Health & Wellness

Stress affects most Americans at one point or another. Much like having a house cluttered with items you don’t really need, it’s easy for emotions, like stress, to pile up. The mounds of stress can stand in your way of feeling calm, clear-headed and in control of your life. Address any stress or exhaustion you may be feeling. Find ways to streamline your thoughts and tame your emotions to help put your best self forward. Consider these strategies to help manage stress and learn how to incorporate practicing self-care. 

• 5 ways to ditch emotional clutter
• 5 tips to tackle stress 
• 6 ways to make self-care a priority
• Penn State Health psychologist: Keep stress at bay, turn "what if’s" into "to-dos" 
• 7 steps to cope with work stress
• Beat work stress with this easy yoga sequence
• Stress management: 4 ways to maximize evenings for easier mornings 
• 2 common stressors for men, 6 ways to take action
• The power of practicing daily mindfulness
• What is mindfulness? 4 ways to help you get started
• Expecting a stressful day? Wrong morning mindset could affect your memory

 

Reduce your emotional clutter

Reference: Penn State PRO Wellness <PROwellness@pennstatehealth.psu.edu>

Center For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) Resources

• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Stop the Spread of GermsPDF Download FlyerPDF Download
• Coronavirus Fact SheetPDF Download
• What to Do if You Are Sick With CoronavirusPDF Download
• Preventing Coronavirus (COVID-19) from Spreading
• COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

General Preventative Measures

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when sick.
• Cough or sneeze into an elbow or use a tissue and place immediately in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. 

What we are doing at Parkland School District

• Disinfecting desks, door knobs, school bus seats, phones and all public areas each evening
• Increasing the availability of hand sanitizer (all high use areas already have wall-mounted stations)
• Posting flyers throughout public areas and restrooms about how to (Stop the Prevention of Germs)
• Rotating whole room disinfection machines through school nurse suites and athletic areas

Parkland Resources

• An Ounce of Prevention (English Version)
• An Ounce of Prevention (Chinese Version)
• An Ounce of Prevention (Spanish Version)
• An Ounce of Prevention (Urdu Version)

High blood pressure (also referred to as HBP, or hypertension) is when your blood pressure, the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels, is consistently too high.

Facts about high blood pressure

 

Reference: American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure

On average, Americans working full-time spend more than one-third of their day, five days per week at the workplace. For this reason, it’s important to improve the quality of life at work. Are you off your feet for more than an hour at a time? Consider these healthy habits to help tackle a sedentary workstation and to overcome a mid-afternoon slump. Looking for ways to stop sabotaging your diet during the workday? These tips will help curb temptation and master willpower with the breakroom’s endless supply of snacks.







 

• 10 tricks to lose weight at a desk job
• 5 ways to beat the afternoon slump
• Infographic: Deskercises
• Infographic: Are you sabotaging your diet?
• 4 steps to control emotional eating
• 49 healthy and tasty office snacks
• Will ‘stair snacking’ be the next fitness craze?
• The best diet advice? Scrap the diet —just track what you eat
• 5 surprising benefits of exercise
• 4 ways to overcome exercise challenges when overweight 
• 7 tips to improve mood and work productivity

 

Reference: Penn State PRO Wellness <PROwellness@pennstatehealth.psu.edu>

The holidays are a time to enjoy friends, family and food. And, contrary to popular belief, you can have all three without putting on the extra pounds!

On average, Americans gain approximately one to two pounds during the holiday season. While this weight gain isn’t dramatic, research shows it tends to stick and accumulate over the years. Fortunately, there are ways to enjoy the foods of holiday festivities without letting calories—or guilt—weigh you down, and without being mad at yourself in January. Avoid extra pounds through mindful eating in moderation and simple strategies for dining without depriving yourself. 

• 9 tips to avoid holiday weight gain
• 10 tips for healthy holiday eating
• 7 ways to keep holidays both heart-warming and heart-healthy
• Stay mindful: Four tips for holiday eating
• 15 holiday cookie recipes 

 

 Reference: Penn State PRO Wellness <PROwellness@pennstatehealth.psu.edu>

Does the very mention of potty training fill you with dread? Parents and caregivers play a key role in this training with direction, motivation and reinforcement. It can be stressful for parents and children alike, but don’t fret. Prepare for the potty training process with these practical tips and suggestions that will reassure you during any setbacks or obstacles. 

• 7 signs of potty training readiness

Infographic: What your pee color means