Make healthier choices this October

In recent years, many of us might have fallen into bad habits, whether that be staying up late to binge watch the latest TV shows, getting a takeaway most nights of the week or skipping the gym.

While now and again this is all perfectly ok, when these become everyday habits we should try to reduce these so they don’t affect our personal and work lives.

Once you take the first steps, it doesn’t take long to see the difference, both physically and in many cases financially.

Here’s a few things you can do this October to make a change, break bad habits and make healthier ones.

Quit smoking this Stoptober

When you stop smoking, you can begin to see almost immediate improvements to your health. Stoptober is a national initiative running throughout the month of October posing the challenge to stop smoking for 28 days. Thousands of people commit to quit every year and research has shown that stopping smoking for 28 days means you're five times more likely to give up for good.

It's much easier to stop smoking when you get the right support and there are lots of options to choose from via the NHS website.  

We have also enlisted the help of local stop smoking service, Smokefree Liverpool, to help staff give up the habit and lead a healthier smoke-free life. Join the online session on Thursday 5 October, 10am to 11am, book in advance via the Staff Events page.

Go sober this October

Sober October encourages people to go alcohol-free in October to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The benefits to you include greater quality of sleep, increased energy and perhaps even weight loss, all while helping to raise vital funds for Macmillan, so they can continue providing much-needed physical, financial and emotional support to the millions of people living with cancer in the UK.

Going sober for October is a small sacrifice that makes a big difference! Why not sign up today!

Check your cholesterol

We need cholesterol in our blood to stay healthy, but when it gets too high it can lead to diseases of the heart such as stroke and heart attack, and other health problems.

Anyone can have high cholesterol, even if you’re young, not overweight and otherwise healthy, and you can’t feel it, so the only way to find out your cholesterol level is to get a cholesterol test.

This simple blood test, along with blood pressure test, BMI and waist measurements, will give you a good idea of your heart health and show you if you need to make any lifestyle changes or need treatment.

Giving up smoking, eating more healthily and increasing activity can all help to bring down unhealthy cholesterol levels, even if medication if required. Find out more via the Heart UK website.

Join the LJMU gym

Now is the perfect time to join the LJMU Gym. For the second year running staff can join at a reduced cost, just £40 for staff for the whole academic year.

So whether you are looking to take up a new sport or activity, or get back into fitness after time away, why not sign up to the LJMU gym today.