Health & Fitness
Ridgefield Visiting Nurses Offer Tips for Stress-Free New Year
Stress can contribute to the development of major illnesses, such as heart disease, depression, and obesity.
RIDGEFIELD, CT — Urging residents to make reducing stress a resolution for 2019, the Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association is offering some tips to remove that "silent killer" from your routine.
Recognizing that "In small doses, stress can be positive and motivating, encouraging us to perform well at a presentation, meet an important deadline, or host the best holiday party ever," RVNA president and CEO Theresa Santoro, MSN, RN, CHCA notes that stress left untreated can result in serious health conditions.
"Research shows that stress can also contribute to the development of major illnesses, such as heart disease, depression, and obesity," Santoro said in a release.
The RVNA are passing along five proven techniques from the American Psychological Association that have been shown to reduce stress in both the short and long term:
- Take a break from the stressor. It may seem difficult to walk away from a big work project, a family issue, or mounting bills, but stepping away gives you time to do something else and to think, which can offer new perspectives and leave you feeling refreshed and less overwhelmed.
- Exercise. Exercise benefits your mind and your body. During stressful times, exercise — whether a 20-minute walk or a vigorous workout — can offer an immediate release and positive effect lasting for several hours.
- Smile and laugh. Our brains are interconnected with our emotions and facial expressions. When you’re stressed, you often hold a lot of the stress in your face. Laughs and smiles can relieve the tension and improve the situation.
- Get social. Call a friend, send an email. When you share your concerns and connect with another person — whom you trust and who understands you —it helps relieve stress and makes your world a bigger, friendlier place.
- Meditate. Much like exercise, research shows that even meditating briefly can reap immediate benefits. It helps the mind and body to relax and focus.
The RVNA is a non-profit Medicare-certified home healthcare agency that serves Connecticut towns in Fairfield County, New Haven County and Litchfield County, providing nursing services, physical therapy, and disease management, as well as non-medical home care.
Image via Shutterstock
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