Women's Health Information Centre

It is important psychologically to end things well. One way to finish a part of your life is the following: 1. Write a list of all the acheivements in this part of your life. 2. Write a list of new goals in this area.

Rub your hands together for around 30 seconds. Close your eyes and cup 1 hand over each eye. Take some deep breaths and let the warmth of your hands relax your eyes.

Position is 15 hours per week (note: this is a paid position) For a job description and copy of mission statement email us through Facebook, Ph: (03) 379 6970, or view at www.womenshealthinfo.co.nz. Please send C.V. to WHIC, PO Box 326, Christchurch 8140 by 11th May 2009.

Eating 1 more soup (in winter) and 1 more salad (in summer) with lots of vegetables will boost your vegetable intake considerably.

Many of us find a messy house stressful. Try this tip. Say you are moving from the kitchen to your lounge, take 3 items from the kitchen that belong in your lounge with you. Once you are in the lounge put these items away!

The older we get the more important good balance becomes. Many older women who fall and break a hip end up in a rest home. The most common reason for falls is poor balance. Try this tip for improving your balance...

Monday - (start of display about the centre at Papanui Library- runs for 2 weeks) Tuesday - (start of display about the centre at Christchurch City Council central offices - runs for 2 weeks) Cindy (Centre Coordinator) will be attending a Certificate in...

Using less cleaning products means a healthier planet and a healthier us. Ever seen those balls of netting you are mean't to use in the bath? These balls are great for cleaning. Rub a small amount of cleaning product on the ball and clean with it...

Many of us spend the whole day being a slave to the telephone, email and to everyone who comes in the door. Try to put aside 1 hour per day where you don't have to be available to everybody. This tip has made a major difference to me. I highly recommend it!

Most of us have heard that exercise improves mood. Exercise improves mood by increasing the amount of endorphins (feel good chemicals in the brain). Did you know that other things increase endorphins too? Positive, nuturing experiences e.g...

Sustainability is a bit of a buzz word these days. Here is another way of looking at it. Think back over the past few months at your energy levels. Now try to imagine yourself 10 years in the future. Do you think you can sustain the energy you have now in 10 years time...

Set a health goal you want to acheive e.g. eat 3 vegetables a day. Each day you meet that goal put a set amount of money in a jar. At a certain interval e.g. every 2 months, use that money to buy yourself something you would like that is health related e.g. a new workout outfit.

A Naturopath once told me that stimulation of the brain by new experiences is an important way to improve brain function e.g. changing the route you use to walk to work or having lunch at a new location.

High quality sleep is vitally important to maintain positive mood. Try keeping a sleep diary recording how you slept each night and what you mood was the next day. You will most likely observe your mood will be better on nights you get a good amount of sleep...

Open a dictionary at a random page and reflect on the phrase or word that catches your eye. What meaning does this word or phrase have for you? What meaning does it have in your life right now?

Try a training diary. Each day fill in the date, the exercise you did and how you felt. One of the strongest reinforcers of positive behaviour is success. When motivation is low to exercise look back over your diary at your past successes.

It is so important psychologically to finish things. One way to ease your way into a new year is to do the following: 1. Write a list of all your achievements in 2008 (work and home) 2. Write a list of all you want to achieve in 2009.

Try an Epsom salts bath. Cindy's mum swears by them. Epsom salts contain Magnesium. The salts help to heal cuts and scrapes. They are also supposed to detoxify and relax the body. Epsom salts are cheap to buy from Chemists or supermarkets. Just put a handful in your bath and soak...

Try Oatstraw tea. Oatstraw tea contains silica; essential for healthy nails, skin and hair. It is inexpensive and can be purchased from most health shops. It looks like straw so don't be put off by the look of it; the taste is very mild.

Constipation is a part of life for many women. One of our clients recommends rye flakes. She finds them much better than bran and says they are inexpensive. She has 2 handfuls a day. Might be worth a try.