For Women War-workers.

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 51

For Women War-workers.

Girls and women whom war-work is taking out to business for the first time in their lives should, at the outset, make up their minds not to let their health or looks be injured. The two, of course, go largely together, but while the mature woman will be more interested in retaining her health, the girl worker may be best influenced by an appeal to her natural interest in her personal appearance. One of the most harmful effects of office work is due to girls sitting in awkward and tiring positions. This habit not only produces round shoulders and an ugly gait, but it also retards circulation by throwing the organs out of their natural balance and so puts undue pressure upon certain nerves and blood-vessels. A good five minutes' exercise each morning is to walk up and down your bedroom with a stick placed across your back level with the elbows. Then stand at the open jgndow and take deep breaths, lifting your shoulders high in order to fill the tops of your lungs with air. Never neglect having a thoroughly good

wash as soon as possible after returning from business, and a change of blouse. This not only safeguards the health, but also invigorates the spirits—which, alone, is one of the finest of germ-fighters. If your war-work involves a lot of nerve-strain—as (most war-work certainly does—do not make the mistake of using such leisure time as you may get fot "running to town" to meet friends in restaurants and places of amusement. Instead, use all your time for real rest—taking your ease at full length on couch<!or bed, enjoying a quiet hook or chat, and avoiding all subjects calculated to worry or excite you. Women who wish to serve their country steadily till the glorious end must be prepared to make the sacrifice fully, by doing without the frivolities of peace-times and conserving their energies in every possible way. With method and determination there is no real reason why any girl or woman should either look, or feel any the worse for her patriotic efforts.