LiveWell Vermont

Do you tend to wake up each morning with no time to get ready feeling tired, agitated or stressed? Many of us go through this cycle of waking up with little energized or vigor for the day - it is time to break that cycle! Below are six great habits to wake up feeling great. Try one tomorrow to start building this habits into a routine. Hydrate as soon as you wake up. You body becomes incredibly dehydrated while you're sleeping. When you're dehydrated your metabolism slows down and your brain has less fuel to operate. To jumpstart your metabolism try to drink water. Start small with just trying to down a glass of H20. Have fun with it and add a lemon! Create a 15-Minute stretch routine. When we sleep, our muscles are inactive for long periods of time, blood flow decreases and less oxygen is in the muscle tissue. Stretching helps to increase flexibility and wake up your muscles. Find a stretch or yoga routine that works for you and can be done easily in your home. E...

You may know that sleep plays a vital role on your physical and mental health, but you may be wondering if you're truly sleeping well. On average, an adult needs between 7-9 hours of sleep to feel well rested, however this can vary depending on the individual. Some people may feel great with 6-7 hours of sleep each night where others need 8 or 9. Figure out what works best for you by tracking how much sleep you're getting and how you're feeling the following day. Some other important factors for healthy sleep include: 1.) You fall asleep within 15-20 minutes of lying down. 2.) You regularly sleep a total of 7-9 hours in a 24 hour period. 3.) While in bed your sleep is continuous and you aren't lying awake for extended stretches. 4,) You wake up feeling refreshed. 5.) You feel alert and able to be productive during your waking hours. 6.) You don't exhibit any out of the ordinary behaviors such as snoring, restlessness, or pauses in breathing. ...

Did you know that nighttime exposure to LED rays produced by tablets, computers, TV's, and smartphones can disrupt your body's natural rhythms? This can impact your sleep and health! Artificial light produced by these devices impact the quality of sleep you get by slowing the neurons that induce sleep, activating those that cause wakefulness, and suppressing the sleep hormone melatonin. Lack of sleep can contribute to health risks including obesity, type 2 diabetes, depression, and heart disease. Additionally, lack of sleep can cause concentration issues. Check out these tips below to learn how you can power down and unwind before bed, which can help improve your sleep. Unwind before Bed: At least 15-30 minutes before bed, make sure to power down technology. Electronic Free Zone: Make your bedroom a place free of electronics. Make a List or Write Down Your Thoughts: If you're overthinking before bed, make it a habit to write out those thoughts or to-do ...

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!

Do you want to sign up for a yoga class, but are unsure of what kind of yoga to try? There are so many different yoga classes out there that it can be confusing! Take a look at these common types of yoga to help you decide which one is best for you! Additionally, there are many more that aren't on this list - the best thing you can do is ask the yoga studio or teacher for more details!   1.) Ashtanga Yoga is a rigorous style of yoga that follows a specific sequence of poses. 2.) Bikram Yoga is held in heated rooms follows the same series of 26 poses. 3.) Hatha Yoga is a generic term and applied to classes that teach postures. Hatha yoga can be a great introduction if you're nervous about trying a class. 4.) Hot Yoga is very similar to Bikram Yoga in the sense that you will be practicing in a heated room however, Hot Yoga may deviate slightly from the Bikram sequence which is why they call themselves something different. 5.) Restorative Yoga is a great way to re...

Have you thought about adding yoga to your routine, but are unsure of how it may help your health? Check out these health benefits of adding yoga into your fitness routine.   1.) Emotional Health Boost. Yoga can help relieve stress and tension in addition to helping you practice mindfulness. By adding yoga to the beginning of your day, you can feel ready to tackle on any challenges. Adding yoga to the end of the day can help you relax and sleep better. 2.) Relieve Pain and Tension. Yoga helps you to stretch and relieve tension and sore muscles. By increasing your flexibility, yoga can also help with chronic pain. 3.) Sleep Better. Yoga can help you reduce stress and anxiety. Try a relaxing yoga class or poses before bed to calm your mind and body and get ready for sleep. 4.) Improves Your Flexibility and Strength. Strong muscles and flexibility can help with posture, muscle tightness and injuries, and help to build up strength to prevent falls and chronic pain. 5.) Dr...

Our 2017 incentive program " Live Balanced" is now up on the portal! Earn points as you complete each tier. For more information check our our incentive program page on the blog or the wellness website !

Some days you may wake up feeling unlike your usual self. Whether you feel stressed, anxious, sad, or just a little "off," here are some tips to help you feel good again! 1.) Work Out:  Go for a run, lift some weights or do some yoga. Exercise has been shown as one way to release endorphins, a chemical in the body that reduces pain and stress and can increase your sense of happiness. 2.) Connect with People You Love : Sometimes when you're not feeling right, human connection can spark happiness. Feeling sad? Play with your kids, get a hug from your significant other or go grab coffee with a friend. 3.) Go for a Walk: If you're not looking for a difficult workout, sometimes just a walk around the office or neighborhood can help. 4.) Drink More Water: Dehydration can lead to crankiness and even trigger anxiety. Make sure to stay hydrated throughout the day. Keep a water bottle with you. 5.) Gratitude Journal : Sometimes all it takes is writing down the t...

The Holidays season is a wonderful time of year, but it can also add some unneeded stress for many of us. Check out this month's wellness portal newsletter for some quick stress management tips to get the most out of this wonderful time of year!

We know that it's important to practice compassion toward others, but how often do we practice compassion toward ourselves? Self-care is an important part of feeling healthy and finding life-balance. Here are simple ways you can practice self-care every day.   1.) Eat healthy and mindfully Would you eat dinner with a loved one while on the computer? Treat yourself with the same respect and enjoy a nourishing meal free of distractions. 2.) Keep track of your accomplishments At the end of the day make a list (either mental or written out) of the productive things you've done that day. Did you nurture a relationship, go for a run, or tackle your work to-do list? Recognize these accomplishments no matter how small they may seem. The little things add up! 3.) Unplug Social media, email, and technology have made it easy to stay in constant contact with everyone, but it also can be draining. Take some time to unplug and enjoy the moment you're in free of distraction. ...