Northern Reflections on Health

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Unimpressed by the press

February 20, 2017 By Wendy Margolese 11 Comments

unimpressed by the mediaThe 24-hour news cycle makes it tough to get away from the multi-media frenzy that feeds non-stop it seems, on political pundits’ opinions or the latest global health hazard. And confusion can abound now between what is true and not – adding new lexicon such as “alternative facts”!

Add to that turmoil our current cloudy and cold days; and, mental health experts warn that all this can have significant effects on our mental and physical well-being.

While I’ve read helpful tips from mental health advocates that include taking breaks from the barrage of news to look for good headlines, I’ve found it important to reach out and help others who may feel vulnerable in the midst of this tumult.

Christian reformer Mary Baker Eddy recognized how the media of the day could influence our health. Continue Reading

Is your media diet helping your health?

August 27, 2014 By Wendy Margolese 4 Comments

What is a healthy media diet?  ©GlowImages
What is a healthy media diet? ©GlowImages

If you are like me, you may be considering what you are digesting in your daily diet of news reports and headlines.

In contemporary reporting, we are bombarded with death, disaster, and the latest health hazard. Satellites have opened the airwaves to almost immediate visual record of what is happening throughout the world. After considering the news of the day, your ‘diet’ may be making you feel anxious or depressed.

No doubt there is an ethical dilemma here – telling the news in a compelling manner and in a competitive environment– but toning down the theatrics or sensationalism.

We all wish to keep informed of local and world events, but a more balanced report on the trials and progresses of mankind would be better for our health.

Since the 1800’s, yellow journalism has called for more enlightened media.Continue Reading

Grab a Hammock and Unplug This Summer

July 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment

©GlowImages (Model for illustrative purpose only)
©GlowImages (Model for illustrative purpose only)

As summer gets underway, so do vacations. But this year more people may be opting to do nothing and go no where. The “stay-cation” is catching on. And perhaps for good reason, given that 83% of Americans report feeling stressed at work.

Enjoy this guest post by fellow health journalist, Ingrid Peschke in Metro West Daily News….

The cost of 24/7 connectivity for America’s work force is evidenced by a marked increase in stress and anxiety levels from years past. Checking email, tweeting, Facebooking and answering work calls day or night, has some waking up to the power of being unplugged.

“A growing body of research shows that relaxing vacations can help people be less intense at home and more productive on the job,” writes Daniel B. Wood in “As Memorial Day Arrives, Americans Plan ‘Chill’ Vacations,” for The Christian Science Monitor (May 27, 2013). “All this is leading to a growing group of theorists arguing that the best way to be healthier, happier, and more productive is to spend more time doing less.” Wood reports that some companies are even tracking their employees vacation time, “reminding them that a week of idleness can be as important as what’s in their in-box.”

For adults, jobs are the leading cause of stress, according to Paul J. Rosch, MD, Chairman of the Board of The American Institute of Stress, who told The Atlantic that “work-related anxiety has multiplied in recent years — both for the unemployed and the employed.”

The ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America) says more than 75% of Americans who report experiencing work-related stress also claim that “it carries over to their personal life, particularly among men (83 percent vs. 72 percent for women).”

Since June is national men’s health month, it’s a good opportunity to take a look at finding solutions to stress and anxiety that can help men (and women, too) learn ways to unwind and balance.Continue Reading

Wendy Margolese

Wendy_Margolese

I was born and raised in a small Northern Ontario mining town. You can never take the warmth of the North out of a girl’s heart. So, I would like to take this opportunity to share heartfelt thoughts with you about a topic important to each of us – our health and well-being. Visit my About page to learn more.

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