FALL 2022

can help us stay more mentally clear, nourish ourselves adequately, and make time for people and things that are important to us. Deep Breathing – Deep breathing can play a significant role in our stress levels and hormonal responses. It may not seem like a big deal, but tak ing deep breaths can move your body into a parasympathetic, more relaxed state. Deep breaths tell our brains that we have any perceived threats un der control. Start by counting to five as you inhale, hold the breath in for two seconds, and release it to a count of five. Try to do this a few times throughout the day to stay grounded. Prioritize Sleep – Insufficient sleep is linked to an increase in our

THE “SWEET SIDE” OF HEALTHY SARAH SCHLICHTER, MPH, RDN

In early August, I had the pleasure of visiting the NCSP Commission office in Benson, as well as several local farms. I got to engage with growers, learn more about the process of growing, harvesting, storing, and shipping sweetpotatoes, and see first hand all of the time, effort, and hard work that each of you are putting forth each day. To me, as someone who communicates on your behalf, this was so valuable to see in person. I appreciated the candor of the farmers who gave me a glimpse into their long days, the challenges they face, and how we can work to provide information to fight the myths and disinformation related to farming and farming practices. So, suffice it to say, you’ll be hearing more from me over the next year through this newsletter and on the blog about some of these important conversations. One main theme that popped up quite frequently throughout all of my conversations was the topic of stress management. As growers, farmers, and people involved in agriculture in all sorts of ways, you all are busy, to

put it simply. You’re often up before the sun, working throughout the hot days (and maybe not taking time to stop for a nutritious lunch), and working until after the sun goes down. And aside from the labor of just procuring, growing, and shipping crops, you have paperwork and other logistics that need to be attended to. Then, just like everyone else, you’re faced with the challenge of wanting to spend time with your family and kids, figuring out what’s for dinner, doing the bedtime routine, trying to tie up any loose ends with the business, and then starting over again. I’m sure most of you feel like the days aren’t long enough to fit in all of your many responsibilities, especially as we head into the sweetpotato harvest season. With that being said, I thought it would be helpful to share some stress relief and management techniques. While most of us don’t have or take the time to slow down, many of the techniques below can actually help us be more productive in the long run. More importantly, these practices

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