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6 s oS Zz = Ss = , August 17, 2023 | = @ WHATEVER SENSE OF © RELAXATION | HAVE 2 # ACHIEVED IS WIPED BACK, WRITES DREW EDWARDS The days right before and right after any vaca- tion always make me won- der if it's worth it. The lead-up to time off is always chaotic. Longer days at the office trying to get everything squared away in hopes of getting a |, uninterrupted break from the stresses of work. I want to set and forget my auto-reply email and not DREW EDWARDS: Column have to worry about check- ing in. It almost never works. Then there are the lo- gistics of going away. Find- ing a place to go or rent that isn't a million-kajil- lion dollars. Is the dog coming with us? Do we need a house sitter? Pack- ing and planning and then panicking because I'm al- ways convinced there's one super important thing that I'm forgetting. The first few days back at work after an extended often even If everything has gone according to plan, I've usu- ally hada ton offun but I'm it's over: why can't my en- tire life just be lazy morn- afternoons at the each and evenings by the camp ae My Inbox i is full to the brim: it e most of the day to 0 through it, even longer to follow upon everything I've missed. Ev- ory conversation oe co- rorkers inevitably in- cludes the phrase, ™ was waiting for you to get back before..." hatever sense of re- laxation I have achieved is wiped away before mid-af- ternoon on that first Mon- day back. My resolve to limit my stress and keep things in perspective gets eviscerated in a few short hours. By Tuesday, it's like I was never away atall- the week was somehow differ- ent. And yet... Vacations are an impor- tant reminder that there is more to life than just the daily grind of work ai day-to-day existence. I ana joy my job most days and I live an enjoyable life by al- most any standard. But there's no question it comes with its share of stresses and challenges. Time away puts that in perspective, at least for a little while. It's reminder TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT WATERLOOCHRONICLE.CA THE GOOD AND THE BAD OF VACATION TIME that part of the reason I work is to do things and go places out of the ordinary, not just to pay the mort- gage and feed my family. Those breaks, as infre- quent as they are, break the monotony of every day life and allow me to invest in it anew. So while I sometimes questions if the cost of go- ing on vacation - in both money and related stress - are worth it in the days be- fore and after, I never re- t actually being on holi- day. It always seems not just worth it, but somehow integral to making regular that much more bear- able. Now, back to work. Drew Edwards of Guelph can be reached at drew@drewedwards.ca. 9 HEALTH TIPS FOR BACK T0 SCHOOL With the new school year just around the cor- ner, he ir. rat Bahl's tips for a safe and healthy return to school: SET A DAILY ROUTINE Set and maintain regu- lar meal and study times, and have a consistent bed- time and wake time to en- sure your child starts each school day rested and ready to learn. It's also im- portant to have a routine for screen The Canadian Paedia- tric Society recommends school-aged children should follow the four Ms: Manage screen use through plans, rules and limits; encourage Mean- ful screen-use to en- sure screen time has posi- tive purpose; be a good screen time role Model; 8 and Monitor your child's & screen time activity. FS i HEALTHY DIET Children who have a Pd N DR. BHARAT BAHL Column healthy breakfast in the morning are able to focus and do better at Scho At home child's school nutrition program, start your child's day with a well-balanced breakfast, such as a bowl of whole grain cereal with fresh fruit. Avoid sugary drinks, which can contain up to 10 teaspoons of sugar. Water is the best way to stay hy- drated. Provide your child with a nutritious | lunch and healthy sn: TAKE THE TIME ‘70 TALK WITH YOUR CHILD AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE For children, going to school for the first time or starting a new grade can be stressful. On the fir: lay of school and throughout the school year, be present and supportive by talking with your child and showing in- teres activities, about their fee! These conversations are also a good opportuni- ty to talk to your child about safety at every age, and educating them about bullying. CHOOSE THE RIGHT CKPACK Most students use a backpack to carry school supplies, lunch and other items needed or yan school day. Ens child uses a well: fitted He tn help prevent back Look or a s padded back- pack with a wide and pad- ded shoulder strap. When fitted properly, the bottom Metro Creative photo A child's backpack should be well fitted to help prevent back injuries, according to Dr. Bahl. of the backpack should sit at the child's hip. As a ref- erence, the packed weight of the backpack should not exceed 20 per cent of the child's weight. ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO BE ACTIVE AND SAFE Being active and keep- ne fit is important at all Cycling to school auring the autumn and spring m¢ a great way for your me to beac- tive and get to school. Children should always wear a helmet when cy- cling, skateboarding, rid- ing a scooter or rollerblad- ing. Sports and activities are also an excellent way for kids to make and use up extra e nergy. Dr. Bharat Bahl, MD CCFP, CAC, EM, is an emergency physician with William Osler Health System and the palliative care physician lead at Osler's Etobicoke General Hospital. After complet- ing medical school at the pniuersity of Toronto, Dr. Bahl completed emergen- cy medicine training at the University of Ottawa, and palliative care train- ing on McMaster Uni. Tis ino published ursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. 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