Five Tips for Reducing Stress During the Holidays

Remember how you used to count the days until the holidays began? If you find that you are now counting the days until the holidays are over, then you’re probably experiencing higher than usual stress levels. Try these tips to decrease stress and increase your enjoyment of the holiday season.

Wrap it up
As soon as you bring a new gift home from the mall, wrap it, label it, and stack it. You may even want to paper-code your gifts: red wrapping for your side of the family, gold for his. That way, everything is wrapped and ready to go at a moment’s notice, and you can see at glance which packages to grab on the way out the door.

Let it go, let it go, let it go
During the holidays, most of us are obliged to spend time with people with whom we may not normally tend to socialize: spouses’ co-workers, distant relatives, etc. Keeping your focus on the spirit of the season will enable you to turn a deaf ear to comments and conversations that might rub you the wrong way. Set aside grievances for a more appropriate time for discussion.

Take care of yourself
With so much more to do on a daily basis at this time of the year, you may find that you are scrimping on sleep, relaxation, and exercise – yet all of these are powerful anti-stress tools. Even if all you can manage is a 20-minute walk or a quick power nap, find pockets of time to care for yourself and you’ll be better equipped to handle the challenges – and enjoy the joys – of the season.

Learn to say “No”
If you agree to tasks or social obligations that you’ll resent later, you’re setting yourself up for additional stress. The first step in saying “no” is saying, “Can I get back to you on that?” Then, when you have a moment to think clearly and honestly, objectively decide what your priorities are. If you determine you don’t want to meet a particular request, simply respond with, “I’m sorry I won’t be able to make it, but thank you for thinking of me.” No additional explanations required. Like your money, your time and energy are yours to invest as you see fit.

Have fun!
Go sledding with the children in your life. Make cookies without trying to copy the photos on the magazine cover. Listen to seasonal music and sing along. Treat yourself to a peppermint hot chocolate at your favorite café and enjoy some reading time. This is YOUR holiday, too, so find some time to do what makes you happy.

Interested in additional tips? Sing along with the CDC’s 12 Ways to Health Holiday Song at http://www.cdc.gov/family/holiday/12ways.htm

There's no season like the holiday season to treat yourself to The Greenbrier experience. enjoy running, biking, hiking, and other outdoor activities at The Greenbrier. Afterwards, you can treat yourself to a gourmet dinner, or a signature spa treatment. A stay at The Greenbrier is also a luxurious way to get much need rest and relaxation. Learn more at The Greenbrier.

Run – for your health!

It relieves stress, helps you manage your weight, combats loss of bone density, enables you to enjoy nature, increases your energy, and can even make you look and feel younger!

Running: There’s a reason why people have been doing it for years, and why 5Ks, 10Ks and Marathons are among the most popular community events. But you don’t have to be a competitive runner to enjoy the benefits that a running program can bring. Those benefits include:

• Weight loss: Running requires a lot of energy and on average burns about 500 calories an hour. Together with a sensible nutritional plan, running can go a long way toward helping you reach your ideal weight.


• Improved cardio-vascular health: While you’re running, your arteries expand and contract approximately three times as much as they do when you are sedentary. This leads to better elasticity of the arteries. Running also can lower your blood pressure, and reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.


• Better bones and muscles: Your bones and muscles become stronger in response to physical demand. Running encourages muscle development and higher bone density – two qualities that we associate with youthfulness.


• Grace and balance: Whether you’re navigating mountain trails or paved surfaces, running requires that your body learns to coordinate many parts and functions, which leads to greater balance and agility.


• Psychological benefits: Running – or any form of regular exercise – releases hormones called endorphins into your bloodstream. Simply put, endorphins make you feel good. The feeling of accomplishment that comes from completing a physical challenge and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is one more way that exercise can improve your mood and general outlook.

Of course, before you begin any program of exercise or nutrition you should check with your health care provider. Once you get the “green light,” here are some tips to help you meet with success on your running journey:

• Start off slowly: Begin your run with five minutes of brisk walking. This will help warm up your muscles, reducing the chance of injury.


• Wear loose fitting, light colored clothing to stay dry, comfortable, and visible to others.


• Buddy up: Find someone else who may be interested in taking up running and make plans to run together. Running can be a lonely business, so having a partner provides extra motivation – as well as an additional layer of accountability.


• Keep it flowing: Dehydrated muscles don’t function well. Sip water before, during, and after your run to stay hydrated.


• TLC for injuries: Most runners experience minor injuries from time to time. Don’t push through the pain of injury. See your health care provider and remember the R.I.C.E. program of recovery:
  
  • Rest
  
  
  • Ice
  
  
  • Compression
  
  
  • Elevation

Personal education is a key success factor in any physical endeavor. Ask your health care provider or local fitness center proprietor to recommend a personal trainer who can get you started off on the right foot for a long and productive running season!

Autumn is the premium time to enjoy running, biking, hiking, and other outdoor activities at The Greenbrier. Afterwards, you can treat yourself to a gourmet dinner, or a signature spa treatment. Learn more at The Greenbrier.

Wonderful woman profile: Bonnie DiLeone

Bonnie DiLeone, Clinical Instructor
University of Carolina at Chapel Hill

If you ask Bonnie DiLeone what she likes best about Women’s Wonderful Weekend (WWW) at The Greenbrier, you don’t get just one answer. Bonnie’s experience with the weekend is reflective of the richness and variety this signature event has to offer. From personal growth seminars to top-notch financial information, Bonnie finds value in every aspect of this weekend, designed exclusively for women.

How did you hear about WWW?
About 10 years ago, I moved to North Carolina, and in order to stay in touch with friends, we established The Greenbrier as the halfway point between us. So every year, we would meet there to catch up. When The Greenbrier introduced Women’s Wonderful Weekend, we decided to plan our weekend around it, and we’ve been doing that ever since.

What is your favorite aspect of the event?
The presentations, the breakout sessions. The keynote is always excellent. I like to use the weekend to reflect on my personal and professional life goals. I love the sessions that Anne Wolf conducts. She is a nutritionist and she always presents valuable programs on health and wellness. She introduced us to Nia and led a walk on The Greenbrier meditation trail.

For me, during that weekend, I feel I can really just be myself, and we all celebrate each other’s self-hood. I attend many conferences in my work, and WWW doesn’t have that stuffiness of a professional conference, yet we’re getting top-notch information on everything from finances, to spirituality, to health and wellness.

I love the dining, and in addition to the cooking demonstration that is part of the event, we like to go down to the Gourmet Shoppe for the regular demonstrations they give. We get copies of the recipes – we all enjoy cooking – and then we try out the recipes at home.

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s event?
Terry Graedon of The People’s Pharmacy is really going to be interesting, and I’m also looking forward to hearing Elaine Honig of the Wine, Women, and Shoes event. And of course, I always look forward to seeing the women that I’ve met over the years.

A lot of strong connections are formed at WWW. It’s very inspiring for me to see both young women and women who are a little bit older, all making fantastic contributions to the world.

Do you have a personal or business maxim that you live by that you’d like to share with other women?
“The most wasted of all days is that during which one has not laughed.” – Nicolas DeChamfort

If you had to describe the WWW experience in one word, what would it be?
Dynamic.

Bonnie has spent 30 years in the field of early childhood/special education, most recently doing teacher training all over the state of North Carolina. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Ralph, son Daniel, and puppy Roxy. She also enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time at the beach.

Learn more about Women's Wonderful Weekend at The Greenbrier, March 6 - 9 2008.

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Give yourself the Valentine of Better Health

Is your diet putting you at risk for heart disease? According to some experts, eating an unhealthy Western-style diet can increase a woman’s risk of heart disease by 46%.

The good news, of course, is that you can control what you eat. Learn the basics of a heart healthy diet at http://www.HeartHealthyWomen.org and get started on reducing your risk today.

If you’re ready to take your self-care to the next level, join us for Women’s Wonderful Weekend at The Greenbrier (March 6 – 9, 2008). This event provides a wealth of information on nutrition, finances, and personal effectiveness – all designed especially for women. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this life-changing experience. Learn more here.

Looking for the ultimate wellness experience? The Greenbrier Center for Healthy Living combines The Greenbrier’s award-winning Spa services with the medical expertise of The Greenbrier Clinic to create a wellness experience unlike any other. There’s a package that’s just right for you!


Don’t miss a thing! Subscribe to Greenbrier Women's Community by Email and receive valuable articles, updates and program announcements right to your Inbox.

Wonderful woman profile: Beth Clough

Making a commitment to care for yourself and your friendships is as important as making a commitment to care for others. Just ask Beth Clough of Mentor, Ohio. Beth is the Social Work Director at Heartland of Mentor, a facility of HCR Manor Care – one of the largest long-term skilled nursing care providers in the U.S.

One way Beth takes care of herself is to attend Women’s Wonderful Weekend at The Greenbrier.

How did you first hear about Women’s Wonderful Weekend?

A close friend of mine moved to Raleigh, NC. At that time, we were having trouble staying in touch, so we decided to try to meet once a year to catch up. We discovered that The Greenbrier was the perfect halfway point between our two cities, so we started meeting there. When they began presenting Women's Wonderful Weekend (WWW), we planned our visits to coincide with the event. We love it!

What is your favorite aspect of the event?

So many favorites… truly, to be at The Greenbrier in and of itself is an experience. You are totally pampered… the food is so good… the service is excellent… the spa is wonderful – they give the best pedicure in the Universe! I can’t say enough about Betsy Conte, the Social Director. She is the perfect hostess and she personifies The Greenbrier. What is so unique about her is that she is totally approachable and she stays in contact with us throughout the year, asking us for feedback and suggestions. WWW has an aspect of collaboration that is nurtured by Betsy – she is like our best friend!

WWW is a positive, supportive weekend. For me, it started out as a way to meet with my friends, but for all of us it has become a weekend to recharge, take care of ourselves, get inspired. The speakers are very motivational, very pro-women. It’s refreshing and renewing to be with women who want to be nurtured and who nurture other women. At Women’s Wonderful Weekend, women extend themselves to each other.

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s event?

Getting energized. Attending is like a boost of energy. It clears my head and heals me so that I can go back to my life and my work. It has become a necessity in my life. My daughter is almost 16 and when I start to get stressed at home she’ll say to me, “Mom – it’s time for you to go to The Greenbrier.”

What do you want to tell other women about Women’s Wonderful Weekend?

It’s natural for people to feel uncomfortable in a new place, but at WWW, it’s not like that. No matter who you are – a CEO, a social worker, a teacher, an entrepreneur, a stay-at-home mom; no matter your age – if you come, you’ll find someone else like you. There’s a genuine camaraderie among the women there – no cliques…all are welcome.

Women’s Wonderful Weekend at The Greenbrier is a transformative experience. My life has been changed by it. I was first introduced to Yoga at WWW, and my Yoga practice has transformed my life in many ways. The weekend has a long lasting effect – you go home nurtured and with a positive outlook.

How would you describe Women’s Wonderful Weekend, in a word?

Wonderful!

Learn more about Women's Wonderful Weekend at The Greenbrier, March 6 - 9 2008.

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Wonderful woman profile: Nancy Novak

In the months following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, most of us were grieving and struggling to regain some semblance of normalcy to our lives. Nancy Novak was working to rebuild the Pentagon.

Just weeks before 9/11, Hensel Phelps Construction had signed a contract to renovate the Pentagon and Nancy was named Program Manager.

“After 9/11, everything changed,” said Nancy. “There was a tremendous deal of stress and tension around this project. It was quite a burden.”

Late in 2002, Nancy was looking for a special place to go to for rest and recovery from the demands and responsibilities of her work.

“My safety director told me about The Greenbrier,” said Nancy. “His wife’s company had held some meetings there. So I visited The Greenbrier Web site and learned of Women’s Wonderful Weekend.”

Nancy has attended Women’s Wonderful Weekend (WWW) every year since then, bringing other women along. Her daughter and her mother have joined her, and every year she sponsors attendance for women from her company.

We spoke with Nancy recently about her experience with Women’s Wonderful Weekend.

What is your favorite aspect of Women’s Wonderful Weekend?

Definitely the personal connections that we make… the friendships. I’ve made many new friends that I never would have met if I hadn’t gone to The Greenbrier, and now we stay in touch all year through.

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s event?

The great speakers. What I love about WWW is that I get a little personal time to relax, I get inspired by the speakers, and I am surrounded by women from all walks of life who are there for the same reasons. And honestly, the speakers have been among the friends I’ve made.

Do you have a favorite WWW memory?

One year, Gail Evans, author of Play Like a Man, Win Like a Woman came and brought her daughter. The two of them were awesome. The first year I attended it was right after 9/11 and I was so busy. I really needed to reach out and get some balance. Dr. Pamela Peeke, nutritionist and author of Body-for-Life for Women came and she gave us some great tips about food, body fat and women’s health. What a dynamic personality! One of the best closing speeches I ever heard at the WWW was Sharon Decker, the President of Doncaster Clothing. She talked about life balance. (We love the Doncaster line of clothing too!) I still think about her all the time. She made a huge impression on me and I use her advice for others frequently.

What personal or business advice can you offer to other women?

Anything to excess isn’t good. I have three kids and I always tell them, “Everything in moderation.” Working too much, playing too much, too much money, too much TV, isn’t good. People get so caught up. The secret to happiness isn’t having more of anything; it’s in finding contentment with having enough, which is always an interesting concept.

What do you want other women to know about Women’s Wonderful Weekend at The Greenbrier?

One thing that always fascinates me is the power of networking. It’s huge. Once you experience that power, you really begin to understand it. It feels like an indulgence to do it at The Greenbrier, but it is a smart and an important thing to do. The more women get to know each other and touch base, the better and stronger we’re going to be.

How would you describe Women’s Wonderful Weekend, in a word?

Powerful.

Nancy Novak is an Operations Manager with Hensel Phelps Construction Co. overseeing approximately $300 million worth of backlog each year. Nancy holds a BS in Construction Management/Construction Technology, and she has worked all over the country. Nancy has three children ages 22, 20 and 8.

Learn more about Women's Wonderful Weekend at The Greenbrier, March 6 - 9 2008.

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and receive valuable articles, updates and program announcements right to your Inbox.

What is a "wonderful woman"?

A wonderful woman is a woman of vision and strength. She is adept and skillful, wise and resourceful. A wonderful woman understands her value in the world at large as well as in her personal life – and she knows how to take care of herself and her loved ones.

Perhaps one of the most distinguishing characteristics of a wonderful woman is that she understands the power of connecting with other wonderful women. She reaches out with a true desire to provide support and graciously accepts the support and advancement that others offer.

In honor of wonderful women everywhere, The Greenbrier is proud to present Women’s Wonderful Weekend. This event is designed especially to encourage prosperity in the personal and professional lives of women from all walks of life.

I extend you my personal invitation to join us at this year’s Women’s Wonderful Weekend, March 6 – 9, 2008 at The Greenbrier, America’s Resort, situated in the beautiful Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. (See map.)

At this event, you will attend stimulating and inspiring workshops and seminars. This year’s speakers include actress Wendie Malick, Hall of Fame golfer Beth Daniel, and author Hattie Hill. See the full line-up of speakers. As part of the program, you’ll also enjoy:

• Wine seminar and tasting reception
• Culinary demonstration and lunch on Saturday
• Private dining events on Friday and Saturday
• Sunday brunch

See the full schedule of events here.

Because we are so thrilled to be hosting this event again, and are so appreciative of the dynamic women who take time out of their busy lives to join us, we welcome all wonderful women with a special gift and a voucher for spa services at the award-winning Greenbrier Spa.

If you have questions about this one-of-a-kind event, phone 800-908-0740, email us at SpecialEvents@Greenbrier.com, or visit the official Women’s Wonderful Weekend Web site.

In the coming weeks, we will be proudly presenting you with the personal and professional profiles of some of the women who have attended Women’s Wonderful Weekend over the years. Hear how they are changing the world and savoring life, and how this signature event provides them with the support, information, and relationships to enhance all that they do.

We hope to see you there!

Betsy Conte

Director of Social Activities
The Greenbrier

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