Physical Wellness
When thinking about wellness, this is often the first element considered. It includes things like exercise, nutrition, ergonomics, and sleep. People with good physical wellness have healthy habits and routines, are aware of their health status, participate in preventative health care, and seek appropriate care for illness/injuries.
Physical Wellness Resources
Stretching Exercises for Neck and Pain When Working from Home
Working from home can be bad for your posture. The best way to avoid any back ache or neck pain is to do some stretching exercises a few times a day when working from home (and in the office as well). In addition to stretching, you should also stand up at least once an hour and take a short walk. Skip over the ads to find good stretching exercises.
10 Work-from-Home Friendly Exercises
It can be challenging to establish an exercise routine when working from home. This site demonstrates exercises that do not require any special equipment. Also includes low-impact modifications.
Work from Home Exercises
Sitting in front of the computer all day can cause parts of your body to really start to hate you. Author shares some quick and easy exercises you can do working from home without having to schedule time or go to a gym.
How to Stay Active When Working from Home
More people than ever are working from home in the wake of coronavirus. For those of us who are adjusting to this new normal, building new routines can be a challenge. From joining an online yoga class to holding a plank between meetings, these tips will help you fit movement and exercise into your day.
Move Your Way
Everyone needs physical activity to stay healthy. But sometimes it can be hard to find the time and motivation. The Move Your Way tools, videos, and fact sheets have tips (for adults and children) that make it easier to get a little more active. And small changes can add up to big health benefits!
5 Quick Exercises to Do at Work
9 Energy Boosting Snacks to Keep Your Powered Through the Day
Can’t Afford a Standing Desk? Build Your Own for $22
Eating Healthfully at the Library
Feeling Slumpy? Exerecises to help you de-slouch from The Art of Manliness
Looking for Mobile Health Apps?
Taking Care of Us – Presented by Jenn Carson
Recommended Reading
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Spark: the revolutionary new science of exercise and the brain by John J Ratey (2013) Ratey examines how our physical wellness affects our emotional and intellectual wellness by looking at the mind-body connection and how exercise changes our brains. |
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Promoting Individual and Community Health at the Library by Mary Grace Flaherty (2018) While it takes a patron-centered stance, this book step-by-step look at how to access accurate and useful information about physical health. |
External Physical Wellness Resources
Ergonomics from Mayo Clinic Infographic
Useful visual about the basics of office workspace ergonomics.
Ergonomics from the National Institutes of Health
This page provides info and tools related to all aspects of ergonomics including: exercises and stretches for workers, advice on ergonomic chairs and office configuration, and lists of vendors who sell ergonomic office equipment.
American Council on Exercise: Tools and Calculators
Free tools and calculators related generally to fitness and exercise, and more specifically to body mass index (BMI), target heart rate zone, blood pressure, body fat composition, daily caloric needs, etc.
President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition
Tips and stories on health, as well as information on presidential programs and initiatives for health across the country.
ChooseMyPlate.gov
Information on balanced eating, healthy eating on a budget, and age-specific tips, tools, videos, and games to help preschoolers and school-age kids learn wellness habits
What’s Cooking? (USDA Mixing Bowl)
Look for healthy recipes, create and print your own cookbook, watch how-to videos, and find other resources on nutrition.
SuperTracker
A free food and activity tracker from the US Department of Agriculture, as well as other tools related to goal setting, weight management, group challenges, etc.
Portion Distortion
2 sets of interactive slides from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute that show how portions have changed over time and how to better judge the health of food-on-the-go.