Generally a person’s daily routine looks something like this – get up just before sunrise, get ready for work, get stuck in traffic on the way to work, meetings, stress, work, work, work, somewhere in between have a quick lunch, back to work, stress, work, meetings and work, eventually get in the car, get stuck in traffic on the way home, maybe stop at the shops to pick up a few things for dinner, cook, eat, clean up, watch a bit of tv, bath/shower, go to bed, only to continue the same routine the next day.

My suggestion is to bring a bit of nature into your daily routine, so here are a few options that you can apply at home and at work:

1) TRANQUILITY

Water and water features have always been associated with peace and tranquility. Get hold of a small water feature. The sound of the water trickling down will bring a calming affect to you and the other people in the room.

Another option is to get a fishtank. It is quite calming to just sit and watch the fish swim around – don’t know why, but it works. When you get tired or stressed just take a few minutes to chill by watching the fish.

NOTE: Whether it is for the office or for home, you will have to plan ahead because fish need care and attention. It needs food daily and the tank needs to be cleaned regularly. There is also the problem of the office being empty over weekends. So, measure up the pro’s and cons and if you decide to implement it in the office, draw up a task sheet of who is responsible for the fish on which days.
 
2) NATURE
Ok, so maybe you don’t want pets in the office or at home because you already have way to much to do. Go fully natural then! Or should I say go wild!
Birds are everywhere. We don’t notice them because our minds are occupied with a whole lot of other stuff but they can provide the same effect as the fishtank. I’m not saying you should get a birdcage – not at all – I don’t like bird cages. What I am saying is to attract the birds in your area to make regular stops at the office or in your garden at home.

The easiest way to do this is to put up a bird feeder and water, and even a bird bath. Most birds, including sparrows, pigeons, doves, weavers, finches, waxbills, and many others feed on seeds. You can buy seed mixes from any petshop. If you want to attract more birds you can plant fruit-producing trees or plants. The fruit will attract birds such as the greay loerie, mousebirds, bulbuls, and barbets and the nectar from certain flowers will attract sunbirds, and many other fruit eating birds.

My TRANQUILITY and NATURE
I am very lucky that I get a triple dose of nature daily. Where I sit and work, the fishtank is directly behind me, so I can just turn my chair around and have a quick time-out, and in front of me is a giant north-facing window looking out on the garden. There are a variety of plants, a birdfeeder, birdbath, and of course a large water feature. There’s also two benches where I can just sit and enjoy being outside.
This is probably a big reason why I don’t tense up too quickly – I get my daily fix of nature!

INTERNAL WELLBEING
You’re not going to become healthy if you only focus on exercise. You have to take care of your body inside and out by focusing on what you put in your body. If you think about it, it is actually quite scary what we eat today. Most of the foods are genetically modified, or are ‘knock-offs’ of the real deal. I compare it to eating plastic, or at least plastic dipped in sauce – might taste like something, but it’s definitely not good for you!

Luckily people have realized that and are focusing on healthier eating habits. Even (fast)food outlets are focusing on this by providing healthier meal options. We are filtering our drinking water, opting for organic produce and meats without hormone treatments. We are heading in the right direction.

Even though our eating habits are improving, the nutritional value is not as high as produce grown 50-odd years ago. So what now?  
Supplement! 

Here’s why taking a supplement is a good idea
Many diseases are partly caused by dietary inadequacies. These may not be easily noticed. You can be sticking to good diet and eating mainly things which are from the main food groups, in the right proportions and yet you can still be deficient in vitamins and minerals.

How can this happen? There are several reasons:
 
Modern farming methods: Modern farming practices don’t put everything back into the soil that is taken out. Only the main nutrients needed for plant growth are applied to the soil. Nitrogen, Potassium and Sodium (NPK) are present in fertilisers but very often many important trace elements and minerals are completely or largely absent.

Transportation and delay: Another reason we don’t always get what we need from our food is that it has lost vitamins while being transported and while sitting on supermarket shelves. Some vitamins simply do not keep well. As soon as the crop is cut, the process of depletion starts. This is particularly true for vitamin C. The process continues in the kitchen even if food is in a fridge, and then when we cook the food, more losses occur.

Lifestyle choices: Modern lifestyle choices also affect our need for vitamins. For example, if you live in an area where traffic pollution is bad, (perhaps not your choice!) you will have a greater need for vitamins and minerals than if you didn’t. Drinking and smoking also affect our need for vitamins. Even tea and coffee have an effect. Coffee, for example, causes potassium loss, leading to increased fatigue. Sugar in your diet will use up vitamins in your body as it is processed so if you often eat sugar-laden foods you will need more vitamins than otherwise.

Healthy Living

 

 

Can you acheive this ideal lifestyle?
So, unless you are lucky enough to be eating mainly freshly-picked foods, grown in rich organic soil, and you live in an unpolluted place and you are a bit of a saint, you are unlikely to be getting enough vitamins and minerals from your food! Can you acheive this ideal lifestyle? Most of us try… but various pressures and temptations lead us to fall short. The easy way to remedy this is to take a good vitamin and mineral supplement

[For more information, feel free to contact me - clarise.h@gmail.com]

Health has become a major concern and a priority for people globally. Life expectancy currently is generally higher than what it used to be a few decades ago, but it is becoming more apparent that the quality of life is decreasing. Attributes such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, bad nutrition, stress (loads of it!), pollution, etc. all negatively impact our lives and our health. This is all probably stuff you already know by now, but the question is: Are you doing anything about it?

PHYSICAL WELLBEING
Of course, the best way to improve your physical wellbeing is to exercise. You probably have, or at least at some stage had, a gym membership. Are you actually using it? If you don’t like going to the gym then find an alternative that you like.

Hiking

Mountainbiking can replace spinning (at least you are getting somewhere, and the scenery is always great)
Rock-climbing – definitely a full body workout
Hiking can to an extent replace the treadmill.
Archery can improve mental performance and focus
In stead of always swimming up and down in a pool, at least work toward a goal – such as the midmar mile, or similar event.
Paddling is definitely a good upper-body workout

Conclusion – there is a lot of potential! You just have to decide which suits you.
Training and keeping fit is good for the body’s muscles and organ function such as the heart and lungs. But what about the biggest organ? No, it is not your brain. I’m talking about your skin. Being outdoors, exercising a lot, living a stressful life, all affect your skin and in the end can make you look old if you don’t take care of it.

How can you take care of your skin?
Keep it hydrated: drink lots of water. It is not only good for your skin, but also for all other functions of the body
Keep the moisture in: Ladies are more concerned about the appearance of their skin, and so they moisturize frequently. So, guys this is not an excuse to run away from a bit of skin lotions. More and more men are starting to take care of their skin, so don’t get left behind.
Sunscreen: This is nothing you haven’t heard before, but I’ll say it again. Sunscreen protects your body against damage from the sun.

A Warning though!
Do take note of what ingredients are in your lotions. If you can’t pronounce an ingredient, it is probably not good for you. The ingredients get absorbed through the skin into the body.
Also be aware of products that have alcohol (which have a drying affect on the skin), or petroleum jellie (it makes your skin feel soft, but in actual fact, it smothers your skin)

(Also read the article “Inside Out”)

If you are tired of the boring office environment, having to live with the same problems and issues each day, making you feel miserable and non-motivated, then I suggest you read this before your bosses (or if you are the boss) sends you on another worthless teambuilding escapade!

By the time a human reaches adulthood, the body consists of close to 100 trillion cells. Thus, there are many parts that need to work together to ensure that your body functions to its full potential. Each part or system needs to be able to function on their own, as well as function with the other systems. If a major organ doesn’t function, for example the heart, then the entire body with all its different systems will shut down. If a minor part doesn’t function properly, such as having a muscle or joint injury, it can be extremely annoying and prevent you from physically performing at your peak.

Team Chain

Your business or office environment can be compared to the human body. There are different departments. If they don’t function well on their own or with the other departments, your business will suffer; whether it is just an annoyance or something that can bring the business to its knees.

I want to explain the concept of teambuilding. It is not because I don’t have anything better to do, but because I feel it is a very important factor in any business that is not always focused on enough. In a previous article (What is teambuilding actually?), I mentioned the four different levels of team development: recreation (a programme focused mostly on fun), education and development (at these two levels the programme focuses deeper on the individuals and the team), and therapy (where an intense programme is required to solve underlying issues).

Let me explain teambuilding in an easier context:

Step 1) If you look at an athlete with a muscle or tendon injury, the first step in the development programme which is Recreation, is like rubbing on a bit of “Deep Heat” – it helps ease the pain and she feels better for the moment, but as soon as she gets back onto the field, the pain comes back. This is the level of “teambuilding” that most teambuilding companies provide. They charge an absolute fortune for something you get absolutely nothing from. It is like substituting medication with smarties – doesn’t help at all, just looks and/or tastes good (and smarties are expensive compared to their size!).

Steps 2 & 3) You need to look deeper into the problem. The athlete should consider going to a sports physician or physiotherapist to fix the underlying problem, not just the symptoms. This is where the Education and Development stages in the development programme comes in. By use of a proper developmental programme, the individuals and the team as a whole, can improve themselves and thus aim to improve the office environment as well as their personal lives.

Step 4) If there is a serious problem, like a rugby player that has a major shoulder injury, an operation might be necessary to fix the problem. In a team development programme this is considered the Therapy stage. It doesn’t end with the operation. Ongoing therapy and physiotherapy is required to ensure that the injured area heals properly and that it remains fully functional afterwards. Thus, assessments need to be done with the office group before, during and after a programme to ensure that they get the most from the programme to ensure enriching lives and an effective and efficient office environment.

You certainly want your business to function to its full potential, don’t you? Wouldn’t you enjoy working in an effective and healthy office environment? Why not focus on treating the core of the problems in stead of always trying to fix the problem with some “Deep Heat”? How would your life change if your job environment improves? Less stress?

Think about it. And when you have, I’d like to hear your comments and feedback. If there is a serious problem, like a rugby player that has a major shoulder injury, an operation might be necessary to fix the problem. In a team development programme this is considered the Therapy stage. It doesn’t end with the operation. Ongoing therapy and physiotherapy is required to ensure that the injured area heals properly and that it remains fully functional afterwards. Thus, assessments need to be done with the office group before, during and after a programme to ensure that they get the most from the programme to ensure enriching lives and an effective and efficient office environment.

You certainly want your business to function to its full potential, don’t you? Wouldn’t you enjoy working in an effective and healthy office environment? Why not focus on treating the core of the problems in stead of always trying to fix the problem with some “Deep Heat”? How would your life change if your job environment improves? Less stress?

Think about it. And when you have, I’d like to hear your comments and feedback.

I’m sure you are able to name the members of the Big 5, but do you really know anything about them?

Where did the name ‘Big 5′ originate from?
According to hunters, the Big Five, refer to the five most difficult animals to hunt on foot in Africa. Today the term is widely used by tourists, traveling from across the globe, who want to see these magnificent animals.

LION - Panthera leo
The biggest cat native to the continent, and the only African big cat to live in prides. The predatory feline is also widely referred to as the ‘King of the jungle’, although they are more abundat in open plains where there is permanent water and plenty of game. Lions can also be found in the Kalahari Desert.

These animals have immense power as they can easily bring down a Wildebeest and can carry twice its weight in its powerful jaws.
Generally the females do most of the hunting, even at night as they have great night vision. This is due to the retina being lined by a tissue called “tapetum lucidum”, that reflects back the light passing the rods of the retina. Their prey include mostly zebra, waterbuck, giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest and kudu, but will eat other animals if given the opportunity.

Adult males have a distinct heavy mane around the neck and shoulders. They outweigh females by plenty as they can tip the scales at 250 kg with females weighing in at around 150 kg. A lion’s life span is about 15 years.

AFRICAN ELEPHANT - Loxodonta africana
Elephants are very intelligent and social animals. There are two distinct species; the African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) and the African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana). Elephants are generally found in areas with permanent water and abundant vegetation (an exception to this is the desert elephant from Namibia, who adapted to survive in these harsch conditions). It is almost difficult to comprehend that these majestic creatures are herbivores, consuming around 250 kg of food and 150 - 200 litres of water each day. Their diet include leaves, grass, reeds, roots, flowers, fruits, bark and even soil if the mineral content is high.

The elephant has very thick, almost hairless skin, a long, flexible trunk, two tusks of ivory, and large fan-shaped ears. The elephant can grow up to 13 feet high at the shoulders and can weigh over six and a half tons. Males are much larger than females. Males also have longer and heavier tusks. Elephants have a lifespan of around 50 to 60 years. Their herds can consist of up to 50 members and is led by an old female (the matriarch).

At 14 years of age, males leave the herd and associate with other bulls of the same age or older. Females are sexually mature at 12 years of age and are mated by visiting bulls. After 22 months, the cow gives birth to a single calf weighing up to 130 kg. The calf suckles for about 3 years.

AFRICAN BUFFALO - Syncerus caffer
Of the big five, the buffalo is seen as the biggest threat to humans as it reportedly causes more death among hunters than any of the other big five members. Despite being very aggressive and dangerous animals, buffaloes are very peaceful amongst themselves. Buffalo may be found in large herds of up to thousands. Older bulls sometimes live solitary lives; they can become dangerous and aggressive when approached.

Buffalo are exclusively grazers. Males can weigh up to 800 kg and have a life span of around 20 years. The dominant bull normally is the oldest bull in the herd. Both sexes have horns, but those of males are more robust and heavier. Females become sexually matured at the age of five years. After 11 months a single calf is born.

Buffalo are exremely adaptable animals, being able to occupy open grasslands, wooded savanna and thickets.

BLACK RHINOCEROS - Diceros bicomis
Africa hosts two rhino species; the Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicomis) and the White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), both species have two upright horns on the snout. The White Rhino is much bigger and heavier than the Black Rhino. The Black Rhino prefers densely wooded areas whilst the White Rhino prefers grassland areas.

Black Rhinos are solitary animals, with bulls associating with females only for mating. Mating is always preceded by courtship behaviour which includes snorting and sparring with the horns. Youngsters stay with their mothers only until the next calf is born, when they have to find their own territories. A single calf weighs around 35 kg and is born after a gestation period of about 15 months.

These large, thick-skinned animals are herbivores. They are browsers, eating leaves, fruit flowers and herbs. They are short sighted, but their sense of smell and hearing is very acute. Adult males can weigh up to 1,2 tons with females being slightly smaller. The life span of a rhino is around 40 years. The Black Rhino is an endangered animal.

LEOPARD - Panthera pardus
Leopards are difficult to find due to their secretive nature. They rest in trees, thick cover or caves. They are silitary animals by nature, only associating with a female for mating and staying with her only for a few days. The female births one to three cubs after a gestation period of about 105 days. The cubs are kept in a secluded spot, with the mother only leaving the cubs alone whilst hunting. Leopards are extremely territorial animals. The male’s territory overlaps those of several females. They become aggressive when surprised or cornered, especially with cubs in attendance.

Leopards are the most successful unters of the cat family. Leopards are masters of camouflage and move silently through the vegetation to attack their prey from close range. The prey is killed with a bite on the back of the neck and then taken up a tree so the leopard can feed out of range of scavengers. Their diet includes Impala, Warthog, Kudu, rodents, monkeys, and fish among other animals. They weigh in at around 70 kg and their life span is about 15 years.
 
SOUTH AFRICAN CURRENCY

South Africa is so proud of calling it the home of the Big Five, that these magnificent animals hav been made part of the currency, by printing a member of the Big Five on each of the bigger denomination bills.
R10.00   -  Rhino
R20.00   -  Elephant
R50.00   -  Lion
R100.00  -  Buffalo
R200.00  -  Leopard

I hope that I could help you learn a bit more about these magnificent creatures. The Big Five can be seen in many reserves around the country. The best time for game viewing is in winter, when the bush isn’t as dense. If you haven’t seen the Big Five, or if you haven’t done so in a while, I would suggest you take the time to appreciate these animals.