We’ve been through a lot these last couple years, so let’s give ourselves a break in 2022. Rather than a resolution to return to your fighting weight, how about committing to simply moving more for your overall health? Even light movement benefits your muscles, bones, joints, brain, heart and lungs. And if a few pounds fall away in the process, all the better.

I do tend to believe the old adage “cold hands, warm heart” as my mom has the coldest hands I know. But I can’t prove that cold hands specifically lead to more errors at work—at least not in the type of work we all do at our desks. In my research about cold hands, however, I learned a few things that confirm my devotion to climate controls at individual workstations.

Reviewing floorplans, renderings and virtual walkthroughs is generally not an everyday occurrence for professionals in dispatch, command & control and healthcare centers. In some organizations, the project manager may have two or three remodels or new builds under his or her belt, but most of the time we’re talking about a once-in-a-career project. And yet, you’re being asked to sign off on a project that runs thousands of dollars and is intended to last 10 to 20 years!

"Go out there and enjoy.” That’s the gov’t guidance on trick-or-treating this Halloween. And given that it’s a Sunday night after a year of pent-up demand, we may see more kiddos out than normal. To get in the spirit early, share your photos and inspire others. We’re looking for creative office décor, costumes, face coverings and mask selfies.

7/11. The average American spends 7 hours and 11 minutes looking at a screen each day. I venture to say it’s even worse in 24/7 operations such as 911 dispatch, security/surveillance and emergency operations centers. Add to that the increases in smoke and pollution in the air, and our poor eyes are strained. Fortunately, inexpensive quick fixes are at the ready.

During this long Covid adventure, we’re finally coming to a consensus on one thing: The virus very rarely spreads through surface contact. But do you know what does thrive on surfaces—especially hard surfaces—for hours? Cold and flu viruses. Experts aren’t sure how our Covid habits will impact this year’s cold and flu season. But I’m sure that I don’t want a cold or the flu or Covid. So I looked back through the Xybix blog archives for tips on staying healthy at this time of year.

When Michelle Foster shared her health and fitness journey with me, I could almost hear Tim McGraw in the background singing “Someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.” In the spring of 2017, a cancer scare—fortunately, benign—inspired Michelle to commit to her physical and mental health. “For the last five years, I’ve lived every day to the fullest,” says Michelle. “I live with no regret. You can’t imagine how much better your life gets if you live like that.”

Front-line workers in healthcare are simply burned out, and I don’t need to tell you why. Meanwhile, many of those in healthcare who could work from home did during the worst of the pandemic…and they’re not all that interested in going back. Experts are predicting that the Great Resignation, already alive and well in healthcare, will gain momentum in the fall.

It’s a happy day in my house when the Costco Connection magazine arrives. Flipping through it is like an extension of the treasure hunt that is a trip through the Costco warehouse. The latest issue had the last thing I would expect from my favorite purveyor of paper towels—some really good information on carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).  

Back in the day, Oconee County dispatchers started off their 12-hour shifts in a gray workspace, wondering whether their old, rickety, uncomfortable consoles would even function that day. Collaboration with Xybix changed all that, creating an open, functional and comfortable workplace that boosts morale and productivity.