Yearly Archives: 2019

Healthy Gifts for Co-Workers

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If you’ve noticed that most of your co-workers head to the gym on their lunch hour or spend their breaks meditating instead of gossiping with a cup of coffee around the water cooler, tailor their birthday and holiday gifts to suit their healthier lifestyles. They’ll be happy that you’ve noticed their efforts to shape up physically and mentally and will thank you for the encouragement.  

Hydration Stations

Offer a way for your co-worker to stay hydrated and enjoy her favorite smoothies and energy drinks at the office. Present her with a stainless steel tumbler or bottle that will keep her herbal teas warm for hours or her water cold for the entire day. You can also give her a personal blender to easily create single servings of fruit purees or protein shakes on her lunch break.

Decadent Snacks

If you notice a team member binging on unhealthy foods from time to time, present her with a selection of treats that she can enjoy in moderation. Offer candy gift baskets featuring individually-wrapped chocolates or hard candy, a tin filled with cookies created with whole grains or a box with packets of nuts or dried fruits that can satisfy her sweet tooth.

Photo by Erol Ahmed on Unsplash

Trusty Tote

When you’ve seen a fellow staff member juggling her workout clothing, sneakers and yoga mat on the way to her car one too many times, present her with a lightweight tote bag that she can use instead. Consider a model with plenty of small pockets for items like her wallet and keys and larger dividers to keep her shoes separated from her clean clothes, for instance.

When the people you work with have become obsessed with health and healing, offer gifts that support the wellness trend. Not only will they appreciate the sentiment, but will also be thankful for something that assists in their quest to feel renewed and energized.

Helping a Loved One Recover From Substance Abuse

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A lot of pain can come to a parent when they see their child struggling with some form of substance abuse. Little by little you watch it take over their life until there’s little left of the person you once new. But there are some things you can do to help that person re-emerge from the darkness and become whole again.

Provide a Safe Place

That safe place is rarely their own bedroom. Addicts often need to be removed completely from their current situation in order to recover. Recovery centers such as the sober house MD residents rely on for help are more effective for those needing to overcome addiction to alcohol or drugs. Trained staff at these centers know what to look for and how to help in ways that an overly sympathetic family member cannot.

Empower, Don’t Enable

Bargaining with someone struggling with a toxic lifestyle will not help – in fact, it frequently drives them further down the rabbit hole. When they leave a recovery center they may feel a bit lost and be unsure of how to transition. They may see little hope of gaining control over their life again. If you look the other way for even one instance of backsliding, you are enabling them to continue using. Empowering means helping them to see their own value and contributions, building confidence and self esteem.

Moving Forward

Ownership â€“ a person’s ability to make their own choices with a full awareness that the consequences will be due to their actions – is a big step to overcoming the problem. Helping them to develop talents and skills that will empower them to become responsible adults and to be able to say no to the substances that have run their lives before is critical.

When your loved one is struggling with a substance abuse problem, you cannot just look the other way. Get the help you need for them and please self to be able to move forward with a clean lifestyle and a new sense of purpose and accomplishment.

Finding the Right Place For Mom and Dad

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Your parents were there for you. Now, it’s your turn to take care of them. Sometimes that means making decisions you just weren’t expecting: like helping them move into a retirement community. Leaving a home for a new location means accepting a change in life, but it does not mean abandoning normalcy and independence. You’ll want to look for the right place, somewhere enjoyable, safe and comfy. Here are three things to consider about choosing the right residence.

Level of Care

As you walk through retirement homes in colorado, pay attention to the difference buildings. Do they offer various residencies? Sometimes, people choose to move in when they are still fully capable of fending for themselves. They have just reached a point where they want less hassle and an opportunity to live with others their age. In this case, residents abide within their own space, performing their daily activities. In another spot, you may see housing dedicated to additional medical attention. This transition occurs when adults can no longer cook, clean or tend to themselves. Finally, see if a memory center is available. Dementia requires particular medical and emotional needs. 

Social Interactions

Your parents probably still want to feel active. They may not be driving around town, but they still need friends and entertainment. Discuss with directors how they schedule programs and trips. Do buses drive people around town to run errands? Is there a regular schedule for crafts, dinners or music? Seek a place that keeps people busy and smiling.

Attention

One of the greatest fears is that loved ones could be left alone, feeling isolated. Ask the managers how often people check on residents. Is there a system in place to monitor mental health? Do volunteers or workers spend time getting to know others? Don’t hesitate to ask the other tenants about how they feel in the establishment.

Your parents might enjoy these golden years and get the help they need. Set aside time to look at various homes and choose one that provides a positive atmosphere and the medical attention they need.

Is Anodizing Safe for People and the Environment?

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Most of us use a wide variety of products that are anodized. From jewelry to refrigerators to coffee makers, anodized aluminum can be found in almost everything. But is the anodizing process safe to us and the environment? Let’s dig a little deeper and look at the facts. 

These carabiners have an anodized aluminium surface that has been dyed; they are made in many colors. wikipedia

What is Anodizing and is it Safe?

Anodizing occurs when a product is placed in an anodizing tank and the natural oxidation process is accelerated. Anodizing is a type of coating that is considered safe for both humans and the environment. It is a clean process that uses water-based chemicals and does not result in harmful by-products. Even the liquid products that remain after anodizing are recycled and reused. Employees that work in anodizing plants are not exposed to harmful chemicals. In fact, most plants are worker-friendly thanks to well-ventilated surroundings. With this in mind, plant workers only need to wear minimal safety equipment.

Why Anodize? 

So why do we even need to anodize something? Anodizing creates a non-toxic, heat resistant coating that strengthens surfaces and prevents corrosion. There are both aesthetic and functional benefits of anodizing. A metal that has been anodized has less risk for scratching and a better surface for adherence. Glues and paint primers adhere much better creating a better finished product. Metals that experience a lot of friction (think motors) can be protected by the anodizing process because it helps dissipate heat.  

Aesthetically speaking, anodizing can add a lot to the surface of a product. Colorization is a common step that creates a sealed surface in a wide variety of hues. Think about aluminum flashlights. You can buy them in bright pink, red, green or any color in the rainbow because of the anodized aluminum they are made from. 

Products that take a beating during use can greatly benefit from anodizing. Thankfully, the anodizing process is low-risk and safe for the environment.