At NC Health Plans, summer is our favorite time of year; however, summer can be stressful!  Although summer may seem like the time of year that should have the least amount of stress, oftentimes the fast-paced, vacation-packed, activity-driven summer months can be demanding and exhausting.  Stress is a normal psychological and physiological response to the ever-increasing demands of daily life, but it can wreak havoc on the human body. In fact, surveys show that many Americans suffer from stress at some point during the year and is it any wonder?  Managing the pressures of work, home, and family can be taxing to say the least and the stress created can take a toll on both body and mind.  For that reason, stress management is an increasingly important part of preventive care, even during the summer months.

One way to manage stress effectively is to practice relaxation.  In fact, developing relaxation techniques is an essential part of stress management.  If you are an overachiever, you may put relaxation low on your priority list, but don’t shortchange yourself.  Purposeful relaxation intended to recharge your mind and body is widely recognized as an important habit of highly effective individuals. (more…)

At NC Health Plans, we love summer!  But did you know that extended periods of rest are actually important to your health?  According to the New York Times, taking a vacation can actually improve your physical health and both men and women who take a vacation every two years compared to every six, will lesson the risk of coronary heart disease or heart attacks.  Elaine Eaker, author of a study by the Framingham Heart Study, confirms saying “this is real evidence that vacations are important to your physical health.”

Similar to exercise, which requires periods of strenuous activity followed by periods of rest to maximize training effects, periods of work combined with periods of relaxation maximize productivity.  According to about.com, taking time off to rejuvenate will help insulate you from the symptoms of burnout that can arise from accumulated pressure making you “more creative and productive than your overworked, under-rested counterparts.”  Ellen Langer, a psychology professor at Harvard University told CNN that mindless, uninterrupted routines tend to result in boredom, which hinders creativity and mindfulness. (more…)