Steve Tutty, Associate Director, Clinical Behavioral Services:   How many of your employees are feeling the effects of chronic stress this very minute? Chances are, the answer is "all of them." There are many reasons why this could be. First, consider our modern environment.  We depend on sophisticated information tools to work more efficiently, and we now expect efficient productivity.  As a result, employees are multi tasking – email, text, internet, cell, text, email, etc., and... [More]

Erin Thompson, Marketing Manager:   In our modern environment, it's not hard to be stressed. Around the country, people are dealing with financial crises and job insecurity, which breed fear, uncertainty, and higher levels of stress, both in the home and the workplace. This can mean a severe drop in employee morale, health and productivity -- which puts your organization in its own financial crisis. A recent Gallup Poll concluded that while 80% of workers admit that they are stres... [More]

Beth Shepard, MS, Exercise Physiologist, Contributing Writer:   My family can always tell whether or not I’ve worked out or not on any given day ― by how cranky or pleasant I am at dinnertime. It’s no secret that exercise boosts mood ― it’s been used to treat mild depression and anxiety for years. But Dr. Jeremy Sibold and his co-author Kathy Berg, from the University of Vermont, recently found that moderate cardiovascular exercise boosts mood immediately, and that the mood-elevat... [More]

Jennifer Lovejoy, PhD, Vice President, Clinical Development and Support:   The new flu outbreak has everyone concerned, but besides washing your hands a lot, the best way to stay healthy is to make sure your immune system is strong.  It’s well known that lifestyle choices have a big effect on immunity, so now is a good time to re-evaluate your current habits. There are 3 key areas to look at: 1) Nutrition – If you are eating the Standard American Diet (“SAD”) full of whi... [More]

Adrienne Schultz, Sales Coordinator:   Research proves that chronic stress is unhealthy – symptoms include headaches, stomach issues, sleeplessness, illness, weight loss, weight gain and depression.  In my sometimes stressful, but relatively stress-free life, I’ve managed to experience a few of those symptoms and also deduce the following: 1. We all have stress (tell me something I don’t know, you’re thinking). But different sources affect people differently.  For me, it’s wha... [More]

Jennifer Fifield, M.S., Content Manager, Weight Management:   How was your 30-minute walk yesterday? Wednesday, April 8th was National Start! Walking Day sponsored by the American Heart Association.  The Start! Walking Program encourages employers to create a “walking-friendly” environment at work.  The program also encourages employees to incorporate more walking into their work week. A lot of us truly underestimate the power of walking.  Walking is a great form of exercise for a... [More]

I have been practicing yoga for about 6 years. As a runner and a skier, yoga is the perfect balance to both of those sports and many more. I often ask my friends to try yoga; I typically get the same response: “Why would I waste my time with stretching?” Well, the 5,000-year-old practice of yoga is so much more than stretching. Yoga has a multitude of health benefits, such as flexibility, balance, strength, mood and stress management. There are many types of yoga, so if you are new to ex... [More]

Beth Shepard, MS, Exercise Physiologist, Contributing Writer:   For many people, taking time to chill out may sound like an impossible – or useless – idea. Every day there’s more to get done, in less time. Carving out time to do nothing may sound counterproductive. But regular meditation can actually decrease physical and emotional stress, increasing productivity and life satisfaction. We’re not talking religious meditation; no matter what your personal or religious beliefs, meditation ... [More]

Jennifer Lovejoy, PhD, Executive Director, Weight & Nutrition Services:   The 2008 Stress in America survey by the American Psychological Society concludes that stress levels among Americans are way up.  Not surprisingly, a big cause of our increased stress is money worries – 81% of adults indicated that finances were a major source of stress.  Add to this the “normal” increase in stress many people experience during the holiday season, and spiking stress levels can lead to physical and... [More]

Erin Lavery, Senior Supervisor, Service Delivery:   A recent article in Yahoo! News outlines how Americans who smoke have increased their tobacco intake since the economic downturn has begun. This trend is alarming to those of us in the business of helping people quit smoking, but it’s also no surprise. For people addicted to nicotine, smoking often becomes a coping skill to get through challenging times. When family members die, their cigarettes console them in their grief. When ... [More]