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From all of us at Reshape HR, we would like to wish you a Happy New Year!

May it be a year of health and success for all!

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Background

Movember is celebrated globally on an annual basis.

Movember was founded in 2003 by Travis Garone and Luke Slattery with the main focus being men’s health and prostate cancer.

According to uk.movember.com: “In 2003, two mates from Melbourne, Australia (Travis Garone and Luke Slattery) were having a quiet beer at the Gypsy Bar in Fitzroy when their conversation turned to recurring fashion trends. The moustache, a fixture in past decades, was nowhere to be seen in recent trends. They joked about bringing it back.

The two friends decided to talk their mates into growing a Mo. Inspired by a friend’s mother who was fundraising for breast cancer, they decided to make the campaign about men’s health and prostate cancer. They designed the rules of Movember (which are still in place today) and agreed to charge ten dollars to grow a Mo.“

Why is Movember important?

According to Prostate Cancer UK: “Movember, the month formally known as November, is when brave and selfless men around the world grow a moustache, and women step up to support them, all to raise awareness and funds for men’s health – specifically prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.”

According to uk.movember.com: “Mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer – we’re taking them all on

Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research, and transforming the way health services reach and support men.”

We discussed previously during Men’s Health Week, which took place earlier in June about Men’s physical and mental health, cancer and how to improve your physical health. If you would like to find out more about men’s health or how one can improve their physical health, we recommend that you have a read of it here.

How do I join in Movember?

You can join in Movember by:

• Growing a moustache – Grow your moustache for Movember, use your moustache as a way to raise awareness about men’s health. You can also join in with others to raise funds to “grow a mo”. If you would like to join in or to find out more about Movember’s grow a moustache, then please visit uk.movember.com/get-involved/moustaches.

• Join the “Move for Movember” event – The Move for Movember event is focused on either walking or running 60km over the month of Movember, according to Movember’s website: “Run or walk 60km over the month. That’s 60km for the 60 men we lose to suicide each hour, every hour across the world.” If you would like to find out more or to join in “Move for Movember”, then please visit uk.movember.com/get-involved/move.

• Join a local event – Events are held throughout the UK by individuals who are wanting to help others or wanting to make a change, if you would like to join an event or to find out which events are being held throughout Movember, then please visit uk.movember.com/events.

• Sharing on social media – By sharing this article and other articles and information about Movember and why it is so important, you are helping to raise awareness about men’s health.

• Hosting your own event – Host your own event for Movember and challenge family, friends, neighbours and co-workers to join your event.

Movember’s website contains multiple guides to how to host your own face-to-face or virtual event, trivia questions, posters and much more. If you are interested in hosting your own event or you would like to find out more about hosting your own event for Movember, then please visit uk.movember.com/get-involved/host.

Background

World Diabetes Day is celebrated globally on the 14th of November on an annual basis.

It was founded in 1991 by the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2006.

According to worlddiabetesday.org: “World Diabetes Day is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in more than 160 countries. The campaign draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes firmly in the public and political spotlight.

The World Diabetes Campaign aims to be the:

• Platform to promote IDF advocacy efforts throughout the year.

• Global driver to promote the importance of taking coordinated and concerted actions to confront diabetes as a critical global health issue.”

Theme

For 2021 – 2023, the theme is “Access to Diabetes Care”, with this year’s main focus on promoting the importance of educating individuals on diabetes.

According to worlddiabetesday.org: “People living with diabetes need ongoing education to manage their condition. Many do not have access to diabetes education.”

How do I join in World Diabetes Day?

You can join in World Diabetes Day by:

• Sharing on social media – By sharing this article and other articles and information on social media about World Diabetes Day and why it is so important.
  
  The World Diabetes Day website has added a resources section on their website which includes content that you can use on your media such as logo’s, posters, infographics, web banners and much more. If you would like to use these resources, then please visit worlddiabetesday.org/resources.

• Participate in a local diabetes event – Events will be hosted over the UK by local diabetes charities, if you would like to join one of these events, then please contact your local diabetes charity.
  
  If you would like to search for a charity which is close to you online then please go to neighbourly.com. Neighbourly.com will assist you in your search for charities in your town within a specific range.

• Wear blue for diabetes – By wearing blue or wearing a blue circle pin or bracelet, you are promoting World Diabetes Day and that you are raising awareness of diabetes.

• Download the Blue Circle Selfie app – According to worddiabetesday.org: “The blue circle is the universal symbol for diabetes. It signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the rising number of people affected by diabetes. The symbol means nothing to many people. Help us change that!”
  
  If you would like to find out more or to download the Blue Circle Selfie app, then please visit worlddiabetesday.org/resources/wdd-2021/blue-circle-selfie-app.

• Find out more about diabetes – Finding out more about diabetes can help you to educate others on the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, or about their blood sugars.

We discussed previously during Diabetes Week, which took place earlier in June on the differences of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and what a diabetic emergency is, we recommend that you have a read of it here.

Background

National Stress Awareness Day is held Nationally on the first Wednesday of November on an annual basis.

National Stress Awareness Day is managed by the International Stress Management Association (ISMA) and seeks to increase public awareness and to help individuals to understand how to manage and reduce stress in their lives.

This year National Stress Awareness Day will take place on the 2nd of November 2022.

What is Stress?

According to the NHS: “Stress is the body’s reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure. It’s very common, can be motivating to help us achieve thigs in our daily life, and can help us meet the demands of home, work and family life.

But too much stress can affect our mood, our body and our relationships – especially when it feels out of our control. It can make us feel anxious and irritable, and affect our self-esteem.”

Does stress affect my feelings?

Stress can affect your feelings in multiple ways, according to the Mental Health Foundation: ”You may feel:

• Anxious
• Afraid
• Angry or aggressive
• Sad
• Irritable
• Frustrated
• Depressed

These feelings can sometimes produce physical symptoms, making you feel even worse.”

Does stress affect my health?

Stress can affect your health from your body’s reactions, according to the Mental Health Foundation: “If you’re stressed, you may experience:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Indigestion
• Digestion problems such as constipation, bloating or diarrhoea.
• Shallow breathing or hyperventilating
• Sweating
• Heart palpitations
• Aches and pains”

How can I reduce my stress?

There are many that are suggested to help reduce stress, some of these are listed below:

• Build supportive relationships – According to the Mental Health Foundation: “Find close friends or family who can offer help and practical advice can support you in managing stress. Joining a club or a course can help to expand your social network and encourage you to do something different.”

• Eating healthily – According to the Mental Health Foundation: “A healthy diet can improve your mood. Getting enough nutrients (including essential vitamins and minerals) and water can help with  your overall mental wellbeing.”

• Organise your time – According to mind.org.uk: “Some of us may feel stressed because we have a lot of things to manage in our life. In this case, changing the way we organise our time can help us feel more in control”.

• Take time for yourself – With everything that happens around us, it is always a good idea to take some time to yourself, do a hobby, read a book or watch your favourite show or movie. Maybe even go for a little walk or a nice hike.

• Be kind to yourself – According to the Mental Health Foundation: “Try to keep things in perspective and don’t be too hard on yourself. Look for things in your life that are positive and write down things that make you feel grateful.”

How can I join in on National Stress Awareness Day?

You can join in by:

• Sharing on social media – By sharing this article and other articles and information about National Stress Awareness Day and why it is so important and help to raise awareness.

• Taking time for yourself – Why not take some time for yourself today. Relax and have some tea, go enjoy that show you have been wanting to watch for a long time or simply go for a relaxing getaway.

• Read up on tips and tricks to maintain and reduce stress – Understanding how to manage and reduce stress can help you through any stressful situations that you might have to deal with in the future.