Healthy Workplace Challenge

Full time workers spend half of their waking hours at work on 5 or more days of the week.  They will usually eat at least one meal and 2 snacks at work and as many of us are finding ourselves in more sedentary jobs, finding time to be physically active can be a challenge.

Simple changes at work can make all the difference to our overall health and well being.  The trick is for employees and employers to be part of the solution when it comes to healthy work places.  Healthy, active workers have more energy, improved job satisfaction and a better quality of life.  The workplace benefits from improved productivity, reduced staff sick leave, reduced staff turnover and better moral in the workplace.

Workplace Tips for Employees

Eat breakfast everyday.  If you don't have time at home in the morning then make sure you eat at work.  Good choices that are also quick are wholegrain toast, fruit bread, fresh fruit, low fat yoghurt and high fibre cereal with skim milk.

Keep healthy snacks at work. Good snacks include low fat yoghurt, fresh fruit or fruit cups, snack size tin of tuna and low fat crackers.

Choose low fat milk. Especially if you are drinking lattes or cappuccinos where the milk content is much higher.

Take time to move. Remember if you are in front of a computer all day to move around as much as you can.  Getting up to go and speak in person to a colleague instead of using email or the phone.  Standing up while on the phone and make sure you have a couple of stretch breaks throughout the day and if you have time try to squeeze in a quick walk around the block at lunch.

Promote healthy choices at work. Become a workplace health advocate by encouraging others to make healthy choices or providing a poster promoting good health tips in the staff lunch room or rest rooms.

Workplace tips for employers

Offer healthy food at meetings, functions and events.  If your workplace has a cafe or canteen provide some healthy options at competitive prices.  Identify healthy food choices in vending machines.

Make water the drink of choice by ensuring it is readily available throughout the day.

Promote healthy living through your communication channels, such as company newsletters and websites.

Promote cycling to work by providing bike racks.

Offer flexible work hours to allow for physical activity during the day.

Organise a special event to show you support healthy living like a walkathon or healthy BBQ challenge

Lessons From Steve Jobs

The recent passing of Steve Jobs got me wondering what the rest of us mere mortals could learn from such a visionary businessman and creative genius...18 October 2011 Jayne Tancred

Carmine Gallo's book The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs, distils Jobs' philosophy down to seven principles.

1. Do what you love: Think differently about your career

After a recent period of stress, I'm keen for the next phase of my business-life to be all about flow, fun and good vibes.

2. Put a dent in the universe: Think differently about your vision

Can a couple of humble small business owners from Sydney put a dent in the universe too?

3. Kick-start your brain: Think differently about how you think

I'm so passionate and excited about the new business that I've noticed a huge burst in creative energy and I'm now actively looking out for new ways to do things differently, just to see what unfolds.

4. Sell dreams, not products: Think differently about your customers

As a marketer and copy writer, I've long been familiar with the principle of selling in a way that solves a problem or relieves a pain.

5. Say 'No' to 1000 things: Think differently about design

Design applies to more than just the look and feel of a product or page. I'm applying this principle to our marketing plan to ensure we don't try to be all things to all people with our new products.

6. Create insanely great experiences: Think differently about your brand experience

How awesome would it be for someone to describe their experience of our bran as 'insanely great'? So far I've only got the tiniest inkling about how we're going to achieve this, but I love the idea, and am going to try to weave it into everything we do.

7. Master the message: Think differently about your story

The way we tell the stories of our products, and the way people respond to those stories is what sets one business apart from another. 

Have you been inspired by Jobs' legacy too or perhaps you're suffering from fawning fatigue? Please share your thoughts.

WITH SUMMER FAST APPROACHING YOUR HOUSEHOLD BILLS ARE SURE TO INCREASE! HAVE A LOOK AT THESE TIPS TO HELP YOU SAVE MONEY!

1. Switch off stand-by power - Save up to $80 per year. Entertainment systems are the worst offenders so switch appliances off at the power button or at the wall were practical.

2. Use energy efficient light bulbs - Save more than $60. They use about 80 per cent less energy and last up to fifteen times longer compared to standard incandescent bulbs.

3. Don't over heat or over cool rooms - Save over $80 per year. Only heat or cool the room you're using and close blinds and curtains to help keep the heat out in summer or in during winter.

4. Use the clothes line instead of a dryer - Save up to $60 per year. Apartment dwellers can now dry clothes on the balcony with strata approval.

5. Get rid of that second fridge - Save up to $250 per year. Fridges older than 15 years can use 2-3 times the electricity of an equivalent new model.

6. Shave two minutes off your shower - Save up to $100 per year. Hot water is the biggest energy user in the average home and two minutes less in the shower saves enough electricity to run a standard TV for 8 hours.

7. Install a triple star shower head - Save up to $140 a year on energy and water bills. Prices start at less than $20.

8. Buy high star rating appliances - You will save on running costs. Each extra star on a new air conditioner will reduce running costs by around 10 per cent per year.

9. Wash clothes in cold water - Save around $60 per year. The cost per cycle on a warm wash can be five times more than on a cold wash.

10. Don't run your pool pump for too long - Save up to $120 per year. Households with smart meters can save up to $374 a year, by running their pool pump outside the peak times.

*NOTE: These estimates are based on Energy Australia NSW regulated retail pricing.

ONLINE PURCHASING...ARE YOU REALLY SAVING MONEY? OR IS IT COSTING YOU MORE?

There are many things people purchase online. It may be cheaper to purchase online but there is probably a reason why it is cheaper. It may not meet all your needs and expectations and when it comes to the crunch you may not be covered. The money you may save buying a cheaper product online will not cover the greater loss you may encounter. 

A recent example was a Newcastle lady who bought travel insurance online and they said that her and her dependants are covered for travel. Her daughter got sick while on holidays and had to be flown back to Newcastle. She thought she would be covered through travel insurance but it cost her $42,000 to find out that her daughter was not classified as a dependent so she was not covered!

Another example is the recent floods in Queensland. People bought their house insurance online because it was cheaper but no-one told them it doesn't cover flood damage! So the cheaper policy did not save them money only cost them more.  

I was recently referred to a person to review their insurance policies and they advised my policies were more expensive than their existing policies. They thought they had death cover for each other but it was only accidental death. Imagine the distress and trauma caused if your loved one died and you thought you had life insurance but it only paid out accidental death. How would you tell your family?  

It's better to be sure and talk to a professional who can explain the fine print! If you would like a review of your own personal insurance policies to check you are covered for what you think you are, please give me a call, just for your own piece of mind!

Did you know that every day, 32 men learn that they have prostate cancer?

Movember, the official moustache season, kicks off this week. The initiative raises awareness around men's health issues with a focus on prostate cancer and depression.

With this in mind, these's no better time to talk to your financial planner about the importance of Critical Illness and Income Protection cover.

• FACT: One in 9 Australian men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime
• FACT: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Australian men and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men
• FACT: Simple testing by a GP can detect prostate cancer

As an insurance expert, i also play a role in raising awareness about health risks and their consequences. In addition to raising awareness, you can provide my clients with security, assurance and support by ensuring they are adequately covered.

Contact me now for a free appointment or a free quote. Or contact your financial planner to discuss further.

If you would like more information on Movember, head to http://au.movember.com

Mental Health Week - talking about the silent illness

Article courtesy of AXA insurance

Mental Illness can affect how a person feels, behaves and interacts with others.  The symptoms can be so wverwhelming that sufferers have great difficulty with daily tasks that others take for granted.  In more severe cases people with depressive disorders may not be able to get out of bed or care fro themselves properly.

During Mental Health Week, from October 9-15 2011, beyondblue will be helping to raise awareness of depression and anxiety and reduce the stigma associated with these conditions.

DID YOU KNOW.....

• Around 1 million Australian adults have depression and 2 million have anxiety disorders.
• 1 in 5 women and 1 in 8 men will experience depression in their lifetime
• Depression and anxiety are the most common mental disorders experienced by Australians, Depression alone is predicted to be one of the world's biggest health problems by 2020.
• Depression can be linked to family conflict, isolation or loneliness, unemployment, serious medical illness, and drug and alcohol abuse.

Depression is an illness, not a weakness - those struck down shouldn't be ashamed to seek help and they deserve to be free of financial worries while they are receiving treatment.

Income Insurance can help protect your lifestyle and support you through the financial stress that depression can cause.

Is your Christmas Card list growing out of control?

Do you dread spending hours organising your Christmas cards every year? Whether it is for your family and your friends or for clients and business colleagues, sending Christmas cards can be time consuming. Finding quality cards that are meet your expectations can be a  chore in itself, let alone the hours it takes to write them out, addressing envelopes and sticking on stamps.



The fact is you would love to be able to remember everyone, have the time to sit down and write your message of good tidings and well wishes to all but unless you are lucky enough to have a personal assistant with nothing else to do chances are you just won't send them.
Well there is a new way to send your cards out this year and not only is it cost effective (around $1.50 for a standard card which includes printing and postage) it is also time efficient.

In past years it has taken my office staff days to complete all our cards to our clients and business associates but last year we changed the way we do it and it took just 15 minutes. Yes that’s right we sent out over 400 cards and it only took 15 minutes to do it.

This new system for sending greeting cards is called SendOut Cards and for my business it has become and invaluable tool in our overall business procedures. Not only do I use it for our Christmas Cards we also use it for client birthdays, thank you cards even review reminders and invitations to special events. 

I still get to write my heartfelt message to each client, but without having physically do it.  You can even personalise it with your own family or staff photo.

It is so easy to use, there is an inbuilt client management system, much like and address book and you can import your contacts from Outlook or any other database system. To send a card you simply create a card, choosing a designed card or you can design one from scratch using your own photos. Write your message (you can even have your own handwriting set up as a font) and sign your card. Select your recipients and press send.

It is as convenient as email put with the personal touch of a real greeting card. This system has made a huge difference to my business. I often have several phone calls from clients every month thanking me for their beautiful cards. In fact for some clients it is the only card they get.

Never underestimate the power of a card with a special message.

Also with this system there is the opportunity to earn an extra income if you choose, otherwise you can just be a retail member and enjoy all the convenience and value of SendOut Cards.

If you are interested in finding out more about sendout Cards you can visit www.sendoutcards.com/wayne1 or call Wayne Lennan on 0412 494 243