July 2022 The WELLesley Employee

A Monthly Safety and Wellness Newsletter brought to you by The Town of Wellesley Employee Safety  & Wellness Committee 

July Wellness Activity - Town Of Wellesley Healthy Cookbook!

^{Submitted by Jen Glover}

We want your tried and true healthy recipes! Please email your recipe(s) to jglover@wellesleyma.gov with the subject line “recipe”. Don’t want to type it up? Just take a picture or scan your recipe card! 

We will collect them all for an online cookbook that will be made available to all Town of Wellesley employees in our next newsletter. Please submit your recipe(s) no later than July 20.

What is a healthy recipe? Well, healthy eating means eating a variety of foods that give you the nutrients you need to maintain your health, feel good, and have energy. These nutrients include protein, carbohydrates, fat, water, vitamins, and minerals. Heavily processed foods often include unhealthy levels of added sugar, sodium and fat. These ingredients make the food we eat taste better, but too much of them leads to serious health issues like obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Eating fresh foods is more beneficial than eating processed foods. 

Wellesley Walkers June 2022  

^{Submitted by Jen Glover}

We had 71 participants walk a grand total of over 86,000 minutes in June!  Thank you to all who took part!  We also gave away almost $1,000 in prizes, thanks to our wellness budget through West Suburban Health Group.  

For the SCHOOL, the top three walkers are:

Dana Boucher                    8807

Chantal Bourel                  7357

Shelby Derissaint              2317

For the TOWN, the top three walkers are:

Stephanie Tunnera          4153

Sally Rose                            3620

Lisa Keen                             3121

WAY TO GO!!!

July Awareness Flyer 

Click here to learn about Foods That Fight Inflammation

Tufts Health Plan Living Well at Home Series

^{Submitted by Jen Glover}

Brand new classes and webinars are available for ALL employees (you do not need to be a member of Tufts Health Plan) Click HERE

This month, check out a health recipe series and bootcamp! (click on the  name of the class in blue to open up zoom)

Lightning Awareness – When Thunder Roars, Get Indoors!

^{Submitted by Michael Carmody}

           Lightning Safety Awareness Week was started by the National Weather Service in 2001 “in order to call attention to lightning being an underrated killer.” According to the NWS, fatalities in the U.S. from lightning strikes have dropped from 55 to less than 30 each year due mainly to greater awareness and precautions taken when outdoors near thunderstorms. In 2021, officials estimate that lighting struck about 300 people.

           In some open spaces, the risk of a lighting strike increases greatly; on golf courses for example. Lightning can be unpredictable. It doesn’t always strike the tallest object, and may strike as far as ten miles away from any rainfall, the so-called “bolt out of the blue.” Fences struck by lightning can conduct current for many miles along their length.

           Many lightning victims are caught outside during a storm because they didn’t act fast enough to get to a safe place, or they returned outside too soon after the storm passed.

           Here are some best practices to keep in mind to keep safe during thunderstorms from OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

• Check local radio broadcasts and NOAA weather radio before planning outdoor activities
• If you’re outside and hear thunder, get to a safe place immediately
• A safe place is an enclosed building with electrical wiring and plumbing. The wires and pipes allow lighting strike to go directly to ground, not to you first. Sheds, pavilions, and covered porches do not provide adequate protection.
• If a nearby building is not accessible, take shelter in a hard-topped metal car with the windows rolled up.
• Remain in the shelter for 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder.
• Do not use corded phones during a thunderstorm. Cordless and cell phones are safe to use.

Personal possession of all fireworks is illegal in Massachusetts, including sparklers! 

^{Submitted by Cay Meagher}

Did you know that sparklers burn at more than 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit; that’s hotter than melted glass! Massachusetts fire departments reported 944 fires and explosions for illegal fireworks between 2012 and 2021 causing severe injuries and millions of dollars in property damage. This Independence Day, enjoy your fireworks safely and leave it to the professionals. 

10 Characteristics of Mentally Healthy People   by  Carla Shuman, Ph.D.

^{Submitted by Michael Carmody}

10. You wake up every day and feel grateful for something.

When you are having a bad day or a bad week, you can look around you and observe other people being happy. It can be hard, in times of suffering, to acknowledge things you appreciate. But the ability to think of at least one thing for which you are grateful on a daily basis is a sign of resilience. It is a sign that you are driven to appreciate the good things or the good relationships that you have. Acknowledging these can improve your mental health if this is a regular habit.

9. You have something that you look forward to doing or experiencing.

Maybe you have an event coming up with friends, a vacation, or something as simple as a quiet night at home watching a favorite movie. Planning something that you can look forward to and finding some contentment and enjoyment in it is a sign that you are seeking positive experiences, which can decrease anxiety and feelings of depression.

8. You let go of anger, and you do not spend time holding grudges against others who have hurt you.

While we have all had tough relationships and conflicts in our lives at some point, holding onto them can prevent us from moving on with our lives. It can lead to internalized negative emotions, such as anger, sadness, and even loneliness when it prevents us from finding other friendships or relationships. If you can successfully let go of anger and stop thinking about those who have hurt you, you are more likely to have peace in your life and achieve good mental health.

7. You enjoy the simple things in life.

People who tend to maintain good mental health can have positive experiences doing simple things, like going for a walk in nature, laughing with friends and loved ones, or listening to good music. You can appreciate every experience even if it’s not exciting or elegant.

6. You keep trying when the going gets tough.

It’s difficult to stay motivated when you’re going through tough circumstances. You may start to run out of energy and lose hope. But people who are mentally healthy can generally keep going when the going gets tough, and sometimes that even makes them more persistent.

5. You help others around you.

The mentally healthiest and most resilient people are not self-focused. Even when your own circumstances are questionable, you continue to reach out to others and provide support as best you can. Depending on what’s going on in your life, you may not be able to do big things to help others, but you are always concerned for others and try to lend a hand.

4. You take care of yourself.

Mentally healthy people care about others, but not to the extent that you no longer maintain good self-care. You make sure your own needs are met because you know this allows you to be more available to help others and to be present in your relationships.

3. You have good boundaries in your relationships.

Knowing when to say no and knowing when to give themselves some space allows people who are mentally healthy to stay that way. It’s possible to be helpful without violating your own sense of space and privacy.

2. You are not envious of what others have.

You don’t spend time comparing yourself to others or to what others have. You focus on what you want and what is within your reach.

1. You can be happy for others, even when your own life is challenging.

The capacity to be happy for others, and to let them know you are happy for them, is an important aspect of mental health. It means that you can look beyond your own struggle or pain, and you are happy for others regardless of what is going on in your own life.

Some of these characteristics may seem hard to achieve. Some of us have grown up in families where negativity, conflict, and fear are a constant fixture of life. It’s not always easy to shake those cycles and start our own new habits. Learning to reframe our thinking and be present to enjoy what’s around us are great skills to acquire as we strive for the best mental health.

Blood Drive

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-booster-frequently-asked-questions

Upcoming Trainings 

Click to see MIIA Training Calendar        

CULTIVATING MINDFULNESS IN EVERYDAY LIFE July 12th, 2022 10:00am - 11:00am (online)

Did you know that you have access to recorded trainings on a variety of topics through MIIA? If you don't already have a login, you can register here using your Wellesley email: https://www.emiia.org/join

 MIIA's New E-learning Center provides quality training to meet annual requirements and tracks compliance for organization members at no cost to you. Train anytime, anywhere with our vast online library that includes more than 3,000 diverse courses and videos. 

Do you have an event or training that you would like to make available to all employees? Please contact Jen Glover jglover@wellesleyma.gov

Monthly Action Item

^{Submitted by Robin Tusino}

Coping with Boredom!

How many times have you said, “I’m bored! There is nothing to do!” Well, you’re in luck! July is National Anti-Boredom Month which was created in the 1980s by Alan Caruba. He wanted people to stop ‘moping’ around because of boredom and, instead, focus on other things in life. Boredom, as a subject, is quite interesting, which in and of itself is somewhat paradoxical because ‘boredom’ is the word used for not knowing what to do and feeling like the day is tedious. Over the centuries, scholars from the fields of science, literary prose, and philosophy have tried to understand boredom. The Greeks did not name the concept because it was such an ever-present thing that they deemed it as ‘natural’ as breathing. Romans, on the other hand, described the feeling as being of a lazy mind despite having several things to do. Boredom also became a weapon used to punish people. Prisoners were forced to spend days and nights without anything to do. This practice led to many being driven insane because of the endless hours of silence and nothingness. Boredom can also be life-threatening. Research studies show that people who get bored easily are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, aggression, and other psychological issues. Easily bored people are also more likely to develop and/or die of heart diseases. At the same time, researchers state that it is okay to feel bored as it is a normal part of the human experience. The only catch is that boredom should not happen frequently. To escape boredom, you can try your hand at different things like painting, reading, learning new skills, or simply going out for a walk for a change in scenery. I have compiled a list of activities to help you to overcome boredom instead of watching Netflix or scrolling through social media on your phone: 

1)    Play an instrument. If you don’t know how, it’s the perfect time to learn.

2)    Do a deep dive on a subject that interests you. 

3)    Fill out a crossword puzzle.

4)    Visit a museum or aquarium with friends or loved ones.

5)    Watch a rom-com marathon.

6)    Complete that long overdue project.

7)    Go to the beach.

8)    Go swimming.

9)    Call a friend.

10)    Play a video game.

11)    Paint a picture.

12)    Start scrapbooking.

13)    Start a new book.

14)    Change up your décor.

15)    Whip up a new recipe.

16)    Visit a nursing home.

17)    Put together a care package to make a friend or family member feel extra special.

18)    Visit with an elderly relative, friend or neighbor.

19)    Make a gratitude list.

20)    Perform a random act of kindness.

21)    Try a new exercise routine.

22)    Practice meditation.

23)    Clean out your closet.

24)    Spend quality time with loved ones.

During the lazy days of summer, if you find you are bored and looking for something to do, refer to the list above or create your own activity. I will guarantee you will not be bored for long!