Health & Wellness

With the upcoming holiday season, are you feeling you have no time to de-stress? Think again! You can lower your stress level all but instantly with these on-the-spot mood boosters. Here are some Speedy Stress Stoppers

** Snack on chips and salsa: Research has found that eating spicy foods,especially chili peppers,release mood boosting endorphins. The hotter, the better. So keep a jar of extra-hot salsa on hand for anti-stress snacking (and a bottle of water or a fire extinguisher)

** Sing out. Belting your favorite tunes is more beneficial than simply listening to them. Choir members got a 240 % increase in immunoglobulin A (a disease fighting protein) during performances, it was found in a recent study of the University of California. (Warning: Suffering through a song that you detest actually spikes your stress level)

** LAUGH: Laughter,even forced laughter, lowers cortisol and blood pressure instantly, according to a study from the University of Maryland Medical Center, in Baltimore. "Researchers found that artery diameter increases 22% during laughter- even when you're faking it", says Dr. Hall. "The physical act itself creates the de-stressing effect." So keep a comedy CD in your car or put your funniest friend on speed dial, and, when all else fails, force yourself to chuckle.

** Be grateful: Jot down a list of your blessings. Studies at UCLA show that it is physiologically impossible to be grateful and stressed out at the same time. "Exercising gratitude daily results in higher levels of alertness and enthusiasm".

** Meet with friends: Making eye contact and conversation with someone you care about causes the same kinds of positive physiological changes that a massage does, found a 2005 study from UCLA. So pop into a friend's office or have coffee with a pal. "Your body will produce oxytocin (a happiness hormone) literally on the spot".

Our Health and Wellness team

The wellness team members are Nan Mills, Judi Howard, Bernadette Willette, Clark Rafford, Dawn Bossie, Sandra Hare-Estabrook, Trish McCarthy, Sister Peggy, Jill Quint, Brenda Griffin and Ruth Stewart.
Wellness Team members Dawn Bossie, Mildred Malone , Nan Mills and Sandra Hare represented MSAD # 70 at the Wellness Summit at Sugarloaf June 26-29, 2006. Mary Harbison who also is a member of the MSAD # 70 Wellness Policy committee and assistant principal to the elementary school attended all day sessions on the 28th. The theme for this annual event was "Wellness: Coming of Age" . Many sessions blended the total wellness picture: emotional, spiritual, physical, mental and social wellness.

Please consider sharing ideas for our school community (staff and students) for activities, education, presentations, etc.