Blog Archives - Page 2 of 40 - Be Well Solutions

Sleepless from Stress? How to Break the Cycle and Sleep Better

Most of us have experienced stress that interferes with rest and causes sleepless nights. Whenever we don’t get adequate quality sleep, it increases our stress level, and the cycle continues. A study by the American Psychological Association1 found that “Adults with high stress are more likely to say they are not getting enough sleep because their minds race (49 percent vs. 10 percent of adults with low stress).” They also stated that the effects of poor or lessened sleep included feeling more sluggish, irritable, sad, depressed, and having more difficulty concentrating. Break the cycle and improve your sleep quality by incorporating the tips below. Create a Bedtime Routine Creating a bedtime routine that you follow consistently can help prepare your mind and body for restful sleep. Aim to begin around the same time each evening. Start by prepping for tomorrow. [...]

Tags: #DeepBreathing, bedtimehabits, betterresttips, blue-lightawareness, calmingnighttimehabits, journalingforsleep, mindfulsleep, Muscle Relaxation, restfulsleep, screenfreesleep, sleepandstress, sleepfoundationtips, sleephygiene, sleeproutine, sleepwellness, StressManagement, stretchbeforebed|

Outdoor Workout Safety for the Summertime

Longer daylight hours and warmer, sunny days make workouts more motivating this time of year. However, safely navigating the elements can take more preparation and planning. Follow the tips below to keep your summer exercise sessions safe and rewarding. Choose the Right Time Avoid exercising in the heat of the day by scheduling your workouts in the cooler morning or evening hours. The sun’s rays are usually the most intense between 10 am and 4 pm. If you can’t avoid the midday timeslot, aim for areas of high shade or consider activities in water. Stay Hydrated Don’t wait until you are thirsty to start drinking water. Hydrate before, during, and after your activity. Proper hydration allows your body to regulate its temperature and cool properly, while dehydration is directly related to heat illness. Bring a water bottle or plan adequate [...]

Tags: exercisehydration, exercisewithcare, exercisingsafely, heatillnessprevention, heatstrokeawareness, hotweathertips, HydrationTips, outdoorfitness, safeexercisetips, staysafeinheat, summerexercise, summerfitness, summerhealthtips, summerworkouts, sunsafety, warmweatherexercise, workoutprep|

Be Alert: 8 Healthy Habits for Everyday Safety

Your overall health and well-being are influenced by practicing safe habits each day. We want to highlight several choices that can make a significant impact as we recognize National Safety Month. Consider these eight healthy habits for your everyday safety. Stretch Stretching isn’t just for increasing flexibility. It can ease muscle tension, enhance range of motion, improve circulation, and even benefit your posture. Whether stretching after a strenuous workout or during a long day in front of your computer, it can lower your risk of injury by improving how your body moves. Stay Hydrated Maintain hydration all day, especially before, during, and after activity. Hydration is necessary for proper muscle movement, joint health, and cognitive function. It also helps the body regulate temperature, which is vital for preventing heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses. Test Your Alarms Testing your smoke [...]

Manage Stress with Mindful Eating

In today’s fast-paced world, stress is a common part of daily life. While occasional stress is normal, chronic stress can take a toll on our physical and emotional well-being. Stress can impact sleep, immunity, digestion, and even eating habits. One powerful tool for managing stress is mindful eating. What is Mindful Eating? Mindful eating is the practice of paying full attention to the experience of eating, which includes being aware of the flavors, textures, sensations of food, as well as our hunger and fullness cues. It’s about shifting from distracted eating to a more intentional and connected experience. This helps to increase gratitude for food, which can improve the overall eating experience (Cheung, 2017)[1]. The Link Between Stress and Eating Habits When we’re under stress, the body releases cortisol, a hormone that can increase cravings for high-fat, high-sugar comfort foods. [...]

Fresh Air Fix: 5 Simple Outdoor Activities to Relieve Stress

As our lives become more fast-paced and intertwined with technology, our time spent outdoors decreases while our stress levels increase. Research has shown that intentionally getting outside among nature can positively impact our health and how we manage stress. According to the American Psychological Association1, “spending time in nature is linked to both cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health and emotional well-being.” Try these five simple outdoor activities for a mental break and better stress management. Hike or Walk Take a short walk outside on your lunch break or go for a longer hike at a nearby park on the weekend. Regardless of the distance, walking is beneficial for enjoying nature and increasing your physical activity. Both approaches can have a significant impact on managing your daily stress. Consider skipping the headphones and allow yourself to practice being [...]

Family Fitness in the Sun: Outdoor Activities to Get Everyone Moving

Summer is just around the corner, and what better way to get moving than including the whole family in fun outdoor activities? We often give up on our exercise routine because it gets boring, or we feel guilty for time spent away from our families. Outdoor activities can turn exercise into enjoyable and motivating movement. Grab your loved ones and find an activity that everyone can look forward to. Try These Outdoor Ideas Plant and tend to a garden. Teach the skills of digging, planting, weeding, and watering as you incorporate the activity of gardening with your family. It can even bring an interest in adding more fruit and vegetables to your meals. Caring for a garden can bring continued movement all season long. Go on a hike. Enjoy nature by going for a hike. Whether traveling to a scenic [...]

Why the Flu Shot Matters More Than Ever

After years of navigating public health recommendations, it's completely natural to feel some vaccine fatigue – a sense of weariness to keep up with vaccinations due to pandemic burnout, information overload or confusion. But the truth is that the flu is still a serious threat. Staying protected matters for you and those around you. According to the Associated Press, this past flu season was the most severe we’ve seen in over 15 years[1]. The CDC[2] estimates that the flu led to: 47 million illnesses 610,000 hospitalizations 27,000 deaths While the CDC hasn’t yet released exact numbers on how many illnesses and hospitalizations were prevented by the flu vaccine this season, we know from past years that vaccination can make a big difference. What can we do? The CDC recommends[3] that everyone 6 months and older gets a flu shot each [...]

Tags: #flushot, #protecteachother, #publichealth, #StayHealthy, #vaccineawareness, #workplacewellness|

Foods for Restful Nights: Certain Foods Can Help or Hurt Our Sleep

Getting a good night's sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Sleep is not a passive process; during sleep our body revitalizes physically and mentally. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that proper sleep reduces the risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and clinical depression. Proper sleep is essential for optimal daytime functioning. The doctors at the CDC advise that most adults should get between 7 and 9 hours of sound, uninterrupted sleep each night. The most common symptom of poor sleep is daytime fatigue and poor energy. The National Sleep Foundation reports that nearly a quarter of all US adults experience sleep difficulties that impair their daytime energy, motivation and concentration. While many factors affect sleep including sleep environment (light, temperature, sounds), individual stress levels, [...]

Build Healthy Routines with Healthy Habit Formation

Healthy lifestyle routines lower the risk of various health conditions, diseases, and all-cause mortality (National Library of Medicine1). However, it is challenging to create healthy habits that last. It might feel frustrating when you don’t see results immediately or have difficulty navigating a busy schedule. Too often, we give up before healthy habits become part of our lifestyle. The good news is that creating lasting healthy habits isn’t impossible. Follow the tips below to build personalized healthy routines by forming healthy habits that endure despite our ever-changing schedules and lives. Keep Your Goals SMART Creating a habit can be challenging if you don’t have a specific plan or direction that you are aiming for. Often, we set broad goals and then feel defeated when we don’t see progress. Setting SMART goals can set you up for better success. S – [...]

Tips for Handling Stressors that are Beyond Your Control

Stressful situations occur every day. Some conditions are within our control and can be alleviated or changed, while others lie beyond our control. We cannot regulate things like traffic, the behavior of others, or environmental factors, but they can still bring worry, anxiety, and frustration. Learning to accept and respond to situations you cannot control will bring healthy stress management and resiliency for the future. Identify and Acknowledge Your Stress Managing stress begins with identifying and acknowledging our stressors. As our body reacts to stressful situations, we can’t brush them under the rug and wait for them to disappear. Learning to cope and carry on healthily can help you adapt during challenging times. Pay attention to your warning signs. While you might not always notice stressors piling on, you are more likely to see changes in your behavior, sleep, emotions, [...]