Download PDF of January 2021 ySocial Issue
January 2021
January is National Blood Donor Month
Help save a life! For information on where to donate near you visit, http://rdcrss.org/3oVb7u6
January 4 - National Spaghetti Day and National Trivia Day
π Mash the two up and ask a spaghetti-related trivia question.
Name the two most popular pasta types after spaghetti?
Answer: Penne and Rotini
January 18 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 19 - National Popcorn Day
π Pop some corn, get cozy on the couch, and watch your favorite movie in honor of National Popcorn Day! #movienight #nationalpopcornday #snacks #popcornlover #food
January 21 - National Hug Day
π€ We’ve all been doing a lot less hugging this year, so reach out to your loved ones and let them know you’re still there for them.
January 23 - National Pie Day
π₯§ What’s your favorite pie? Share your recipes with us! #nationalpieday #apple #cherry #potpie
January 24 - National Compliment Day
Spread positivity online! Leave a 5-star review, compliment a friend, be kind with your comments, or share some advice. #shredhate #bekind #stopbullying
January 31 - National Hot Chocolate Day
Drink up! Cocoa has many health benefits. #nationalhotchocolateday https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cocoa-powder-nutrition-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2
What’s in season? Lemons, oranges, grapefruit, beets, turnips, celery root, onions, leeks, potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, and radishes.
Brighten up your winter diet with ruby red grapefruit. It hydrates the body, controls appetite, brightens skin, fights illness, and helps maintain eye health. Try baking it for 4 minutes with a little sugar and crystallized ginger. #nomnom
Did you overindulge during the holidays? Make January a healthy start to the year by cooking up some of these nutritious meals. https://www.brit.co/living/healthy-eating/healthy-january-recipes/
January 24 is National Peanut Butter Day. π₯ Did you know peanut butter is an excellent source of healthy fats like oleic acid, improving insulin sensitivity? It’s also a good source of protein and is low in carbs.
2020 definitely got us into routines and oftentimes ruts. Add some of these breakfast ideas into the mix and say goodbye to those boring eggs! https://www.self.com/gallery/high-protein-breakfasts-that-arent-eggs
Pro Tip: π Start your day with lemon water to hydrate, feel good, get a healthy dose of vitamin C, and promote digestive health. Just make some lemon juice ice cubes and pop them in your morning water!
This is a game-changer for all you radish naysayers. If you haven’t tried roasting radishes, you are in for a big surprise! We promise you’ll love them. https://therealfoodrds.com/garlic-roasted-radishes/
Spice it up! Cinnamon, everyone’s wintertime favorite, has been shown to help control blood sugar levels in people with prediabetes.
Improve your health in less than 1 minute. Stand up once an hour. When we sit for prolonged periods, toxins also sit, promoting damage to our blood vessels and increased risk for heart disease.
Pet Corner: πππ Being playful with your pet not only provides them with exercise it also activates oxytocin, the hormone involved with love and bonding, and dopamine, a neurotransmitter that improves our mood. That’s the emotional power of pets!
More people are traveling by car versus flying these days. Keep things healthier by bringing road trip snacks. Think hummus, pre-cut veggies, cheese and crackers, yogurt and granola, popcorn, nuts, and homemade sandwiches.
Winter readiness tip: Be sure your car is ready for winter and prepare an emergency kit. Include gloves, an ice scraper, road flares, blankets, sand or kitty litter, first-aid supplies, snacks, and a few bottles of water.
Pro Tip: Dry skin? Avoid steaming hot water, lengthy hot showers, or long soaks in a hot tub. Hot and prolonged exposure will strip your skin of its natural oils and cause dry, itchy skin.
Did you receive a Smartwatch for Christmas? βMake sure to take advantage of everything it has to offer, like blood oxygen levels, sleep tracking, handwashing countdown timers, heart rate monitoring, and stress management features.
π Many of us turned to at-home workouts this year. This makes us wonder, do we need to wear shoes when we exercise? The answer is yes! Shoes are shock absorbers, help ensure balance, and promote overall foot health. You can, however, skip the shoes when practicing yoga.
Brrr. January is cold. Stay inside and purge your pantry by tossing out any items that have expired or donate any that are no longer needed.
Get involved: One in four kids face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is an organization that connects at-risk children with the food they need. You can help make a difference by donating this new year. https://www.nokidhungry.org
Have a community book exchange box in your neighborhood? Start filling it with pantry items. Visit https://littlefreelibrary.org for more information.
Let’s keep taking care of each other! Be mindful of those working in industries that have been deemed “essential” - like restaurants, retail, delivery, and medicine. Wear your mask when your server comes to your table, acknowledge retail workers when you visit a shop, and say thank you to your delivery drivers.
Volunteer and make a difference! Seniors are among those at greatest risk during this pandemic. Meals on Wheels works to keep them safe! See how you can help support your community by visiting: https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org
January is National Mentoring Month. Become a mentor! It’s a shared opportunity for learning and growth. https://www.mentoring.org/take-action/become-a-mentor/
βοΈ Lend a helping hand. When the snow piles up, break out the shovel and offer to help clean off driveways or sidewalks of your neighbors in need.
Tips for staying healthy this cold and flu season. Get plenty of sleep. Be physically active. Manage stress. Eat nutritious foods. Wear a mask in public. Avoid crowded areas. Drink plenty of fluids. Wash your hands frequently.
Did you know that Vitamin D is not actually a vitamin but a hormone? It plays a massive role in helping your body fight off bacteria, fungus, parasites and viruses. But in winter, our levels drop, causing fatigue, insomnia, joint pain, muscle pain, and frequent respiratory and sinus infections.
Facebook Poll: Are you sticking to your New Year’s resolutions? Yes or No
Prioritize your mental health. Consistent, quality sleep helps regulate metabolism and improves immune function. Try sticking to a regular bedtime and turning off technology early.
Fitness for flexibility. The tree pose is a great way to stretch your hips, knees and shoulders. Stand with feet together and palms in prayer position at the heart. Slowly raise one foot and rest it on the inside of the opposite calf or thigh. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds. Repeat with the other leg.
Feeling under the weather? Not sure if it’s COVID or the flu? Know the difference and help stop the spread. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm
Excellent advice and options on how to plan your workout during these stressful times. https://www.self.com/story/how-to-workout-when-stressed
Pro Tip: A recent study found that people who track their food intake were more than twice as likely to lose weight than those who didn’t. Good news… there’s an app for that! Search the app store or check the features on your fitness device and start tracking!
Try something new this year, like boxing. It keeps your mind engaged and challenged, builds hand-eye coordination, mental toughness, and confidence. Plus, it’s a great stress reliever!
π§Έ Did Santa bring your kids new toys for Christmas? Now’s the time for a toy purge! Have your kids decide which ones they would like to keep and which ones you can donate.
What healthy snacks do your kids just love? Share your finds! We know it’s tough for some parents with virtual learning and in-school food restrictions, so all ideas are welcome.
Friendly Reminder: Make sure to post what childcare service options are available to your members and any restrictions that might apply. Also, share your hours.
Check out these free printables to keep you and your family organized in 2021! http://www.shiningmom.com/printable-calendars-2021/
Break out the cotton balls and keep the kids creative with these easy wintertime crafts. https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/winter-crafts-for-kids-to-make/
β Fun outdoor activities to do with your kids this winter - build a snowman or snow fort, have a snowball fight, have a bonfire and make Smores, go sledding or snow tubing, look at the stars, take a winter hike, or go on a winter scavenger hunt!
We can all use a little help! Here’s how to get kids of all ages to assist in the kitchen during the long winter months. https://www.parents.com/recipes/scoop-on-food/easy-ways-to-get-kids-cooking/
Must read: These excellent parenting tips to help you cope through the difficult and stressful times. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/parenting-family/parenting-during-coronavirus.htm
We’ve all heard it from the mouths of children, “I’m bored.” What suggestions do you provide your kids?
Attention all runners! πβοΈWith the chance of snow coming, bring your run inside. We have an indoor track and lots of treadmills to keep you moving.
Donating to your local Y provides emergency services to communities in need, including food for kids without access to school meals. Here’s how you can help: (insert link to page with information)
This new year, challenge yourself to exercise every day. Go for a quick walk after lunch or dinner. Jump on a bike between meetings. Or, schedule time out of your day for a visit to the Y! #fitness #workout #health #lifestyle #motivation #goals
Friendly Reminder: Continue collecting those coats, hats, gloves, and scarves for local shelters. Put up signs, advertise on your social channels, and spread the word!
January Challenge: Up your incline and speed on the treadmill, do some extra sets, or push yourself an extra minute on the bike! #fitness #workout #health #lifestyle #motivation #goals
So many reasons to join the Y! State-of-the-art equipment, fitness classes, youth development programs, childcare services, personal trainers, and so much more! Learn more at (insert URL to page with more information).
New Year, New You! Try a new workout or routine this month at the Y and share your thoughts on it with us. #resolutions #inspiration #motivation #lifestyle #health #fitness #goals #fit
January 11 is National Milk Day. π₯According to 2020 search trends, what was the most popular type of milk?
Answer: Almond milk
How many streets in the U.S. are named after Martin Luther King Jr. - 421, 802, 955, or 1251?
Answer: At least 955 streets in the U.S. are named after Martin Luther King Jr.
βοΈ Where is the snowiest city on Earth?
A: Quebec City, Canada
B: Anchorage, Alaska
C: Aomori City, Japan
D: Syracuse, New York
Answer: C: Aomori City, Japan, averages 312 inches of snow a year. That’s nearly 26 feet!
Which pole is warmer North, or South?
Answer: The North Pole is warmer than the South by about 65 degrees.
True or False. There are five different shapes of popcorn.
Answer: False. There are two different shapes - mushroom and butterfly.
What fruit is a hybrid of the mandarin orange and the grapefruit?
Answer: The Tangelo
Did you know that walking is an exceptional creativity booster? So get walking!
“It is only ideas gained from walking that have any worth.” ~ Nietzsche
“Don’t stop when you’re tired. Stop when you are done.” ~ Unknown
Music motivation. Ask your smart speaker to play “snowy day” or “winter mood” music. Then spend the day dancing around or cleaning the house!
“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.”
~ Roy T. Bennett
“You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” ~ Martin Luther King
“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” ~ Unknown
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” ~ Abraham Lincoln
“If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” ~ Fred DeVito
Profile an employee each week and have them share why they love the Y, what motivates them, their favorite foods, what healthy choices they make, and so on. It’s a great way for your members to get to know them! #motivation #health #fitness #foodie #exercise
Have your staff share what their New Year’s Resolutions are and how they plan on sticking to them. #newyear #newyou #fitnessgoals #newyearsresolution #challengeyourself
Continue with: Videos or live streams of fitness classes or members working out at your Y to show off your facilities and encourage new membership. Also, show how clean and safe it is! #maskson #selfdistancing #newnormal #washyourhands #wereinthistogether #stopthespread #wegotthis
Ask your members to submit video testimonials and post them to your social channels. Try to represent people with different background stories - busy moms, an older fitness guru, or a younger member looking to live a fit and healthy lifestyle.