# Presentation: 943392

## The Healthy Librarian:  Cultivating Wellness in the Workplace

- Michelle Eberle
- Consumer Health Information Coordinator
- michelle.eberle@umassmed.edu

## Educational Objectives:

- Know why workplace wellness matters
- Learn the difference between workplace wellness and a health promoting work culture
- Gain valuable tools to enhance workplace wellness in the following areas:  nutrition, ergonomics, stress management, exercise, and fitness
- Leave feeling rejuvenated with creative ideas to make your library a health promoting workplace

**Notes:**
What a relaxing image.!  Don’t you just feel calmer looking at it?  

Do you recognize it?
It is the home page for the ALA workplace wellness initiative 2008.

A Workplace Wellness Task Force was formed to promote workplace wellness to librarians at ALA in Anaheim.  The program was part of President Loriene Roy’s platform .

The Task Force developed: 
Personal Health Passport (include in student handout)
Wellness Fair
Circle of Wellness Resource

This initiative was the inspiration for this class.

**Notes:**
Share Kelli Ham’s story.
Share Smith College story.
Take a look at Wellness Passport 2008 (Include in handout folder)
Wellness defined as the quality or state of being in good health, especially as an actively sought goal.

Different factors in wellness:

Social
Environmental
Emotional
Intellectual
Spiritual
Physical

All these affect Occupational

## Brainstorming Exercise

- Pair up.
- With your partner, brainstorm the following:
- List examples of successful workplace wellness initiatives.
- What can we do on an individual level to make a healthy work environment?

**Notes:**
Have pairs report back their ideas.

Provide pedometer to person who recommends walking club/break.

Hand out sheet at end of brainstorming activity with all the responses.

At the end of reviewing question #1:  share “Biggest Loser” article

At the end of reviewing question #2:  share a personal story of workplace wellness (how have your colleagues inspired you?)

**Nashoba Valley ****Chronicle**
**Friday, June 8, 2007**

## Question...

- Why does workplace wellness matter?

## Cost of unhealthy workplace

- Absenteeism
- Accidents
- Rising drug costs
- Turnover
- Reduced job commitment and satisfaction
- Higher healthcare and health related costs
- Lost productivity

**Notes:**

The International Labour Organization identifies that job stress costs the economy more than 200 billion every year in lowered productivity, absenteeism, compensation claims, health insurance and medical expenses.

Recent figures also identify that Americans work more hours than any other industrialized nation including Japan.

People actually never take a real vacation.  They constantly check email, voice mail, their blackberries.  For many, there is no real rest from work.

## A healthy workplace 

- Increased productivity
- Fewer sick/ personal days
- Higher job satisfaction and morale
- Better staff retention

## Tips for a healthy workplace

- Help connect people with what matters most to them
- Create a sense of purpose, competition and camaraderie
- Make sure your initiatives are highly visible
- Remember leaders need to be role models
- (Harvey 2005)

**Notes:**
Help your people by hosting health promotion activities in your workplace that have a sense of fun and entertainment as well as appealing to an individual’s sense of purpose by connecting good health with what is really important to them.

When people realize that being healthy is more about getting the most out of life and that the journey to better health can be enjoyable rather than all about hard work and sacrifice, they become willing participants in workplace wellness programs.

## What makes a health promoting workplace?

- Good coworker communication
- Work family balance
- Job security
- Good supervision
- Friendly helpful coworkers
- Trust
- (Lowe 2004)

**Notes:**
What is the difference between workplace wellness and a health promoting workplace?

The problem with workplace wellness initiatives...

They target individual behavior rather than the underlying working conditions that pose risks...

How can we move from workplace wellness to a health promoting workplace?
The factors:  good coworker communication, work family balance, job security, good supervision, friendly helpful coworkers, trust all all essential...

Risks of the unhealthy workplace...presenteeism – a term to describe the practice of employees coming to work but not devoting complete attention to their job.

## _x000b_A little humor goes a long way.

- “When someone's laughing, it's kind of contagious and it can spread a positive general benefit to the workplace.”
- -Robert J. Trulaske, in a Business Week article, “Humor in the Workplace” by Karen E. Klein, Nov 5, 2007

**Notes:**
Recent research shows that the ability to produce and create humor is  associated with creativity and intelligence – both highly valued qualities in the workplace.

Positive affect in the workplace increases productivity, ability to feel connected with coworkers, and ability to communicate well.

It helps with job retention.  A satisfied employee is less likely to quit when offered another job.

Here is a little fun:  Let’s see what Scott Adams has to say about workplace wellness.  (go to link for Dilbert Cartoon)

## Guiding Principles for Healthy Workplace	

- Supportive culture and values – trust based!
- Leadership
- Broad definition of health
- Participative team approach
- Customized plan
- Link to strategic goals
- Ongoing support
- Evaluation and communication
- (Lowe 2004)

**Notes:**
Notes:

Broad definition of health – more than the absence of illness, injury and disease.  Means leading a balanced life, developing one’s potential, making a meaningful contribution to the organization, and having a say in the workplace decisions

Team approach – direct employee involvement in all stages is critical – 
Share LSL/Elaine’s approach to teams

From article from Journal of Employee Assistance, “Creating Healthy, Productive Organizations.”

## Example of a small scale workplace wellness initiative

**Notes:**
Created in Spring of 2007
Mini workplace wellness initiative
Used the NN/LM staff as a model
Weekly email announcements to organization’s listserv
Series was very well received
Example of a low budget healthy workplace program
Easily adaptable for your library – avail online in word document for your use.

## Nutrition / health check tools

- _[Portion Distortion Calculator / NHLBI](http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/portion/)_

**Notes:**

Other ideas:

Bring in healthy snacks for work events;
Attend a weight watchers meeting during your lunch or after work;
Have your work sponsor a meeting

Show on MedlinePlus:
Health Check tools:
Portion distortion
Make your calories count – FDA
Food Labelling Health Check tool

## Library Ergonomics

- _Guidelines:_
- Head / neck basics
- Eye basics
- Monitor
- Hand / wrist basics
- Keyboard / mouse
- Chair
- Work surface
- Leg room / footrest
- Exercise/ breaks

- _[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/ergonomics/](http://www.lib.utexas.edu/ergonomics/)_

**Notes:**
General workstation ergonomics

Head / Neck basics – head centered with shoulders relaxed, monitor centered, on user’s head; monitor at proper distance and height
Eye basics – avoid eyestrain – blink frequently, 20/20/20 rule
Monitor – should be arm’s length away, centered on user.  Neither monitor nor user should face window.  A right angle to window is preferrable. User’s eyes should be in line with the top of the monitor or a point 2-3 inches below the top of the screen.  Use a document holder if you can.
Hand / wrist basics – keep straight and relaxed in a neutral position, share viola technique story, use a light key stroke; for mouse use whole arm not just wrist or elbow
Keyboard – The angle of arms is most important; work comfortably with elbows close to your sides; arm rests and wrist rests are not recommended
Chair – an adjustable chair is recommended; guidelines – should have 5 legs; should be adjustable
Work surface – keep clear of clutter; keep items you use often close at hand
Leg room – Knee space should allow the user to change the position of her legs frequently to minimize fatigue.

## UCLA Ergonomics

- Highlights:

- Neck stretch |  Overhead reach | Shoulder pinch | Chair rotation | Back stretch

- _Others:_  neck rolls, shoulder rolls, wrist circles, front bend
- Variation on the chair rotation:  cross leg for an added stretch

- _[http://ergonomics.ucla.edu/Ex_Office.html](http://ergonomics.ucla.edu/Ex_Office.html)_

**Notes:**
Do stretches together...

Make stretching a mid morning and mid afternoon task.

## Quick tip

- Take a mini-break..
- 20/20/20 rule
- Every 20 minutes for 20 seconds look at least 20 feet away.
- Give you eyes some much needed rest!

**Notes:**
Eye fatigue 

## tips...

- the reference interview

## The four step approach

- Step one:  STOP
- Step two:  BREATHE
- Step three:  REFLECT
- Step four:  CHOOSE
- Spatz, Michele.  Answering Consumer Health Questions.  New York:  Neal Schuman Publishers, Inc.  2008.

**Notes:**
STOP –  stop anxious thoughts or negative self talk

BREATHE – take a deep breath to release tension and calm yourself

Exercise – make a fist – What are you doing with your breath?  (Holding it)
When we get stressed we tense our muscles and hold our breath.

REFLECT – Ask yourself, what’s really going on here?  

CHOOSE-  Choose to respond rather than simply react.  
“Now that you are calm and have more clarity about the situation, communicate that you are willing to find common group to resolve the situation.”

This four step approach helps us to see the bigger picture and respond in a way that is both respectful and rational.  Helpful in many difficult patron interactions.

(Spatz, Michele.  Answering Consumer Health Questions, 2008)

## Stress in the workplace

- Dealing with escalating emotional patrons or coworkers...
- Present a calm appearance
- Speak softly
- Speak in a non-provocative manner
- Put space between yourself and the other
- Show respect
- Avoid intense eye contact and authoritarian stance
- Facilitate talking
- Listen carefully
- Avoid early interpretation
- Do not make promises you can not keep.
- Tips from _Library Services in Mental Health Settings_ (Johnson ME 1997)

## Relaxation Response

- _Process:_
- Two steps:
- Repetition of a word, sound, phrase, prayer or muscular activity
- Passive disregard of everyday thoughts that inevitably come to mind and the return to your repetition.
- For more information:
- _[http://mbmi.org](http://mbmi.org/)_

**Notes:**
According to the Mind Body  Medicine Institute at MGH:  the Relaxation Response has the following benefits for the body/mind connection.

The relaxation response is a physical state of deep rest that changes the physical and emotional responses to stress (e.g., decreases in heart rate, blood pressure, rate of breathing, and muscle tension).When eliciting the relaxation response:-Your metabolism decreases 
-Your heart beats slower and your muscles relax 
-Your breathing becomes slower 
-Your blood pressure decreases

- Relaxation Exercise

## Resilience

- What is it? | How can we cultivate it?
- How can it help us in our professional lives?
- American Psychological Association
- 	_[The road to resilience](http://books.google.com/books?id=TJDGTP9Sa5UC&dq=%22relaxation+response%22&pg=PP1&ots=dQ2UIBixXp&sig=Rj8M6Z6x4J0DWSCUO-10hXMIGhs&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result)_

**Notes:**
Interesting facts about stress management:

A broken heart can actually “break” your heart.
Cardiomyopathy is the result of a sudden stress.

Expressing gratitude is a proven way to increase happiness according to Martin Seligman, APA president, author of the book, “Authentic Happiness.”

## 10 ways to build resilience

- Make connections
- Avoid seeing crises as insurmountable problems
- Accept that change is a part of living
- Move towards your goals
- Take decisive action
- Look for opportunities for self discovery

- Nurture a positive view of yourself
- Keep things in perspective
- Maintain a hopeful outlook
- Take care of yourself
- Source:  APA, _The Road to Resilience_

**Notes:**
Take home message:

Stress is unavoidable:  We can’t control stress, but we can cope more effectively with it.

Take a few deep breaths
Exercise. – take a walk during the day.
Think positive.  Remember the good things in your life.
Count to ten.  This makes you stop and relax before you react to the stressful situation
Take a good stretch.  Stretching makes muscles relax and helps you feel less tense.

Source:  National Center for Farmworker Health

## Exercise

- _Quick tip:_
- Promise yourself at least 15 minutes a day!
- That’s the least you can do!
- 		*	Take mini-breaks/stretch!
- Recommended guidelines for exercise =
- 					At least 30- **60** minutes a day!

**Notes:**
Basic Yoga Poses for Mat or Chair / 
Joanne Gard Marshall

10,000 steps = 5 miles, if doing a pedometer program, try to increase your steps by 500 a day.

My Pyramid.gov:
To move toward a healthier weight and prevent weight gain, aim for about 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity on most days. If you have lost weight, you may need 60 to 90 minutes a day to maintain your weight loss. 

- Exercise health check tools....

**Notes:**
These are examples of Health Check Tools on MedlinePlus.gov.

## Know your benefits/ rights

- Human Resources Benefits
- Employee Assistance Programs
- American with Disabilities Act
- Family Medical Leave Act
- US Equal Opportunity Commission

**Notes:**
Familiarize yourself with your organizations benefits. / Know that reasonable accomodations are available to  persons with disabilities through the ADA Act of 1990 / Know that time off is available through the FMLA to recover from illness or care for a loved one.
Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.  An individual with a disability is a person who:
Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; Has a record of such an impairment; or Is regarded as having such an impairment. 
A qualified employee or applicant with a disability is an individual who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the job in question. Reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to:
Making existing facilities used by employees readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. Job restructuring, modifying work schedules, reassignment to a vacant position; Acquiring or modifying equipment or devices, adjusting or modifying examinations, training materials, or policies, and providing qualified readers or interpreters. An employer is required to make a reasonable accommodation to the known disability of a qualified applicant or employee if it would not impose an "undue hardship" on the operation of the employer's business. Undue hardship is defined as an action requiring significant difficulty or expense when considered in light of factors such as an employer's size, financial resources, and the nature and structure of its operation.

## Roles for librarians

- Develop a workplace wellness collection for your staff / institution
- Offer workplace wellness and health information programs
- Set the example for a well workplace with healthy habits, behaviors and communication

**Notes:**
Start a workplace wellness professional employees collection:

Example Lamar Soutter Library:
The Professional Employees Collection was suggested by the Staff Development Subcommittee of the Professional Employees Committee and purchased by the Lamar Soutter Library. Established in 2005, the collection consists of popular works in the areas of personnel management, leadership, organizational change and innovation, employee performance appraisal, the use of teams in the workplace, and other related topics. 

## Resources to explore

- http://medlineplus.gov

**Notes:**
Review basic information on MedlinePlus.gov.

Brought to you with your tax dollars from the National Library of Medicine which is part of the National Library of Medicine.  Most of the site is available in both Spanish and English, just click on the yellow Spanish/ English button on the upper right corner.
You do not need a password.  The resource is free.  
You will find over 700 different health topics.  
Drug information and herbal supplement information.
Medical Encyclopedia – great for student projects
News – good for staying up on the latest news via email announcements
Go Local – find local support resources in your area
Other Resources – link to Pubmed, etc.
Mulitple languages – over 40 languages are now represented!
Surgery Videos! – watch actual surgeries...

As well as links to other great NIH health sites including Clinical Trials.gov and NIH SeniorHealth.gov

**Notes:**
You may search many ways for health information on the health topics page.

You may search:
Alphabetically
By Body navigation maps
By Disorder / Diagnosis / Demographic Groups / Health and Wellness

Or of course you may use the search box too!

Specialized pages on the health topic page include:

Frequently Requested Topics
Interactive Health Tutorials
Easy to Read
Health Check Tools
For Low Vision Users

**Notes:**
Drug information is from the AHFS Consumer Medication Information, a product of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists.

For example, you can look up Warfarin and learn why the drug is prescribed, what are the  side effects,  and are there any dietary precautions or interactions.

The herbal information is from the Natural Standard Resource.

For example, you can look up Omega Fatty Acids, or Cranberry or Chamomile and find learn about uses based on scientific evidence.  What conditions are really helped by omega fatty acids?

**Notes:**
MedlinePlus Go Local  provides you with local  support resources including  care providers and support groups for many health conditions.

You can find Go Local by either clicking on the Go Local link on the home page of MedlinePlus.

Or go to a specific health topic and select the Go Local link from that page.  You can then select your state and find local resources.

**Notes:**
The health check tools are a great way to learn more about your health and assess your risk for various conditions.

**http://healthhotlines.nlm.nih.gov/**

**Notes:**
Health Hotlines, another NLM resources, is available both in print and online.  Print copies are available from your regional NNLM.

Health Hotlines provides you with quick access to toll free hotlines for associations providing support for health conditions.

- _[http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov](http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/)_

- _[http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov](http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/)_

**Notes:**
The Household Products Database of the National Library of Medicine is based on the Consumer Product Information Database ©2001-2008 by DeLima Associates. All rights reserved. This database links over 8,000 consumer brands to health effects from Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) provided by manufacturers and allows scientists and consumers to research products based on chemical ingredients. The database is designed to help answer the following typical questions: 
What are the chemical ingredients and their percentage in specific brands? 
Which products contain specific chemical ingredients? 
Who manufactures a specific brand? How do I contact this manufacturer? 
What are the acute and chronic effects of chemical ingredients in a specific brand? 
What other information is available about chemicals in the toxicology-related databases of the National Library of Medicine? 

Information in the Household Products Database (the database) is from a variety of publicly available sources including brand-specific labels and Material Safety Data Sheets when available from manufacturers and manufacturers' web sites. 
(From HPD About US Page)

## NIHSeniorHealth.gov

- Senior specific health topics
- Exercise stories
- Health Videos
- Trainer toolkit
- Senior friendly format
- Customize text size, contrast, speech

**Notes:**
NIHSeniorHealth makes aging-related health information easily accessible for family members and friends seeking reliable, easy to understand online health information. This site was developed by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Library of Medicine (NLM) both part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
NIHSeniorHealth features authoritative and up-to-date health information from Institutes and Centers at NIH. In addition, the American Geriatrics Society provides expert and independent review of some of the material found on this web site. Each health topic includes general background information, open-captioned videos, quizzes and frequently asked questions (FAQs). New topics are added to the site on a regular basis.
A research-based approach guided the development of NIHSeniorHealth. The design of the site grew out of NIA's research on the types of cognitive changes that are a part of the normal aging process. Changes in memory, text comprehension, information processing speed and vision can interfere with older adults' use of computers. Research indicates older adults can effectively use computers if information is provided in a senior-friendly manner. NIH extensively tested NIHSeniorHealth with adults age 60 to 88 to ensure that it is easy for them to see, understand and navigate.
The web site's senior-friendly features include large print, short, easy-to-read segments of information and simple navigation. A "talking" function reads the text aloud and special buttons to enlarge the text or turn on high contrast make text more readable. NIHSeniorHealth makes every effort to comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which aims to make federal electronic technology accessible for persons with disabilities.
(from NIH Senior Health About Us Page)

## Work / Life Balance

- _At work:_
- Set manageable goals each day.
- Be efficient with your time at work
- Ask for flexibility
- Take five
- Tune in
- Communicate effectively
- Give yourself a break

- _At home:_
- Turn off you PDA
- Divide and conquer
- Don’t over commit
- Get support
- Take advantage of the EAP
- Stay active
- Treat your body right
- Get help if you need it.

_**Source:**_
- Mental Health America:  Finding Your Balance:  At Work and Home

## Set a workplace wellness goal

- I will contribute to making my workplace a health promoting workplace by..
- _____________________________________________________________________
- _____________________________________________________________________

**Notes:**
Take out your handout.  Set a personal workplace goal for yourself.

This will not be shared.  It is for your own information.

## Reflection

- What was the most useful piece of information you learned today?
- _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

**Notes:**
I ask that one or two people share what information today was most helpful.  This will help to shape future presentations.

- “Exercise and application produce order in
- our affairs, health of body, cheerfulness of mind, and these make us precious to our friends.”
- Thomas Jefferson, from a letter to his daughter

**Notes:**
Some insightful quotes to wrap up...

- “Far and away the best prize that life offers is to work hard at work worth doing.”
- Theodore Roosevelt

- “There is no joy in living with out joy in work.”
- St Thomas Aquinas

- “People rarely succeed unless they are having fun at what they are doing.”
- Dale Carnegie

- Opportunity
- ISNOWHERE

**Notes:**
What do you see?

Opportunity is no where
Opportunity is now here.

Sometimes it’s all in how you see it!

- Opportunity
- IS_NOW_HERE

## Thank You!!!

- Michelle Eberle
- Consumer Health Information Coordinator
- National Network of Libraries of Medicine
- New England Region
- University of Massachusetts Medical School
- Michelle.eberle@umassmed.edu
- (508)856-2435 / (800) 338-7657