Don’t Forget Cardio!
Cardio activities help burn the fat that covers your muscles, especially in the belly area. Combining aerobic exercise with strength training can give you a more slimming look.  Even 20 minutes a day can make the difference!  Walk around the hospital or outside the parking lot during your break or jump on the treadmill at your housing property for a half hour. It will pay off!  Persistence is key.

Never Skip Meals.
I know…easier said than done, right?  When you’re working a 12 hour shift and struggling to find a break, this can be difficult.  However, experts say that eating six small meals a day can help you avoid blood sugar “spikes” and help curb your desire to binge.  If you feed yourself well throughout the day, you’ll learn to understand when your body really needs food.  If you starve yourself, you will not make good choices for your next meal.  Make time to snack on healthy items throughout the day.

Sleep Tight….
It’s important to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night.  A recent study from Case Western Reserve University found that, on average, women who sleep for 5 hours or less per night are 32% more likely to gain weight than those that get at least 7 hours of sleep.  If you work nights, do whatever it takes to maximize your sleep time.  Cover the windows with blankets, wear ear plugs, have some “white noise” going on the background…whatever it takes, don’t deprive yourself of much needed sleep!

Drink More Water!
Studies show that drinking 16 ounces of water at a time can increase your metabolic rate by 30%, burning an extra 24 calories.  Cool water is recommended because the body uses more calories warming it up to your body temperature.  If you aren’t a big fan of water, spice it up a little!  There are plenty of products on the market now that are flavored and contain hardly any calories or sodium at all. 

Control what you can Control.
Take time out for yourself, manage your free time wisely, and only commit to those events that you can.  It’s okay to say no sometimes!  This will help you keep your stress levels down, if you only take on only what you can handle. Many studies have found a link between high stress levels and weight gain.  We are more prone to eating more when we are stressed out.  There are plenty of de-stress exercises out there that do not take up a lot of time.  And remember……BREATHE!!

With spring upon us, we will be able to enjoy longer days, warmer weather, and the sights and sounds of spring.  Along with the joys and wonders of this new season come new challenges, including tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and tsunamis.

Because of the recent force of nature that spread from Japan to Hawaii to the mainland, I think this is a good time for us all to review some of the important safety tips and resources available to us.

Remember to create your own emergency preparedness plan for your area.  This will help to keep you and your family safe. Better safe than sorry!  

Tornadoes
Tornados are natures’ most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds.

•  If you are inside, go to the safest place you can find: a safe room, basement, storm cellar; if no basement the lowest level of a building interior room.   Any safe place where you can protect yourself from glass and other flying objects is ideal.
• If you are outside, hurry to the basement of a nearby sturdy building or lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area.
• If you are in a car or mobile home, get out immediately and head for safety.
• Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck.
• Do not open any windows

 For more details see Tornado Safety: FEMA.  

Floods
Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States. Flood effects can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states and coast lines.  There are many different types of floods. 

• Listen to the radio or television for information.
• Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.
• Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons, and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without such typical warnings as rain clouds or heavy rain.
• Prepare to evacuate if necessary.

 For more info see Flood Safety: FEMA.  

Earthquake
It’s important to take “quake-safe” action at the first indication of ground shaking. Don’t wait until you’re certain an earthquake is actually occurring. As the ground shaking grows stronger, danger increases.

Steps to take if at home:

• It is safer to stay inside than to get out or try to hide in another place.
• Hide under a table, stay in a doorway, or stand in the corner of a room.
• Stay away from windows, balconies, hanging wall & ceiling objects, free-standing cabinets and bookshelves – anything that can fall or topple onto you.
• Cover you neck unless you need to hold onto an object to keep from moving. 

For more tips, visit FEMA’s Earthquake Safety page.  

Tsunami
Earthquake-induced movement of the ocean floor most often generates tsunamis. If a major earthquake or landslide occurs close to shore, the first wave in a series could reach the beach in a few minutes, even before a warning is issued.

•  Turn on your radio to learn if there is a tsunami warning if an earthquake occurs and you are in a coastal area.
• Move inland to higher ground immediately and stay there.
• Stay away from flooded and damaged areas until officials say it is safe to return.
• Stay away from debris in the water; it may pose a safety hazard to boats and people.

Visit FEMA’s Tsunami Safety page for more information.

Cindy Shea, National Sales Manager - Cardiopulmonary Division

Cynthia Shea is the National Sales Manager for the Cardiopulmonary division of Aureus Medical Group. She joined C&A Industries, the parent company of Aureus Medical, in July 1987 where she began her career with AurStaff (a division of C&A Industries, Inc.) as a staff supervisor.  Since then she has received promotions to Assistant Manager, Division Manager, and National Sales Manager, the position which she currently holds. Cynthia has extensive experience in recruiting, hiring and developing work teams, performance counseling, problem resolution as well as creating strategic divisional plans and executing operational programs, all of which have resulted in an explosion of growth that has positively impacted the company’s bottom line.  She is a master at creating innovative ways to generate new business. She also possesses outstanding sales and people development instincts, along with superior communication skills.  

Contact info:
Telephone: 800-456-5857, ext. 6061 / Fax: 402-895-7812 / E-mail: cshea@aureusmedical.com

Sound familiar? One of the most stressful parts of being a contract employee is the “what next”.  In today’s economy, there is no question that it is much tougher then it was just a few years ago. Is there anything that you can do to help your odds of getting another contract quickly? The answer is YES!  Here are a few pointers to help you stay out:

1.  Keep in close contact with your Account Manager or Recruiter. This does not mean you need to check in four times per day, but as your end date comes closer, you may need to speak with them daily or every other day.

2.  Speak with your Account Manager about what the market is looking like 30 days before your end date. Ask specifically about your modality, not just the market in general. Even though the market is constantly changing, this will give you an idea what to plan for. 

3.  Do your absolute best on your current contract. Your assignment appraisals and references are part of your permanent file. Account Managers look for contract employees that have a great track record and want to send the best candidates to their open jobs.

4.  Make sure that your Aureus online profile has accurate information about the states where you want to travel and the types of positions you are interested in. Are you only interested in contract assignments or would you consider a direct hire position??  The more accurate you information is in our system, the better chance you will be alerted of job openings.

5.  Open up your options. Geographic areas, shifts, call, job duties – these are all things that could prevent you from getting calls about positions. The more limits you give your recruiter, the fewer the doors will be open for you.

6.  Talk to more then one Account Manager or Recruiter. Even though you may already be working with an Account Manger or Recruiter, it’s ok to ask who markets a particular state or states you are interested in. Most Account Managers are assigned territory that they market daily.  If you are interested in a particular state, they can market you into that area or keep you top of mind for any positions that may come open within that state.

Hopefully these points will help take some of the stress out of finding your next contract and keep you on the road to a successful travel career.

According to the May Clinic, SAD is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. Most people with seasonal affective disorder have symptoms that start in the fall and may continue into the winter months. It can sap your energy and make you feel moody. Less often, seasonal affective disorder causes depression in the spring or early summer.

There are many ways you can prevent or decrease the severity of your symptoms so you can continue to enjoy yourself even through the bitter cold of winter.

• Stay hydrated.
• Eat healthy.
• Keep active and aim to do some form of physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day.
• Expose yourself to as much natural light as possible.
• Get out of the house and enjoy time with family and friends.
• Make the best of the winter weather by participating in activities for the season (sledding, hockey, snoe shoeing, etc).
• Participate in light therapy. Sit a few feet from a specialized light therapy box so that you’re exposed to bright light. Light therapy mimics outdoor light.

Source: Mayo Clinic

Keep your paperwork together
Even if you are preparing your own taxes, in most cases you will need to have some paperwork to accompany your filing.  Some people keep paperwork in a shoe box and other have an organized file.  No matter your method, keep your paperwork!  Here is a list of just some of the important items you will need:

• Receipts
• W2′s
• Previous tax year paperwork
• Bank info
• Mortgage info
• Vehicle registration information
• Child care receipts
• Medical billing
• Phone bills
• Charitable donations
• Investments

Choose how to do your taxes
There are several ways to file your taxes.  There are factors to consider when deciding what method would work best for you and you should research each method carefully.  Many accountants and tax preparation professionals will not only help you file your taxes accurately, but they will also assist IRS audits.  Accountants and tax preparation professionals should be contacted early to set-up an appointment.  As April 18th approaches, their schedule fills up quickly!

Tax software that you can use on your home computer is also popular for filing.  Tax software can be purchased pretty much everywhere and allows you to file at your convenience and around your schedule.  There are a number of software programs to choose from depending upon your budget .

Audit protection is one of the benefits for using an accountant or tax software.  Another important benefit is that tax laws change year to year.  Accountants who specialize in tax preparation should have a good understanding on how the tax code has changed.  Tax software also takes into account the updated tax code.  Accountants, professional tax preparation, and tax software are not usually free and the cost can vary.

Of course the other method is using documents provided by the federal and state government.  Tried and true and sometimes tedious, paper filing may be a good option. 

Whichever your method of tax preparation, accuracy is key and a little research up front may save you from a huge headache later down the road.

It’s not too late to get organized for this tax year!
Being that it’s February, it is not too late to get organized.  Whether you use the “shoe box” method of saving receipts or having a detailed system of tracking receipts, the most important thing is to save receipts.  No matter what method you use to file just keeping the receipts is key.  Another key is tracking your expenses as the year goes by.  Many smartphones have the ability to track your expenses on the fly.  Others use home computers or paper log books. 

What not to do with taxes!
Be sure not to be trapped into the these tax traps:

• Trust hearsay or word on the street  (the tax code changes!)
• Put it off until the last minute  (make your appointment early)
• Assume you owe or have a refund coming
• Don’t ignore your state taxes

Good luck and go get your taxes done!

•  Sleep! Just as easy as that, make sure you are getting a proper amount of sleep at night. When your body is rested it can better fight off infection. 
• Sanitize and clean! Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer with you to use several times a day. Keeping your home clean will also help eliminate some viruses that may be lingering around. 
• Exercise! Physical activity helps boost your immune system. Even just a short walk daily will help keep you healthy. Make it fun and recruit a few friends to join you. Before you know it, winter will be over and you may have fulfilled another New Year’s Resolution to lose weight.

Photo courtesy of Evah