high school years,” our “college years” or as the y...

We are so excited to announce the 2022 Wellness Incentive Program will be on a BRAND NEW PLATFORM. You will need to create a new account to login! Stay tuned for more information.   

  Fitness !  This holiday season we are putting a spin on the traditional song. Start your holiday (or your Saturday) off with a little movement! Get the whole family to join, maybe even start a new family tradition. 

  Guest post by JoAnn Yanez, ND, MPH, CAE It sounds pretty self-explanatory and simple to think about self-care. Self-care in a nutshell is making sure we recharge our internal battery and don’t let ourselves run on empty. Core to self-care is self-awareness. This means being in tune with your body and emotions and staying ahead of issues that may arise. The more hectic life gets, the more important this is to practice. Some people choose to incorporate self-awareness as part of a meditation/prayer. They check in and scan their emotions and body for anything that is ‘stuck’ or out of synch. While doing this exercise, it is important to do so  without judgment . Simply notice the feelings, make note of them and why they may be there. For example, if you are feeling angry or anxious, or in pain – ask yourself why. Symptoms in your body are its way of communicating that something needs attention. During times of stress, it is even more important to take time to fill your cup. Ple...

How do you plan to maintain your wellness routine during the holiday season? Join LiveWell Vermont for an interactive lunchtime presentation on prioritizing your wellness as we navigate these upcoming food-centered holidays. We will be covering everything from navigating special diets to the right to say no to Brussels sprouts. 12/14 12:00 - 12:30 Microsoft Teams meeting Click here to join the meeting

One of our beloved Wellness Ambassadors is taking motivating others in stride!  Maryellen Copping of  AHS Central / Fiscal Office in Waterbury  (in the pumpkin shirt) has been using her running display to inspire conversations about running with her officemates. In October, she and coworker Masha (#366) ran the Leaf Peepers race together. GO MARYELLEN and thanks for sharing your display (and your running snacks) with us!! Maryellen says: “When I became an Ambassador for Live Well Vermont, I decided I wanted to do something a little different.  I didn’t want to just print off all the information sent in the monthly emails and display it on the board.  I wanted people to see what they could do if they really wanted to.  I started off with a display on running shoes, and brought in some of my older ones since I had used several different brands.  Then I did one on hydration, with all the different options available to runners, and one on fueling during l...

Carving out time for yourself every day is difficult for most people, but it is so important. By taking  time to attend to ourselves, we intentionally create love, safety, and belonging within ourselves. Self-care is necessary for continued resilience through difficult times.  Consider these four C’s of self-care: 1) Connect with yourself: Make sure you check in with yourself and take your own emotional temperature. You can write down accomplishments that mean the most to you. Write about easily accomplished successes, or difficult ones you fought through. Another way is to journal your life as it happens, as honestly as you can. This allows you to look back and see where your life has taken you and how you managed it. 2) Connect with others: This is something that is essential to everyone, even extreme introverts. Loneliness can affect nearly every aspect of your mental and physical health. It’s a good idea to form a social support network made up of friends, family, and pe...

Need a pick me up to get through another cold and snowy day?  Try a little giggle.  The elementary school students of Vermont were invited to name the snow plows of AOT, and the results are hilarious.  Here are some of our favorites: There's a whole Star Wars theme:  Wardsboro Elementary School  Wardsboro Storm Trooper Bishop John A. Marshall School Morristown Snowbegone Kenobi Rutland Intermediate School  Rutland Luke Snow Walker Orchard School South Burlington Obi-Wan KenSNOWbi Cambridge Elementary School  Jeffersonville Baby Snowda Mid Vermont Christian School Hartford Darth Blader Celebrity appearances:   Bakersfield Elementary and Middle School  Bakersfield Jennifer Snowpez Pacem School Montpelier Edgar Allen Snow Homeschooling Students Ripton William Scrape-speare Walden School Walden Snow McQueen  Warren Elementary School  Warren  Sweeping Beauty True heroes: Bethel Elementary School Bethel Plowtron Windham Elementa...