Elmira Express

Summer is the perfect time to plan a trip! Children are out of school, the temperatures are rising, and the world awaits your leisure. An article published by the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences found that vacationing has both direct and indirect effects on one’s happiness. Vacationing is great for family bonding, mental and physical respite, and gaining valuable perspectives about the world we live in.

In this edition of the Elmira Express, you will find tips for traveling safely, ideas for planning a staycation, a library of recipes and MORE!

• View the morning sun: Viewing natural light in the early morning hours helps to dial in your circadian rhythm. This is especially helpful when crossing over time zones.
• Work up a sweat: Working out on vacation can help mitigate symptoms associated with jetlag.
• Hydrate: Keep a water bottle nearby and drink from it often. Nothing can turn a trip sour faster than when your body slows down from not having enough water.
• Log off & log out: The best gift you can give your loved ones is your presence. As difficult as it might be, try turning off your notifications, putting up your out-of-office, and limiting the use of your phone during vacation.

When making travel plans this summer, an important thing to consider is safety. Some things you can do before leaving for your trip include:

• Email your itinerary to your family: It is important for people to know where you are going and when you are coming home, just in case anything happens.
• Lock your home: Lock all your doors & windows. If you have security cameras, make sure their batteries are charged.
• Write down emergency info: Before you leave for your trip, write down all your important information or save the information on a small USB thumb drive, along with copies of your passport and other important documents.

Don't have the budget to take a trip this summer? Try planning a staycation! Check out local attractions or simply have a fun night at home. Below are some budget-friendly ideas for a staycation:

• Have a picnic: Pack up your favorite food and drink items, get a blanket and have a picnic outside in your favorite spot!
• Camp out: Whether you hit up your local campground or set up a tent in the backyard, enjoy a night of nature, smores, and chatting by a fire.
  
• Host a movie night: Rent or stream your favorite movies and build a cozy blanket fort in the living room.

The Brand Park Beautification Committee will be hosting the annual Brand Park Summer Concert Series starting July 3rd, 2022 – September 4th, 2022. Concerts will take place every Sunday during these months and they are free to the public to attend. The concerts will be located at the Brand Park Bandstand & Brand Park Pavilion.

Monday, July 4

4 on the 4th Presented by Visions Federal Credit Union (runsignup.com)

Friday/Saturday, July 8-9

CLASH Watkins Glen (runsignup.com)

Saturday, July 16

Newbsanity Extreme Ravine Trail Race (runsignup.com)

Thursday, July 21

Broome County Parks 5K Series (runsignup.com)

Saturday, July 23

Run For The Hills (runsignup.com)

Do you have an idea that you would like to see included in a future wellness newsletter? Please send it to Tracy Mennig at TMENNIG@elmiracityschools.com.

Email: ginther@smolaconsulting.com
Website: www.smolaconsulting.com
Location: 260 East Main Street, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: 5857774080

Karsten, A. M. (2022, March 1). Travel safety tips: 25 important things everyone should know! Expert Vagabond. Retrieved June 17, 2022, from https://expertvagabond.com/travel-safety-tips/

Nawijn, J. (2012). Leisure travel and happiness: An empirical study into the effect of holiday trips on individuals’ subjective wellbeing.