Show that cabin fever who’s boss!

Chances are, you’re starting to get a little cabin fever. Bars and restaurants in many cities and states are closed, sports have been canceled, and governments from California to New York City are ordering residents to shelter in place. There are only so many programs you can binge watch or hours you can bear reading, and your news feed is full of frightening headlines. If you’ve got kids, the close quarters are probably making the household a little maddening.


Here’s a suggestion: For an antidote to isolation, get out into nature. You don’t have to go all that far. Take the dog for a walk. Sit in your backyard or garden. As long as you’re able to do so in a way that meets the recommendations for social distancing, figure out how to get outside however you can.


At a time like this, such places can reground us. They provide perspective: a reminder of different time scales, proof of resilience and recovery. That’s a balm we need now more than ever.  Nature can play a valuable role in this pandemic as the outdoors becomes one of the remaining places where we can connect with other people in a safe fashion—a space where we can enjoy the presence of others even as we maintain a safe distance. 


Only in the outdoors do we find a place to stay safely apart yet still be together.

Source:  sierraclub.org

30 Minute Boxing Workout

Today, we are excited to share a 30 minute intermediate level body-weight workout that provides an in-home cardio routine that can be completed in a small space.  

This workout is for individuals who want to complete a cardio session without the need for weights or a large area.  This is a low-impact, full-body boxing workout.  This video has music that will keep you moving as you perform basic boxing movements. 

CLICK HERE to begin your workout!

Please feel free to contact Chris, Y@Work Director at Watterson Towers with any questions, 502-272-5920.

Easy Two Ingredient Cloud Dough!

Kids are always wanting make something, right? Here is an easy kid craft activity you can do at home with just two ingredients.

Ingredients:

  • Hair conditioner. Any kind as long as it’s creamy and CHEAP.
  • Cornstarch
  • A bowl
  • Spatula
  • Gel food colors (optional)

Instructions:

Put equal parts hair conditioner and cornstarch in your bowl, and start mixing together. It will start to look like marshmallow fluff, it’s too runny.

Start adding more cornstarch in slowly and mixing as you go. You’ll end up with close to 2 part cornstarch to 1 part conditioner. But all depends on the brands. If it’s not coming together well with the spatula, start using your hands to squish it together. Add more conditioner if it’s feeling too dry or more cornstarch if it’s too wet. When you’re happy with the way the cloud dough feels roll up into a big ball.

If you want to add some color, just grab some gel food colors. Separate your cloud dough into balls for how many different colors you want, use your knuckle to make an indent in the ball. Add one drop of color to each ball. Then fold up the dough around the color drop, and start mixing it in until the color is fully incorporated.

And you’re all done!

Storage: You will want to store it in a plastic bag or airtight container and its lasts for at least a week.

Recipe: Last-Minute Pesto Bean Soup

You can bulk up this pesto soup recipe by adding shredded or canned chicken, sausage, or even spinach or kale (because greens are never a bad idea!). And you can add an avocado garnish to anything!

Last-Minute Pesto Bean Soup

Makes 9, 1 cup servings

Ingredients

  • 3 cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1/3 cup pesto
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, julienned
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • Handful of spinach
  • Optional: avocado to garnish

    Directions
  1. Place drained and rinsed beans and broth into a medium-sized saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 8–10 minutes or until thickened.
  2. Add Parmesan, pesto, sundried tomatoes and black pepper and stir to combine. Lastly, add spinach and simmer until spinach has wilted.
  3. Serve and enjoy.

Athlete 30 Full Body Workout

It’s the weekend! Let’s start this Saturday off with an energizing full body 30 minute workout. Athlete 30 uses four different phases of work. Starting with endurance, then agility, next power, and finishing with speed.

This workout will have you out of comfort zone and making your body work as one. Set a goal today to make this workout a personal best for you! There are regressions and progressions for every move.

No equipment required, but a mat, sweat towel, and water bottle might be convenient.

CLICK HERE to begin your workout!

Please feel free to reach out to Brittney, Y@Work Director Norton Hospital with any questions at 629-3760.

Spring Cleaning Tip for Cleaner, Happier Home

​

Springtime brings on spring cleaning. A task that most people dread. However if you have a plan and have extra hands to help, its not that bad. Here are some tips for making spring cleaning a success!

  1. Create a cleaning schedule
    • When you start cleaning each room, make sure you want to start top to bottom. Example: Dust/clean fans before you wipe/clean baseboards.
      • Don’t forget the ceiling fans and light fixtures
      • Windows inside and outside
  2. Cleaning supplies
    • Make sure you have all the supplies and tools needed for the tasks
  3. Supply Caddy
    • You want all your supplies in one spot, saving you multiple trips back and forth across your house.
  4. Turn up the music
    • Make cleaning fun, turn on your favorite tunes
  5. One room at a time
    • Thinking about cleaning the entire house in one day, might not be realistic and you will get burnt out. Set goals and feel accomplished.
  6. Make it a game
    • If you want your kids to help, making a game out if “cleaning” will get them engaged and willing to help. Who can clean the inside of the windows the fastest, or wipe the baseboards the fastest.
  7. Take a break
    • It’s important to take a break. Set goals for yourself and take a break before the next task.
  8. Hydrate and enjoy a snack
    • It’s very important that we stay hydrated and fueled while doing any activity. Keep your water handy and set those snack breaks in-between cleaning

Once you complete a big deep clean of your home, make a weekly schedule to go back over each area at least once a week. This will make it much easier when you decide to deep clean again. Remember you are not only doing something good for your health, but also for the overall health of your home.

10-Year-Old Seeks to Empower Other Kids During COVID-19 Pandemic

Like many kids who are stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, ten-year-old Sydney was beginning to feel hopeless. But, instead of letting the feeling overtake her, she and her mom took action. Sydney knew that she had information that would make a difference if she got it out to other kids her age. So, the pair set out to produce videos giving out valuable information.


From their living room they wrote, recorded, and animated Kids Coping with COVID-19 using Story Maker, an educational software that her mom, Melissa Dilling, uses in her classroom at Eisenhower Middle School in Everett, WA. After covering what kids can do for fun and how to arrange playdates, the series covered a unique way that school students can help the hospitals around them.


In the latest episode, Sydney empowers kids by suggesting that students e-mail their teachers or their schools to ask if there is any PPE (personal protective equipment) lying unused in science labs that the school can donate. Surplus PPE that a school might have in their science labs include gloves and goggles.


In Sydney’s words, “It never hurts to ask!”


They suggest using a website, donateppe.org, for donating the supplies.​ She hopes that when kids see her series on YouTube they feel like they can actually make a difference in their com​munity—and the world—by following safety guidelines and seeking to help where they can.
CLICK HERE for Sydney’s amazing video​

Sources: – GoodNewsNetwork.org- YouTube Channel: Habits of Mind Kids 

Gentle stretching workout to get you weekend-ready!

After a busy week at work, treat your body to some gentle stretching to release muscular tension and set the stage for relaxation.  Stephanie Fish with Norton Sports Health leads you through this yoga flow workout to softly soothe your tense muscles.  Take a cleansing breath as you ease into your weekend. 

Health talk: Canned Foods

As meal planning continues to be a stressful addition to all things COVID-19, we wanted to provide some helpful ideas for some of those canned foods you may have sitting around. Canned foods can be a healthy start to endless meals. They get a bad rap for not being as healthy as fresh or frozen; however, they can be a very healthy start to an easy, affordable, nourishing meal.

First, when purchasing canned fruit, vegetables and beans, look at the nutrition facts label and view the ingredients list. For canned fruit, the fruit should be packed in water or 100% fruit juice rather than a sugar-containing syrup. When purchasing canned vegetables or beans, look for low-sodium options. You can also rinse the vegetables and beans to remove additional sodium.　When purchasing soups, look for more broth based and “Reduced Sodium” if possible. You can also make your own soups at home by starting with a base such as reduced sodium beef, chicken or vegetable broth. If this is not an option in the stores, you can buy the regular canned beans and rinse them to remove additional sodium.　Now, what can we do with all these items?

  • Throw together great soups like this 7 Can Chicken Taco Soup or this 5 Ingredient Pesto Bean Soup.
  • Add canned black beans to ground meat tacos to increase volume and add fiber.
  • Serve canned vegetables as side dishes or add to casseroles.
  • Throw fruit cups into a picnic basket with cheese and crackers and head out on an afternoon picnic.
  • Mix together chicken or tuna salad for lunch or serve on warm toast for a hearty dinner.
  • Make black bean enchiladas with cheese and your favorite salsa.
  • Throw together a Canned Bean Chili with or without meat.
  • Add canned tomato products to anything and everything as they are a wonderfully healthy food. Add tomato sauce to ground beef dishes like tacos. Add diced tomatoes to soups or to top homemade pizzas. The options are endless.

Now, start working your way through that pantry!

Happy Eating!

The Prize Drawing has been EXTENDED!

N Good Health has extended the Finish Your Four challenge deadline to July 15, 2020.

There will be 30 winners!

Complete all four steps by July 15 to win one of these amazing prizes:

  1. Free health insurance winners for 2021(five winners)
  2. $910 in cash winners (10 winners)
  3. Pick a prize (15 winners):
  • Hot air balloon ride for two
  • Free lunch every payday
  • Monthly Green Bean delivery (up to $35 per month)
  • YMCA family membership
  • Bike to Beat Cancer Family Ride
  • Festival of Tree and Lights Family Tickets
  • Ticket on the Town
    • Enjoy seats at these sporting events:
      • Churchill Downs racing
      • Louisville Bats
      • Louisville City FC

*Some prizes are based on availability.

Questions? Contact N Good Health at (502) 629-2162 or submit an N Good Health Service Request.

If it is unreasonably difficult or inadvisable due to a medical condition for you to complete the 4 steps to earn wellness credits, you may complete a medical exclusion form in order to qualify for them. Call N Good Health at (502) 629-2162 for the form or answers to any questions.