CommonHealth Weekly Wellnote: Simple Ways to Stay Healthy

October 18, 2023 / Get Well

Take a moment to review these healthy tips from our wellness partner, CommonHealth. This week, CommonHealth highlighted a favorite tiny tweak to reduce eyestrain — frequent blinking and the 20-20-20 rule. The 20-20-20 rule is a great habit to start —particularly if you stare at a screen all day. Give it a try (even if you only remember to do it once an hour). Your eyes will thank you.

Black CommonHealth masthead with rainbow swoop. CommonHealth Weekly Wellnote commonhealth dot virginia dot gov. Top center panel: Simple ways to stay healthy. Line drawing of two hands holding a heart with a plus symbol in the middle. Maintaining good health doesn't happen by accident. It requires work, smart lifestyle choices and the occasional checkup and test. A healthy diet is rich in fiber, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, unsaturated fats, and omega-3 fatty acides. These dietary components turn down inflammation, which can damage tissue, joints, artery walls and organs. Going easy on processed foods is another element of healthy eating. Sweets, foods made with highly refined grains and sugar-sweetened beverages can cause spikes in blood sugar that can lead to early hunger. High blood sugar is linked to the development of diabetes, obesity, heart disease and even dementia. Physical activity is also necessary for good health. It can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, breast and colon cancer, depression and falls. Physical activity improves sleep, endurance and even sex. Finally, establish a good relationship with a primary care physician. If something happens to your health, a physician you know--and who knows you--is in the best position to help. Black horizontal line with three columns beneath. Left column: sweet surrender event planning. Illustration of three two-liter bottles of soda (orange, cola, lemon-lime) and a glass filled with orange soda. Get in touch with your CommonHealth Agency coordinator or HR benefits administrator to get us on your event agenda. Center column: Want a mid-week pick-me-up? Sign up for Wellness Wednesday message. They are brief, positive, fun ways to gear up for the last half of the week. Tips, tricks, puzzles and more! Register today to receive an uplifting email message every wednesday. Orange elliptical button that says Register Now. Right column: A little bit healthier this week. The 20 hyphen 20 hyphen 20 Rule: To reduce eyestrain, take regular breaks using the 20 hyphen 20 hyphen 20 rule. Every 20 minutes, shift your eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Black band with white type: "Get in touch with us wellness at dhrm dot virginia dot gov

For questions regarding this week’s communication or the CommonHealth program, please reach out to your respective campus coordinator below: 

Submitted by:
Dahlia Henry-Tett, Chief Wellness Officer (CWO), employeewellbeing@nvcc.edu