UAB Briefs: Keeping those New Year's resolutions and the joy of sax
Welcome to another installment of UAB Briefs, in which we keep track of interesting people and events on campus.
Know people, places and programs on the UAB campus that deserve a mention? Email Iron City Ink at sydney@starnespublishing.com and jchambers@starnespublishing.com
And of course, have a safe and happy New Year!
Those pesky resolutions
Nearly half of all Americans – about 45 percent – make New Year’s resolutions, according to the Statistic Brain Research Institute.
Of course, only about eight percent of those well-intentioned people are able to keep those resolutions, whether they are seeking to lose weight or get organized or save money, the Institute says.
But there are ways for people to increase their chances of keeping their resolutions – including health-related goals – according to Anna Threadcraft, director of UAB Employee Wellness, in a UAB news release.
Start Small: Begin incorporating small, sustainable changes into your lifestyle that you can stick with, not ones that sound good but you know you’ll never maintain.
Plan Ahead: Visit the grocery store right away. It’s much easier to make wise choices if you have healthy options readily available.
Be Accountable: Place a reminder or check-in on your phone, or send a prescheduled email to yourself. Include reminders of why you’re working on the goals.
Rest: When you are well-rested, you make better decisions, plan better and typically have a better attitude, so consider your sleep pattern before making any huge health changes that require great effort.
People making resolutions should also focus on mental wellness, according to UAB clinical psychologist Josh Klapow.
“Our thoughts and feelings have a direct impact on our overall well-being,” he said in the release, adding that it’s critical to deal effectively with stress.
“Daily stresses have a funny way of building up to a point where people can feel overwhelmed,” he said.
Klapow suggests writing down those stressful situations and putting checkmarks next to the ones that can be changed.
“Monitoring stress levels is a good habit to make, and taking short mental breaks can be helpful in breaking up the high-tension moments,” Klapow said, adding that even something simple like a daily walk can reduce stressful feelings.
Both Threadcraft and Klapow urge people to have a plan, set specific goals and keep track of their progress.
The joy of sax
Works for saxophone by William Price, a UAB composer and associate professor of music, are getting exposure at two prestigious international events.
“Remembrance II” for alto saxophone and piano was to be performed at Philippos Nakas Conservatory of Music in Athens, Greece, on Dec. 20, according to a UAB news release.
The Athens concert was held in honor of Price’s teacher and mentor, distinguished Greek teacher and composer Dinos Constantinides.
A recently composed duet of Price’s, “Sonata: Folie à Deux,” is to be performed in Washington, D.C., Jan. 6, at the International Saxophone Symposium at George Mason University Center for the Arts.
Price teaches music theory and composition in the UAB Department of Music.