Ngā mihi o te tau hou. Happy New Year.
Welcome to a new year and another opportunity to make the most of 365 days! It’s the best time of the year, a full-of-potential period where we can all look ahead with hope and optimism.
Life Care is looking forward to a year of renewed commitment and stability, with a service schedule that’s already fully booked up to March (at time of writing this newsletter, so it could very well be that we’re booked beyond April by the time you read this!)
How fantastic it is that we have customers who care for the empowerment, health, and wellbeing of their staff and who also value our service by booking with us year on year. Thank you!
Life Care is walking with you on this journey, taking care of your people and helping Kiwi businesses achieve the objectives set out for workplace training, health and wellbeing.
This month’s newsletter is focused on a year that was and an introduction to 2023’s first quarter health topic, hearing conservation. We’ve popped in a few of our best moments of 2022 and some return-to-work tips.
From our team to yours, may 2023 provide you with opportunities to whaowhia te kete mātauranga.
This inspirational whakatauki (proverb) encourages us to “fill the basket of knowledge”. We hope that 2023 presents you with opportunities to empower yourself and gain knowledge of all kinds.
Additionally, we send our thoughts to all our customers and whānau affected, whether directly or indirectly, by the recent storms and flooding hitting our beautiful island.
May you all be safe and supported during this trying time.
For those of you in Auckland, you can find refreshed information on traffic, transport, support, and critical infrastructure here – Auckland Emergency Management | Auckland Emergency Management.
Please check on the NZTA website Traffic and travel information | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (nzta.govt.nz) for the latest information on road closures or incidents.
If our service to you and your employees is going to be affected in any way, we will let you know. Thank you for your co-operation and understanding in this regard.
Best of 2022
2022 was a big year for Life Care. Some of our best moments were the successful launch of our customer booking portal, moving to bigger, better premises in Auckland, and expanding our operational division while recruiting some of the best staff in our industry.
Life Care proudly services thousands of customers nationwide, continually offering valuable health checks and empowerment through first aid training to scores of Kiwis.
Our sales team has returned to work ready for a productive year, especially as we’ve experienced a significant shift in our conversations with PCBUs. Strategic and consultative partnerships are what businesses need right now, and Life Care Consultants is ready to talk to you about holistic and sustainable training and well-being programmes.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one programme, contact us today to hear more about our Annual Plan. This programme includes a customisable calendar of events, educational and advertising posters, a quarterly toolbox talk, health monitoring, and digital 365/24/7 live reporting.
We’re like any Kiwi business out there.
Just like any Kiwi business, Life Care has goals, objectives, and targets. We want to be an employer of choice and a top service provider, and we aim to continue to lead the workplace training, health, and wellbeing industry to greater heights.
So, we’re kicking off our new year prioritising our people and ensuring we start the year right. With our strategic plan in motion, we can’t wait to support Kiwi businesses to improve worker empowerment and enablement through training, health, and wellbeing programmes.
We’re also committed to providing a continuum of care and aim to help two million Kiwis become healthy and resilient by 2030.
Return to School and Work Tips
We’ve all been there, and we do it every year. Sometimes we’re doing it just for ourselves, or we have a level of responsibility to help others do it.
Getting back to work and school can be a struggle; it can be overwhelming and it does take effort.
Here are some quick tips to help you do it like a pro. There’s no faking it til you make it here.
Boundaries – ready, set…
People with a positive mindset are more likely to thrive because they understand and accept that setting healthy and clear boundaries isn’t limiting; they’re vital and give us the advantage of being fully present and productive, whether at work or in our personal space.
- Set and stick to regulated sleep and rest times
- Stick to your work hours and everyone else will too
- Check-in with your whānau, peers, and manager. Are you aware of and respecting the boundaries they have set?
- Give yourself time every week to rest and ensure you’ve had time for rejuvenation ahead of a new week.
Preparation is key – unlock your potential
- Have school uniforms and stationery bought, washed, and labelled at least 2 weeks in advance
- Know as much as you can about your child’s new grade and, any expectations to help prepare them for the year ahead
- Speak to your whānau about any anxiety or questions they might have – reach out to a mentor, life skills coach, your company EAP, or a trusted friend if you need any guidance
- Buy ahead to prepare school lunches, snacks, and family meals a week in advance
- Create a family calendar and give everyone or every category its own colour
Routine – it’s not boring
- Set alarms and make sure there’s always enough time in the mornings to get ready. Include a few minutes to breathe, reflect and set an intention for the day ahead
- Limit screen time! Really, it works wonders for your brain, eyes, and ears
- Rest and sleep, create a comfortable and welcoming environment
- Eat well & stay hydrated (if you didn’t read our article about hydration, here it is: Eat your water)
Monotasking is the new black
A trend that’s happening right now, because we’re finally beginning to realise we just have too many commitments, is monotasking. It’s exactly what it says. Do one, mono, task. Then do the next one.
You can keep yourself in check with bullet journaling. Although this isn’t a new concept, it does help keep you on track by prioritising no more than 5 tasks each day. You can also block out time in your diary for admin, and emails and even add 10-minute break-aways from your desk.
If you’re not a “desk jockey”, you can still use monotasking to your advantage. Think of how it’s relevant to your job, work environment, and family life.
Hear today, gone tomorrow
Whoever said nothing is permanent wasn’t referring to noise-induced hearing loss! This type of hearing loss can be quick, and damage is irreversible. Not even a hearing aid can restore or reverse the damage done.
Workplace noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) affects many of the world’s manufacturing, construction, and manual labour workforce. In New Zealand, 53% of ACC claims for NIHL are predominantly submitted by our tradies. This is a whopping 15 new cases per day! And that’s why hearing conservation is on our list of top 3 necessary workplace health and wellbeing programmes.
Let us help you plan and roll out an effective hearing conservation programme. Send us an email and let’s talk – info@lifecare.co.nz
Did you know?
- Between 1998 and 2008, the cost of New Zealand (new) NIHL claims to ACC increased by an average of 20% each year.
- Approximately 30% of New Zealand workers are exposed to loud noise at work at least a quarter of the time.
- 80% are male, mainly production workers in primary industries, construction, manufacturing, and some transport and service sectors.
- 62% of New Zealand employers identified workplace noise as a hazard.
- There are as many as 100,000 New Zealanders with hearing loss related to workplace noise.
- Excessive noise can cause hearing damage or loss in under 15 minutes (at 100dB)
- An average construction site noise level is at 100dB
If you want to share educational empowerment with your people, get in touch. Our popular pre-recorded toolbox talks make for a great resource and are easily rolled out far and wide, enabling businesses to reach all their employees with just a click of a button.
Our Courses and Services
Life Care Consultants provide extensive training programmes in first aid, wellness, fire safety and much more, as well as health and injury services. All our programmes can be designed and delivered at your place or ours and tailored for your particular industry or organisation.
Next issue…
In our next newsletter, time to prepare for the upcoming Flu Season, a continuation of hearing conservation in the workplace, and February heart health tips.
Get in touch with the team
If you are interested in seeing how we can help your staff, please contact our team on 0800 493 559 or email us info@lifecare.co.nz
Please note that any articles presented in this newsletter are for educational purposes only. Before making changes to your diet or exercise, you should always consult a Doctor.