BLUE RIDGE HEALTH CARE

Weekly tips and advice from your neighborhood
Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge providers.

Stay Healthy

WELLNESS

Ways To
Combat Stress

2021 is the Year to Get Fit
and Stay in Shape!

H

ere we are again looking at
the beginning of another new
year. Many of us are saying
good riddance to 2020 and hoping
2021 brings us better luck, health,
and happiness.

You can choose the challenges of
a healthy lifestyle or the challenges
of chronic disease. We all have a
choice. And that is power. We get to
choose some of our struggles in life,
so let’s choose wisely.

We all like a fresh start and a new
year brings a hope that we can try
those changes we’ve been wanting to
make again, even if we’ve failed in
years past. I want you to know that
you have the opportunity to make
choices this year that will change
your life.

2021 opens new opportunities
for us to do hard things. Yes, change
is hard, but isn’t anything worth the
journey hard?

Choices that will stick. Choices
that will change your health. Change
is hard, but the consequences of not
changing our health are hard too.
Losing weight is hard. Staying
overweight is also hard. Choose
your hard.
Lifting weights is hard. Staying
weak is hard. Choose your hard.
Starting an exercise program is
hard. Feeling sick and tired is hard.
Choose your hard.

If you said yes and if you’re
ready to change your health, Phifer
Wellness Center is ready to help
you. As a medical fitness facility,
we have the expertise to guide you
safely on your journey to better
health. Whether you need help with
your nutrition, beginning an exercise
program, improving flexibility, or
using exercise as medicine to help
manage a chronic disease, we are
here for you.
You can start an exercise program
during a global pandemic. In fact,
now is the best time after some
months of inactivity because of the
pandemic. Addressing your chronic

disease and improving your health
can help build your immune system
making you a bad host for any virus
this season.

1.

Take breaks from the news.
Although it’s important to stay
informed, overload can take its
toll on your mental health.

2.

Limit your time on social
media sites.

3.

Acknowledge feeling lonely, sad,
frustrated, or depressed. Ignoring
these feelings or keeping them to
yourself can make them worse or
prevent you from getting the help
you need.

4.

If you feel overwhelmed, talk
to someone you trust.

5.

Take breaks.

6.

Call friends. Staying connected
with the important people in
your life, especially when getting
together in-person may not be
possible, gives you a support
network.

7.

You can be face-to-face from a
distance by video chatting. Thanks
to video chats, you can see friends
and family without having to be in
the same place.

8.

Host a virtual book club. Regular
virtual gatherings such as this give
you something to look forward to
and help you stay social.

9.

Prepare a virtual dinner. Ask
friends to make a dish and share
the recipe.

10. Make sure you get some exercise
which can reduce depression. You
can exercise at home or at Phifer
Wellness Center.

You can visit our website at
www.phiferwellness.com for a video
tour and complete list of all the ways
we are staying
COVID-Safe
by creating
distance and
increasing
sanitation in
our facility and
class space.
We wish
you health and
happiness in
2021 and hope
to see you soon!

Shea
Rostan, M.S., RCEP

Shea Rostan, M.S., RCEP, is the
director of Phifer Wellness Center.
FOR MORE INFORMATION,
please call Phifer Wellness
Center 828-580-6600.

Love Your Friends and Neighbors

Wear a Mask
CarolinasHealthCareBlueRidge.org | 828-580-5000