LIVESMART

It’s the first full week of WALKTOBER! You don't have to make big changes all at once, even just 500 additional steps a day can be a simple way to get moving. How will you increase your steps this week?

WALKTOBER starts tomorrow! Make sure you have your participant guide and pedometer ready to start tracking your steps. You may also use the LIVESMART Portal to manually enter your steps or sync a fitness tracking device.

🔷Setting a Realistic Step Goal🔷
You may have heard that 10,000 steps a day is the magic number, but health benefits start a lot sooner. UCLA Health reports that health benefits begin around 2,500–3,000 steps per day and increase as your step count increases. Research suggests that these benefits may level off after a certain number of steps, depending on age:

For adults younger than 60: Benefits may continue increasing until around 8,000–10,000 steps per day.

For adults 60 and older: Benefits may continue increasing until around 6,000–8,000 steps per day.

Did you know that your blood sugar balance can impact your energy levels throughout the day? When we eat a meal that causes a rapid rise in blood glucose, it can be followed by a quick drop, which some people experience as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, hunger, or the “afternoon crash.” While our body manages our blood sugar every day, we can help support it by our lifestyle choices. Check out these tips that can help support better blood sugar balance:

🥑 Pair carbohydrates with protein and fiber
🥕 Choose whole grains and high-fiber foods
🚶🏻‍♂️ Take a 10-minute walk after meals
🥤 Limit sugary drinks
💤 Prioritize consistent, quality sleep
💨 Manage stress levels

Original infographic by: notesbythalia.com

While you can change your exercise routine with each season, sometimes keeping the same routine and simply increasing the challenge is all it takes to keep making progress. Which tip would you like to implement this fall?

Get ready to start tracking your steps next Thursday! Grab a participant guide and pedometer from your LIVESMART Ambassador this week. If you want to track your steps in the LIVESMART Portal, log into your account this week so you are ready to go.

🔶 Step It Up with Craft's Challenge! 🔶
As we celebrate 15 years of LIVESMART, Craft O’Neal is challenging
LIVESMART participants to take one step further this WALKTOBER.
Craft’s Challenge is focused on setting your own personal goal and pushing yourself
to do just a little more than yesterday. This isn’t about having the highest step count.
It’s about making progress. Think about what your personal goal will be and also consider joining a team of coworkers to move more together!

Comfort food meets a balanced, satisfying meal! These French Onion Chicken Bowls are packed with savory flavor and make an easy option for a delicious weeknight dinner or recipe to add in your meal prep rotation.

French Onion Chicken Bowls These French Onion Chicken Bowls are savory, satisfying, and simple to make! Gluten-free and healthy, these are a perfect for meal prep or a quick weeknight meal. The caramelized onions and melted cheese are so good on the chicken, all over wild rice and paired with peas and parsley. It's all of the...

Open enrollment is a great time to take a closer look at your benefits and make sure they still fit your needs. Before making your selections, take time to review your coverage, compare plan options, check your beneficiaries, and understand how your health and financial benefits work together.

WALKTOBER starts soon! This 4-week walking campaign will help you boost your steps throughout the month of October. Starting October 1st, track your steps for campaign credit and a pair of socks!

🏅New This Year🏅
Take WALKTOBER to the next level at your location as a Craft’s Champion! Craft’s Champions are participants who love WALKTOBER, enjoy encouraging others to move more, and can help promote and organize the campaign at their work location. They help get coworkers involved, facilitate teams, track team progress, and create friendly competition throughout the campaign. Contact LIVESMART if you would like to sign up!

Your brain isn't designed to maintain intense focus indefinitely. Brief breaks give your attention a chance to recover, which may help reduce mental fatigue and support concentration and energy throughout the workday. Try some of these energy-boosting activities during your work day and see how you feel.

Sometimes, a short pause is part of staying productive.

Labor Day is a chance to recognize the hard work and dedication that keeps our workplaces and communities moving forward. Today, take a moment to step away, recharge, and enjoy time with the people who matter most.