7 Ways To Celebrate Heart Month At Work
It’s February, and you know what that means – Heart Month! After the last few challenging years, people have slowly begun to return to the workplace. What a great opportunity to celebrate Heart Month with your colleagues! We’ve provided 7 easy ways to observe Heart Month at work.
But first, a quick refresher…
What Is Heart Month?
Each year during the month of February, the world comes together to celebrate the precious heart, one of our most important organs. The goal of Heart Month is to bring attention to cardiovascular disease and to educate people how to take care of their hearts. According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, “9 in 10 Canadians have at least one risk factor for heart disease and stroke”, so these discussions are extremely important. Heart Month is filled with campaigns, activities, and events, so there are many opportunities to get involved.
How Can I Celebrate Heart Month At Work?
1. Wear Red On February 13th
On February 13th of each year, the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance hosts Wear Red Canada to raise awareness about women’s heart health. While February 13th falls on a Sunday this year, you can still celebrate Wear Red Canada at work! Show your support by wearing red every Friday for the month and encourage your colleagues to do the same. The Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance even has an online store featuring their Wear Red Collection, which you can visit here.
2. Get active
Friendly competition has never meant more. The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada states that “almost 80% of premature heart disease and stroke can be prevented through healthy behaviours.” You could create a company-wide “steps” contest or fitness challenge using activity trackers. Instead of sitting in the staff café for lunch, why not go for a walk outside with your department. Commit to participating in a lunch hour yoga class once a week for the month of February with a few of your teammates. The more you move, the happier you and your heart will be.
3. Make A Donation
Create a company-wide initiative to raise money for a heart-related cause or foundation. There are so many charities that have volunteer opportunities, including the Heart & Stroke Foundation, so you could also get a group of coworkers together and donate your time.
4. Healthy Recipe Exchange
We’ve always been told “you are what you eat”. The heart relies on a healthy diet to function properly, so why not focus on treating it right this Heart Month (and always)? Start a “healthy recipe” email chain or internal chat so you and your colleagues can easily share healthy and hearty recipes. This recipe for Easy Fish Tacos with Lime Slaw is definitely one of our favourites! Who knows, maybe a weekly heart-healthy potluck will come of it!
5. Lunch & Learns
Connect with local healthcare professionals in your area and see if they would be open to speaking to your organization over a lunch hour. The presentation could include preventive tips to protect your heart or a safety overview about how to recognize the signs of a heart attack. Reach out to a local caterer that uses fresh produce to ensure that the lunch provided is a healthy one!
*In Calgary, AB? We would be happy to have a ‘lunch and learn’ with your organization about the heart (and let your team try out an AED)! Contact us to inquire!
6. Spread The Word
Sharing is caring. More information being shared about heart health means that more people are learning about how to effectively take care of their hearts. Post flyers with heart health facts on your company bulletin boards, in your monthly newsletter, or on your organization’s social media platforms by using the hashtag #HeartMonth. And don’t forget to post your Wear Red Collection selfies to #HerHeartMatters!
Need more to share? Follow our social media channels (instagram, facebook, linkedin) for great heart month content all month (and always)!
7. Show Some Love
When you perform an act of kindness, you are not only helping those around you – you are helping your heart! Acts of
kindness ease anxiety and stress (which cause a lot of strain on the heart), and studies have shown that acts of kindness cause the release of a hormone called oxytocin. This release causes blood vessels to dilate, lowering blood pressure as a result. Show a little extra love to your colleagues on Valentine’s Day through thoughtful notes or healthy snacks – they won’t be the only ones thanking you!
Just as the heart has become a global symbol for love, let’s show hearts some love this Heart Month. We’ve only got one after all! So, rally your co-workers together, get involved, and let your hearts beat together to raise awareness this Heart Month!
