Article Summary
Topic: ALCOHOL
Title: Alcohol: Are you drinking too much?
Sub-title: 39 per cent of men and 22 per cent
of women regularly drink more than the number of units recommended
for safe drinking. Are you one of them?
Content: It’s all too easy to underestimate
the amount of alcohol you’re drinking, especially at home
where quantities can err on the generous side. This article clearly
outlines safe drinking guidelines. It explains exactly what a
unit is, and why safe drinking guidelines differ for men and women.
It includes a useful ‘Unit Calculator’, so the reader
can work out exactly how many units they’re drinking, and
ends with ‘Easy ways to drink less’ – helpful
tips for reducing alcohol consumption.
Word Count: 653
Article Summary
Topic: ALCOHOL
Title: Drinking and driving: Are you over the
limit?
Sub-title: Why the only safe limit is zero
Content: Did you know that just one 250ml glass
of wine can put you over the legal drink-drive limit? Or that
two pints of strong lager can put you at twice the legal alcohol
level (which, according to Department for Transport figures, makes
you at least 50 times more likely to be involved in a fatal car
crash?)
This article outlines the facts employees need to know about drinking
and driving including; What's the limit for driving? How many
drinks will put me over the limit? and What happens if I'm convicted
of drink driving? The article dispels some common myths about
when it's safe to drive, suggests 'Alternatives to drinking and
driving', and ends with a table which reveals how many units of
alcohol are in popular drinks.
Word Count: 705
Article Summary
Topic: BREATHING
Title: The art of breathing
Sub-title: How proper breathing can transform
your health and vitality
Content: Most of us never give our breathing
a second thought, but did you know that your health and energy
are directly linked to the way you breathe? As children we breathed
naturally and deeply, using the full capacity of our lungs. As
a result we had an almost endless supply of energy and enthusiasm
for life. This article explains how to check if your breathing
is restricted using three easy tests, and includes two simple
breathing exercises to encourage us to return to the natural breathing
pattern of our childhood.
Word Count: 789
Article Summary
Topic: BREATHING
Title: Breathe your way to a calm day
Sub-title: One of the best stress management
techniques of all is simply to slow down your breathing
Content: Ever get the feeling you're hurtling
through life? Are you always on a mission to achieve something
or get somewhere (preferably as fast as possible)? More and more
of us are succumbing to an ever-present state of panic, which
has been aptly named 'hurry-up hysteria'. Hurry-up hysteria feels
like you're living life stuck on fast-forward, but luckily there's
an antidote. This article explains how to reduce feelings of anxiety
and panic by slowing down your breathing. It outlines two 'Breathing
exercises for calm' and suggests strategies for 'Slowing down
in daily life'.
Word Count: 756
Note: If you are planning to purchase both breathing
articles I recommend that you publish 'The art of breathing' first
as it outlines the basics of good breathing.
Article Summary
Topic: EYESTRAIN
Title: Is your computer giving you a headache?
Sub-title: Why nine out of ten computer users
need to read this article
Content: The average office worker spends three
and a half months a year in front of a computer or TV screen.
Whilst there's no evidence that this causes permanent damage to
the eyes, nine out of ten computer users suffer from 'screen fatigue'
or eyestrain, which can cause headaches, dizziness and blurred
vision. This article outlines the symptoms of eyestrain, recommends
'Five ways to reduce screen fatigue', and includes an exercise
to refresh tired computer-eyes.
Word Count: 572
Article Summary
Topic: HEADACHES
Title: How to turn your office into a headache-free
zone
Sub-title: Preventing tension headaches at work
Content: A headache is your body's way of telling
you that something is wrong - and more often than not, it's a
warning that your stress levels are too high. Headaches are a
major factor in 'presenteeism' (when we're at work but are feeling
too ill to be productive) and around 20-30% of us experience tension
headaches several times a month. This article explains what causes
a tension headache and lists common symptoms to look out for.
It outlines three 'Common tension-headache triggers', and suggests
simple relaxation exercises that can be performed at work.
Word Count: 1006
Article Summary
Topic: NAPPING
Title: Power napping for beginners
Sub-title: How to re-boot your brain with a power
nap
Content: In the UK, 63% of us report feeling
sleepy at work (which isn't surprising when you consider most
of us average 6-7 hours sleep a night, and 1 in 10 of us get by
on less than 5!). Tiredness affects our ability to concentrate,
make decisions, solve problems and handle stress. It dampens our
mood, zaps our energy and makes it harder to interact with colleagues.
However, scientists believe they have the answer. The body is
designed to have two sleeps a day - a main sleep at night and
a nap in the afternoon. This article looks at how napping 're-boots'
the mind, and includes a step-by-step guide to taking a refreshing
nap.
Word Count: 868
Article Summary
Topic: NATURE
Title: Treat yourself to some outdoor therapy
Sub-title: Outdoor therapy doesn't cost a penny,
and best of all, it works immediately
Content: Most of us find nature relaxing but
have you ever stopped to wonder why? Researchers believe we have
a biological need to connect with nature and warn that our nature-free
lifestyles are causing us mental and physical distress. Even a
scenic view can have a profound affect: office workers who sit
near a window overlooking a natural setting take fewer sick days
and report more enthusiasm for their work. This article summaries
some thought-provoking research and outlines '9 easy ways to reconnect
with nature' (each suggestion includes a website references so
the reader can explore further).
Word Count: 723
Article Summary
Topic: POSTURE
Title: Spinal Damage at 0mph
Sub-title: Reduce back pain and tension by changing
the way you sit at your desk
Content: 'Spinal damage at 0mph' sounds a bit
dramatic, but it's possible if you sit at your desk for eight
hours a day without thinking about your posture. The fact is,
sitting puts more pressure on the lower back than standing! This
article explains how slumping at your computer affects your body
and mind. It includes a chart showing 'Disc pressure in the lumbar
spine', lists '6 reasons to improve your posture', and includes
a detailed 'One minute to perfect posture' checklist (a step-by-step
guide to achieving optimal posture at your desk).
Word Count: 721
Article Summary
Topic: SLEEP
Title: Secrets of sleep (Part 1)
Sub-title: In the first of a two-part series
on sleep we ask, are you sleep-deprived?
Content: Fifty years ago we averaged 10 hours'
sleep a night. Now most of us get 6-8 hours, and 10% get less
than 5 hours. This is a worrying trend as according to the Better
Sleep Council (Canada), sleep is “the single most important
determinant" in predicting how long we'll live. 'Secrets of Sleep'
starts with four alarming sleep-statistics and answers common
sleep questions, including; How much sleep do I need? What time
should I go to bed? and How long should it take me to fall asleep?
This article also includes a questionnaire which enables the reader
to assess how much sleep debt they have accumulated.
Word Count: 721
Article Summary
Topic: SLEEP
Title: Secrets of sleep (Part 2)
Sub-title: In the second of our two-part series
on sleep we ask, what's the best way to get a good night's sleep?
Content: Despite the fact that we spend over
a third of our lives sleeping, we pay scant attention to the quality
of sleep we get. As sleep expert, Paul Martin, says; "according
to prevailing cultural attitudes, sleeping is one of the least
productive of all human activities - more worthwhile perhaps than
sitting around picking your nose, but not much". With almost a
quarter of us regularly experiencing disturbed sleep, perhaps
now's the time to promote sleep to more lofty heights. 'Secrets
of sleep Part 2' addresses common queries (such as Will having
a bath help me to sleep? and What should I do if I wake up in
the middle of the night?) and outlines '8 tips for a great night's
sleep'.
Word Count: 968
Article Summary
Topic: SLEEP
Title: Tired of being tired all the time (Part
1)
Sub-title: In the first of a two-part series
on stress we ask, have tiredness and stress become the norm for
you?
Content: Lack of energy...inability to concentrate...poor
memory...anxiety...insomnia...depression...
These are sure-fire signs that your body is not coping with the
strain of modern life. This article explains what happens to the
body when it is under stress. It reveals why the adrenal glands
are central to our ability to cope when under pressure, and explains
why an 'adrenaline lifestyle' can lead to burnout and exhaustion.
It ends with an outline of 'The three stages and symptoms of burnout',
so the reader can identify which stage they are in.
Word Count: 849
Article Summary
Topic: SLEEP
Title: Tired of being tired all the time (Part
2)
Sub-title: In the second of our two-part series
on stress we look at eight everyday habits that stress the adrenal
glands
Content: A little bit of stress every now and
then does us no harm. But chronic stress is a very different ball
game: it causes the adrenal glands to release a torrent of 'fight
or flight' hormones which blast through our systems with no let
up. To make matters worse, many 'harmless' habits (like skipping
breakfast) trigger a stress response in the body. This article
looks at eight everyday habits that reduce the body's ability
to cope with stress, and suggests alternative 'nourishing habits'
which will switch off the stress response and help the body recover
from adrenal burnout.
Word Count: 2093
Article Summary
Topic: WATER
Title: You're not ill, you're thirsty!
Sub-title: Why the most important 'nutrient'
in your body is water
Content: Are you a 'KISBID' when it comes to
drinking water? ('Know I Should But I Don't'). According to the
National Mineral Water Information Service, we are a nation of
KISBIDs: 49% of us know we should drink 8 glasses or more of water
a day but only 10% of us actually drink this amount! This article
outlines some surprising psychological and physical benefits of
drinking more water. It includes 'How to tell if you are dehydrated',
and lists 6 'Tips for optimum hydration'.
Word Count: 807
Article Summary
Topic: EXERCISE
Title: A foolproof method for enhancing your
mood
Sub-title: Why exercise is being hailed as the
new antidepressant
Content: When deadlines are looming at work and
your nerves are frazzled, exercise is the very last thing on your
mind. But in fact it can turn things around for you. Research
shows exercise is as effective as antidepressants in elevating
mood and lowering anxiety. This article outlines 'Three mood-enhancing
reasons to exercise'; gives a definitive answer to the question
How much exercise should I be doing? and includes a 'Getting Started'
guide to beginning your own exercise regime.
Word Count: 805
Article Summary
Topic: STRENGTH TRAINING
Title: Why you need to lift weight to lose weight
Sub-title: The secret to long-term weight loss
Content: You've tried every diet known to man.
You've bought every exercise video. You've even tried pounding
the treadmill three nights a week, but somehow you're still not
the body shape you hoped for. What is going on? What if I were
to tell there could be a vital ingredient missing from your regime?
If you're doing some aerobic exercise (running, cycling) you're
doing well - it keeps you fit and gives you a healthy heart and
lungs. But for a really toned body, lean legs and sculpted arms,
strength training is the key. This article outlines why strength
training is secret to long-term health, weight loss and self-esteem.
It outlines 'Five great reasons to start strength training' and
includes a guide to 'Getting started'.
Word Count: 800
Article Summary
Topic: BREAKFAST
Title: Are you sure you're too busy to eat breakfast?
Sub-title: If you skip breakfast, you're in for
some unpleasant side-effects
Content: Skip breakfast and you're likely to
feel light-headed, lethargic, irritable and mentally sluggish
a few hours later - hardly a great recipe for a happy and productive
working day! This article investigates the psychological and physical
dangers of skipping breakfast. It outlines 'Three healthy breakfast
rules' and ends with a list of inspiring 'Healthy breakfast suggestions',
designed to elevate mood, concentration and energy.
Word Count: 831
Article Summary
Topic: DIET
Title: How to eat
Sub-title: How you eat is as important as what
you eat
Content: How often do you sit down to EastEnders
with your supper on your lap and 5 minutes later find your plate
is empty, you've hardly tasted your food and you still feel hungry?
'How to Eat' explains why a nourishing diet is not just about
choosing the right foods to eat, it's also about how you eat them.
The article outlines six simple 'eating awareness' techniques
which encourage the reader to listen to their body, eat 'instinctively'
and so rediscover their ideal weight.
Word Count: 956
Article Summary
Topic: SNACKS
Title: Snacking at work - it's officially good
for you!
Sub-title: How snacking can revolutionise your
day
Content: Snacking has a bad reputation. It is
universally seen as A Very Bad Thing To Do - which is true of
course, if your snacks consist of little more than fizzy drinks,
crisps and chocolate. However, once you start eating the right
foods, at the right time, it's a whole new ball game. This article
explains how snacking can help regulate weight, mood, appetite
and energy. It outlines 'Four secrets to successful snacking'
and ends with a list of suggestions for 'Healthy snack ideas'.
Word Count: 821
Article Summary
Topic: CREATIVITY
Title: Effortless creativity
Sub-title: Easy ways to turbo-charge your creativity
Content: When it comes to creativity, there is
such a thing as trying too hard. Rather like racking your brain
to remember a name, the harder you try the more difficult it becomes.
A less stressful alternative is to view creativity as a way of
being rather than an isolated event in your life. By slotting
specific behaviours into your everyday routine you can effortlessly
increase your inventiveness. This article explains how to adapt
your daily schedule in order to 'Feed your creativity' and 'Make
space for creativity'.
Word Count: 805
Article Summary
Topic: CREATIVITY
Title: Effortless inspiration
Sub-title: How taking a break can multiply the
number of 'aha!' or 'eureka' moments you have
Content: Studies of some of the most creative
minds in the world, including Mozart, Einstein and Leonardo Da
Vinci, have revealed a simple four-step mental process which can
be used to heighten creativity and encourage flashes of insight
and inspiration. The process hinges on achieving an 'alpha state',
where the body is relaxed and the brain is focused but uncluttered.
This article outlines each step of the process ('Four steps to
effortless inspiration') and explains how to incorporate the steps
into everyday life ('Effortless inspiration in the office').
Word Count: 1655
Article Summary
Topic: MOOD
Title: Simple steps to a good mood (Part 1)
Sub-title: In the first of a two-part series
on everyday mood we ask, what's causing your bad mood - the state
of your mind or the state of your body?
Content: When we're in a bad mood we usually
blame it on a specific person or event in our lives ('this happened
and it put me in a bad mood'). But what most people don't realise
is that it's often our physiology, rather than psychology, that
dictates our everyday mood. 'Simple steps to a good mood' explains
how it's the amount of energy and tension in the body that affects
our perceptions and thought patterns, and ultimately, our mood.
The article outlines 'Four steps to calm energy' (simple strategies
for altering our physiology and encouraging daily good moods),
and explains why 'Now is not the time for life-changing decisions!'
Word Count: 859
Article Summary
Topic: MOOD
Title: Simple steps to a good mood (Part 2)
Sub-title: In Part 1 we looked at how our physiology
affects our everyday mood. In this article we ask, what's the
best thing to do when you're in a bad mood and suffering from
a serious dose of negative thinking?
Content: Over two decades ago, eminent psychologist
Robert E. Thayer set out to research bad moods. There was one
burning question he wanted to answer: When you're feeling low,
what's the best way to change how you're feeling? After interviewing
hundreds of people he identified six of the most effective strategies
for mood management. This article outlines each strategy in turn
and reveals which is the best mood-management strategy of all.
Word Count: 910
Article Summary
Topic: MOTIVATION
Title: How to motivate yourself to do anything!
Sub-title: The two things you need to know about
motivation
Content: Psychologists say that every single
thing we do is driven by a desire to either avoid pain or gain
pleasure (e.g. 'going to the gym' = pain, 'eating chocolate' =
pleasure). This simple principle has shaped our entire lives,
affecting everything - from our relationships and health, to our
careers and finances. The secret to phenomenal motivation lies
in being able manipulate these pain-pleasure associations so they
work for, rather than against us. This article reveals an exciting
two-step process which will enable the reader to programme their
brain for motivation and rid themselves of old, self-defeating
habits.
Word Count: 870
Article Summary
Topic: OPTIMISM
Title: The power of optimism
Sub-title: "The ancestor of every action is a
thought" (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Content: There is one factor, above all others,
that determines what you achieve in life. It's more important
than talent, knowledge and imagination. Studies of high achievers
reveal they each possess an inner resilience; a stubborn ability
to persevere despite setbacks. The secret to this inner resilience
lies in the optimistic way in which high achievers interpret setbacks
in their lives. This article outlines three pessimistic thinking
styles to watch out for, and includes a step-by-step guide to
'Creating an optimistic life'.
Word Count: 1070
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