Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 13

Stress
Buster
with
Rewards
STRESS BUSTER:

DEEP BREATHING

PHOTO BY CORBIS/SUPERSTOCK

CAll

How It Works: During stressful times, your
breathing becomes shallow, making you feel
short of breath. You can combat the stress
response and feel more relaxed by taking several deep breaths. Deep breathing expands
the diaphragm, lowers cortisol and blood
pressure levels, and slows the heartbeat.
For the best results, Kirsch suggests inhaling deeply through your nose, exhaling
slowly through your mouth and repeating the
sequence at least six times. "It's a natural way
to control the stress response," he says.
When to Use It: Anytime, anyplace.
The best thing about deep breathing
exercises-aside from their effectiveness-is
that it's possible to use them in a range of situations. Stuck in trafﬁc? Turn off the radio
and tune in to your breathing. Pressured at
work? You can take deep breaths while prepping a client report or taking notes in the
morning meeting.

Are You a
Business Owner?

Businesses interested in creating
a healthier workforce with New
Healthy Me can call 219-934-2861
to schedule an appointment for
a demonstration presentation.

STRESS BUSTER:

WATCHING TV

How It Works: Your favorite shows can reduce
the physical effects of stress, including
fatigue. But skip the true crime dramas and
opt for sitcoms instead.
"The big belly laugh that comes from
watching something funny increases your
intake of oxygen and reduces your blood
pressure," Bauman says.
Watching a rerun may be particularly
helpful in recovering from a stressful experience, according to a new study. Researchers
believe that knowing the outcome of a previously viewed TV show alleviates any pressure to pay close attention to the plot. Just the
anticipation of laughing at the characters can
release endorphins and reduce stress.
When to Use It: When you don't have the
energy to engage in active stress relief.
Stress can sap your energy. Zoning out in
front of the television might be the perfect
antidote to a stressful day at work. While
it's OK to watch an hour or two of television
in an evening, avoid too much screen time,
which can lead to weight gain, increasing-
you guessed it-stress.

New Healthy Me (NHM)
is the points-based
incentive program
that has been helping
Community Healthcare
System and other area
businesses reduce
employees' stress and
help them maintain
healthier lifestyles.
As employees participate in activities
through the year, like
exercising, losing weight
and getting an annual
physical, they accumulate points that translate into rewards. Every
5,000 points accumulated means prizes-
gift cards, drawings
and more.
"We have a program
that can be customized
to fit any company's
specific needs," says
Roger Vogie, director of
NHM. "Employees can
see real results, which
may include a reduction in the number of
reported days off work
due to illness and a
decrease in the number
of healthcare claims
filed annually."
SUM MER 2014

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare

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