Category: Uncategorized

Many of us benefit from practicing self-care even if we don’t realize we’re doing it. Actively practicing self-care can help us deal with stress in healthy ways. It’s important to take time for yourself when you can to just focus on yourself.   

There are many different forms of self-care from buying a nice little treat or going for a walk. Self-care is different for everyone—not all methods work the same for different people! Do you need to unwind and take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life? Continue reading to learn the importance of self-care and some methods you could try:   

What Is Self-Care  

Self-care aims to make you focus on yourself and your physical and emotional well-being. Self-care differs for everyone, and your self-care needs could change over time as well. Many people associate self-care with treating yourself. There are several different types of self-care including emotional, physical, and spiritual. You can treat yourself in a variety of different ways:   

Emotional self-care could entail talking to oneself in the mirror and motivating yourself. You could also relax in the bath while doing a face mask, or you could take a trip and get your nails or hair done. Consider treating yourself to the food you enjoy but don’t get to have often. Emotional self-care is taking care of yourself and separating yourself from the stress of life by pampering yourself or doing something you enjoy.   

Physical self-care means adopting a workout routine that you’ll stick to, getting enough sleep, picking healthy foods over processed ones, and making sure you visit the doctor regularly. Taking care of your body is an important step in self-care—working out may reduce stress and give you more energy.   

Spiritual self-care may involve attending a service, meditating, spending time outside, or keeping a gratitude journal. Anything that makes you feel “spiritual” or in tune with yourself!   

Ways to Practice Self-Care  

Self-care doesn’t have to cost anything unless you want it to! It’s ok to indulge in yourself if it’s within your means. As long as you take the time for yourself it makes you happy and less stressed! If that means getting your nails done twice a month or going to a football game with the guys, don’t fret about it!   

Even though we mentioned the three types of self-care, keep in mind that there are both short-term and long-term effects. Short-term self-care is temporary. Eating your favorite meal may be satisfying, but will you still feel satisfied a few days later? Long-term effects can result from practicing mindfulness and making an effort to change your outlook on life. Activities like exercise or meditation may work wonders in the long run!  

You can turn a lot of activities into “self-care” if you change the way you think about them! Making your bed every morning isn’t just a chore—it starts your day off on the right foot! It doesn’t have to feel like a daunting task. Small things like cleaning can give you control over your day and make it seem easier to tackle harder tasks you may come across.   

How to Start Practicing Self-Care  

Find out what brings you joy and makes you feel fulfilled! Don’t be scared to try new things like yoga or fitness classes. Start small and work your way up adding additional methods as you go. If you find you don’t like something that’s ok! Not all methods work for everyone, so don’t try to force yourself into a method that isn’t for you.   

Reflect on how you feel at the end of the week. Is the method you’re practicing working for you? Are you pleasantly satisfied? Journaling your thoughts and feelings may be helpful to determine what’s best for you. What has worked for you in the past may no longer be working for you and that happens!   

Taking care of yourself by practicing self-care is vital for your overall well-being. Going to the doctor at least once a year is an important step to staying healthy. Contact your local insurance agent to discuss a health insurance plan that works for you.   

Yearly check-ups are vital for your long-term health and well-being. Many people think going to the doctor for their annual check-up is good enough, but you also need to visit the optometrist and dentist! Your dental and vision appointments are also vital for your health. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t skimp out on your dental and vision:   

Eye Care  

Even if you don’t think your vision has changed, you should still go to the optometrist for the overall health of your eyes—many eye diseases go unnoticed until it’s too late! Sometimes your eyes can show signs of illness before medical doctors can diagnose them. Your eyes can be the window to certain health issues you may have because it’s easy to see the blood vessels and nerves in your eyes.   

Your vision can change slowly over time without you even realizing it. If you have young children, they may have vision issues that they aren’t even aware of. Many children will think their poor eyesight is normal because they don’t know better. Your kids’ grades in school may suffer as a result of not being able to see correctly!   

Visiting the optometrist is more than just getting a pair of glasses or contacts to correct your vision. They have tests and screens for eye diseases and can often see symptoms of other medical problems in the eyes. Yearly vision check-ups can help prevent vision problems from evolving into chronic conditions like retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. Glaucoma is a silent disease that many won’t know about until they start losing their vision. Visiting your optometrist yearly is a necessary preventative measure if you want to keep your eyesight.   

Did you know you can develop melanoma (a serious type of cancer) in your eyes? Melanoma can develop in the choroid, which is the layer behind the retina. Your optometrist will be able to see any tumors or unnatural occurrences in your eyes during your screening. They’ll also look for other diseases like macular degeneration or retinopathy, which can both cause loss of vision.   

Dental Care  

It is highly recommended to visit the dentist once or twice a year. You may follow a good dental hygiene routine, but visiting the dentist is still one of the best ways to prevent oral health problems. Many people won’t notice they have a cavity until it’s already too late to reverse it.   

Cavities happen when the enamel of the teeth is eaten away by bacteria. Undigested food can build up on the surface of your teeth and gums forming a substance called plaque. When you have a buildup of plaque on the teeth, you are more likely to have a cavity. Brushing and flossing your teeth can prevent plaque buildup, but sometimes when plaque hardens too much it becomes a job for the dentist. If you don’t go to the dentist to have your teeth cleaned, your cavity can worsen until it gets to the point of an abscess.   

If your cavity gets to the point of an abscess, you will need to go on antibiotics. An abscess is a severe infection you shouldn’t scoff at—especially if it’s in your mouth. If the infection were to get into your blood it could become fatal.   

A healthy mouth is important! Visit your dentist at least once a year to keep your mouth in tip-top shape.   

Know Your Insurance  

You can usually bundle your vision and dental insurance with your health insurance. Contact your local insurance agent to discuss your insurance needs today!   

Life is often stressful. Between work, family, and keeping up with other tasks, life can become overwhelming. Here are some tips on how to conquer your stress!  

Consume a Healthy & Balanced Diet  

Consuming a healthy & balanced diet takes a big role in how you feel. If you consume too much “junk” or overprocessed foods, then you are more likely to feel groggy and not have enough energy to finish your tasks. This could cause you to feel more stressed than usual. Sometimes when we’re stressed, we want to eat comfort foods. This is ok in moderation, but overconsuming comfort food is not good for your overall well-being. Preparing a healthy meal for yourself can also be relaxing! Taking the time and effort to prepare a healthy and delicious meal can make you feel even more satisfied.  

If you’re tired, drinking too much caffeine can also make you stressed. It raises your heart rate and can make you feel more anxious than normal. Drinking too much caffeine can also make it more difficult to sleep at night, and a good night’s rest is an important part of being less stressed!  

If you’re stressed, you may be more likely to turn to alcohol or tobacco to try to reduce stress. However, this can cause more stress to the body and leave you not feeling your best. Consuming too much alcohol on a regular basis can also negatively impact your sleep schedule. Tobacco usage puts more stress on the body and reduces blood flow and breathing abilities. Becoming dependent on alcohol or tobacco can cause even more stress if you can’t get your fix.  

Practice Mindfulness  

Practicing mindfulness can positively impact your overall mental health. Mindfulness is being aware of what you’re doing and how you’re feeling. A good way to practice mindfulness is by keeping a journal where you collect your thoughts. Looking back on what you were doing and how you were feeling at the time is an important step in stress reduction. Knowing what triggers stress can help you figure out how to fix it.  

Take some time out of your day for yourself. This time can be spent journaling, or you can also meditate or do some form of exercise you find relaxing. Even simple movements like taking a walk or doing some yoga can be very relaxing. You can always find guided meditations or yoga videos online to help you.  

Practicing mindfulness also includes self-care. Taking a bath with Epsom salts or doing a face mask may seem trivial, but taking extra care of yourself and treating yourself can brighten your mood. Making sure you take care of yourself can help you to feel less stressed in the long run! 

Having someone to talk to about your stress or other problems can also help significantly reduce stress. It’s not good to bottle up these emotions, so journaling and having someone you can talk to, whether it’s a close friend, family member, or even a therapist, are a huge help.  

Set Realistic Expectations 

Many people are stressed because they simply have too much on their plate. Set realistic expectations for yourself and know that you can’t do everything. Part of relieving stress is accepting what you can’t control. If you know you have particular stressors, like the news or a certain family member, try to avoid them as much as possible! It can be difficult, but limiting the amount of time you find stressful can be a huge help.  

Don’t procrastinate. Even if you don’t want to do something now, it’s best not to put it off. Leaving tasks until the last minute can put unnecessary stress on you that you wouldn’t have to deal with had you not procrastinated. 

Realize that it’s okay to say “no.” Sometimes you just need to put yourself first. Creating boundaries can help reduce the amount of stress. No matter how hard you try, you will not be able to please everyone. Accepting this as a part of life can make life less stressful.  

Leading a stressful lifestyle can put a significant amount of stress on the heart and other organs. Make sure you talk to your local insurance agent about your life and health insurance plans to ensure you’re under the most suitable plan for your needs.  

What you do in your day-to-day life actively affects your health. The foods you eat and the personal choices you make drastically impact how your body feels and functions. Eating processed foods can leave you feeling groggy and frequently tired, whereas healthy food can leave you feeling energized and refreshed. Smokers and habitual drinkers often run into health problems like cancer or heart disease later in life. Certain choices can damage your health and well-being leading to illnesses and a shorter lifespan.  

Diet  

Most of us know that eating too much sugar is bad. It can cause high blood sugar and health complications from diabetes. Too much sugar can also cause cavities leading to pricey dental visits. Processed food is easy to grab and eat, but taking the extra step and preparing a healthier option like fruits and vegetables is better for you in the long run. 

Not drinking enough water also negatively impacts your health. Keeping yourself hydrated gives you more energy and allows your organs to function properly. Many people opt for sodas or other beverages, but they are often loaded with sugar and other chemical flavors that add empty calories that lack nutritional value.  

If you find water bland, try drinking some tea without additives. Most premade teas on the store shelf are loaded with sugar or other flavorings, so make your own at home with tea bags. You can also add sliced lemons, cucumbers, or other fruits into your water for a tastier and healthier beverage. 

Personal Choices 

Smoking and drinking alcohol can have major health implications. It is well-known that smoking can cause cancer and other diseases like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Smokers are also susceptible to vision loss and blindness. Smoking can also increase feelings of depression and anxiety. Being a smoker can also affect your insurance rates. Smokers’ health insurance rates tend to be higher because they are known to have more medical issues. 

A few drinks a week might not seem like a big deal. But any amount of alcohol can have a negative impact on the body. Shortly after drinking you may notice symptoms of dehydration like headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Frequent alcohol usage can have long-term effects like a weakened immune system, mood changes, memory problems, weight gain, and issues falling asleep. Overconsumption of alcohol can lead to liver disease, pancreatic problems, and heart-related medical problems like high blood pressure and heart disease.  

Smoking and drinking during pregnancy can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, and premature birth. Babies can also be born with medical issues like fetal alcohol syndrome, and are more likely to have learning disabilities.  

Both alcohol and smoking are addictive and can create problems in your personal life. Addicts tend to struggle with friends and family members. If you are dependent on alcohol or smoking, please reach out to a specialist or recovery group for help.  

Physical Activity  

Being active is an important part of keeping up your health. A simple 30-minute walk a few times a week will drastically improve your health. Making decisions like parking further away and walking to your destination can also help.  

A lot of people spend most of the day sitting behind a computer screen. It’s necessary for your body to get the activity that it needs. Consider walking around the office as a short mental break to reset your body. Additionally, too much screen time is bad for our eyes. Studies have shown that blue light from screens negatively impacts our sleep cycle. Too much screen usage before bed can make your brain think that it’s still light outside, and therefore won’t start producing melatonin (the sleep hormone) until the lights are off and you’re ready for sleep. 

Not getting enough sleep is also harmful to your body. Being well-rested gives your body and mind the break they need and helps your brain to process all the information from the day. You may have noticed that when you get less than 6 hours of sleep you are more tired throughout the day and are less efficient with your tasks.  

Caffeine can’t solve all your problems. It’s good for a quick fix but you’ll soon notice that you are having difficulty sleeping more often, aren’t able to focus, have depression, and other health-related problems. Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, depression, and a weakened immune system.  

Connect with your local insurance agent to discuss what policies best fit your medical needs. Consult with a doctor to better discuss your individual health needs. 

As the ball drops on New Year’s Eve and we usher in 2022, many of us will consider goals and aspirations for the coming year. Often, we set unrealistic goals that are difficult to achieve, ultimately resulting in another year of failed resolutions. Instead of setting goals like losing twenty pounds, focus on goals that are trackable, achievable, and will help you make progress on those big goals. Here are three realistic health goals you should set for 2022. 

1. Drink more water. 

Depending on how active you are, you should try to drink between half an ounce to an ounce for every pound you weigh. For instance, if you weigh 160 lbs., you should drink between 80 – 160 ounces of water every day. There are many ways to make drinking enough water easier, such as figuring out your favorite way to drink it. Do you prefer glass bottles, tumblers, or steel canisters? Find your favorite container, then calculate how many bottles you need to drink every day to hit your goal. It is very helpful to set smaller goals throughout the day, such as one full bottle before you start work, three bottles before lunch, or two bottles after dinner. Health benefits of this goal include:

• Increased energy levels and alertness
• Aids in weight loss
• Promotes good digestive health

2. Take five 30-minute walks a week.

Another great and relaxing way to improve your health in 2022 is to go for five 30-minute walks every week. Walking is a phenomenal way to get some low-impact cardio in, and a great overall way to stay in shape. These walks can be done at any time of day – early risers may enjoy a walk to start their day, whereas others may prefer to walk on their lunch break or take an evening stroll. Health benefits of this goal include:

• Increased heart and lung fitness
• Improved management of high blood pressure or high cholesterol
• Reduced stress
• Aids in weight loss

3. Get 7-9 hours of sleep.

While it may be tempting to stay up late binging on your favorite shows, getting enough sleep is crucial for your overall health. Getting enough sleep gives your body time to repair your muscles and form memories from the day. You should shoot for 8-9 hours of sleep every night, but make sure to consistently get at least 7 hours. Building a bedtime routine can help you achieve this goal – you can meditate, complete your skincare routine, or read for 15 minutes. Just focus on creating a routine to cue your body that it is time to rest. Health benefits of this goal include:

• Reduce stress and improve mood
• Lowers risk of major health problems like diabetes and heart disease
• Increased alertness and cognitive function

By setting the goals of drinking enough water, walking five days a week, and getting enough sleep, you can seriously improve your physical health and wellbeing in 2022. These goals are small and easily trackable, and by following this routine, you can reach even bigger goals like hitting a target weight or being a more focused and thoughtful person. Being healthy can also save you money by requiring fewer visits to the doctor, lower overall medical expenses, and maybe even a lower health insurance premium. 

It can be difficult planning for a future we cannot see. With the many financial products all aimed at fulfilling a financially “easy” retirement, how do we know which options are best? Will there be enough money to continue the same lifestyle or to at least pay the bills? Without a crystal ball, the financial anxiety is real and understandable. 

One product in particular isn’t reliant on mere hopes, parlor tricks, or a constantly changing economy: annuities. Annuities aren’t some loose and risky investment or prudish savings account – they are insurance for your retirement gap. Your retirement gap is that awkwardly large space between what you’ll get paid (or have saved) for retirement and what you’ll need to live a secure retirement. Here are 3 ways that annuities cover and close this gap, so that you can rest easy while planning for those seemingly dimly lit golden years: 

1) It’s guaranteed.  

Most people cannot live on social security alone or even with their pension combined. With annuities, you can rest assured that you will have the money you need to live comfortably through retirement. This legally binding, customizable contract between you and your insurance agency ensures that your premiums, or initial investment, will grow, tax-deferred, over the time allotted in your contract and that payday will arrive. 

2) You won’t outlive your annuity.  

Your annuity will continue to pay you for life, regardless if you choose immediate or deferred payments. In fact, your annuity can be passed onto a beneficiary, so it can actually outlive you. There are many types of annuities with different levels of risk and costs, so your insurance agent can best personalize this after discussing your situation and goals with you. 

3) There are tax incentives.  

One of the main advantages of annuities is that they are tax-deferred, meaning you won’t pay income tax on it until you withdraw or begin receiving payments. “This includes dividends, interest and capital gains, all of which may be fully reinvested while they remain in the annuity” (annuity.org). There are complex rules, though, that only your insurance agent or a tax professional should explain, so be sure to ask questions regarding taxes when shopping for the right annuity product. 

We all want to know that we will be safe and secure when we are our most vulnerable. Annuities are just the insurance we need to enjoy our senior years doing what we love and not worrying day-to-day about our finances that we worked so hard and long to build and protect. Annuities are the closest sure thing next to having a crystal ball. Call or email your insurance agent today 

to see how annuities can build your retirement to cover your needs and make your golden years a whole lot brighter and easier to see. 

Holidays are supposed to be about sharing good times with family and friends, so we’ve gathered some tips for how to avoid the biggest risks to your season of cheer.  

Illness 

Transmissible viruses are the biggest risk when celebrating the holidays. Avoiding people when sick is key, but sometimes it is accidental or unavoidable. Washing your hands frequently and taking other proper cautions suggested by the CDC can help mitigate viral infections taking hold.  

Mental health can also be tried and tested during the holidays. Stress, over-eating, consumption of alcohol, and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can all lead to an unhealthy mental state. This is as important a time of the year as ever to take care of yourself and reach out for help when needed. Self-care can go a long way, but it isn’t a cure-all, nor should anyone who isn’t a professional take on the sole task of ensuring or improving someone’s mental health; call your physician.  

Food 

Taking care when preparing those delicious dishes, such as avoiding cross-contamination and washing hands and prepping surfaces thoroughly with warm soapy water, is important, but not keeping food at the proper temperature is the most frequent cause of foodborne illness over the holiday season. There is a strain of bacteria called C. perfringens that is associated with cooked foods left out at room temperature, a common holiday occurrence. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this bacteria is to blame for nearly a million cases of foodborne illness in the U.S. alone each year, with more cases happening in November and December. Try to keep your cooked and refrigerated food temperatures out of the danger zone, which is between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help keep you and your dinner guests safe to spread the good tidings and cheer while breaking bread. 

Fire 

Fire According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), “Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day, the day before Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve.” Be alert, follow cooking directions, and keep all burnables away from the stovetop. Fireplaces and candles carry similar risks during the holidays due to increased use in winter cold months and the abundance of decorations, and one small spark can ruin holiday plans and worse. Never leave a candle or fire unattended, and keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Avoid using open-flame heating and lighting sources, and opt for safer, battery-operated, or electric sources instead.  

Décor 

With all of these decorations, the most dangerous is the Christmas tree and its lighting. Live Christmas trees dry out when not properly watered or if cut too early or left up too long. Be sure to pay attention to this as well as the electrical load on the sources. NFPA found that “electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in almost half of home Christmas tree fires.”  

NFPA also reports that, excluding Christmas trees, in 2014-2018, fires caused an annual average of two civilian fire deaths, 30 civilian fire injuries and $11 million in direct property damage in the U.S. Help keep this completely preventable occurrence from wreaking havoc around the holidays. Take the proper precautions to ensure a warm, but safe, holiday. 

Slips & Falls 

The CDC reported in a relatively recent study on holiday-decorating-related falls that most injuries were to men aged 20 to 49 years, and many were caused by falls from ladders. The big take-away? “Prevention strategies should focus on raising awareness about falls and promoting safety practices during the holiday season,” and we want to help. 

Clear your work area of these tripping hazards, make sure you have good lighting, and take caution in poor conditions when outside. Wear good shoes and proper clothing for the weather and task. Ask someone to help brace your ladder and hand you tools to cut down on trips up and down from heights. Overall, awareness is key and knowing that this injury is a top contender every year for ruining someone’s joy can be enough to help protect your holiday season from the blues due to injury.  

Make sure that your holiday season doesn’t succumb to the pitfalls of celebrating these winter months. With awareness and some forethought on safety, you can make these holidays something you want to remember for years to come.  

We all know that sugar is not good for our bodies, but the scary repercussions do not seem to be fully realized when we look at American culture. Many of our holidays revolve around food, and, particularly and not coincidentally, processed and refined foods such as candy. Americans love candy and purchase around twenty-four pounds of candy per person, per year, ingesting the most around Halloween.

Americans, we have a problem.

Too much sugar is poisonous for our bodies. Sugar overworks the liver and pancreas and causes inflammation. It directly and indirectly leads to a wide array of health problems, from tooth decay and obesity to heart disease and diabetes. Removing sugar from your diet can even lower your chances of suffering from the worst symptoms and conditions from Covid-19.

In a study on the effects of sugar on heart health published in 2014, “people who got 17% to 21% of their calories from added sugar had a 38% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared with those who consumed 8% of their calories as added sugar.”

So we know it is bad, but there are important questions that remain: How much is too much and how do we change?

How much is too much?

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that “on average, sugar makes up 17% of what children consume each day,” way more than what the Food Pyramid suggests. It isn’t feasible for us to track our sugar using a pyramid graph, but there are more reasonable ways we can monitor and evaluate our sugar consumption.

Nutrition labels have continuously improved over the years in containing a wealth of info that should not be ignored. The American Heart Association recommends you look to this label and keep your daily intake to under twenty-five grams (or six teaspoons) for women and under 36 grams (or nine teaspoons) for men.

What to do about it.

Of course, there’s an app for that, but we can’t expect ourselves to digitally track sugar intake for every member in our home. One of the easiest ways to monitor is to limit and even cut sugary foods in their entirety from the shopping list.

Who is in charge of the shopping and meal preparations? Start here. Limit or remove foods that contain refined sugars, such as high fructose corn syrup, listed on the labels. Replace sugary drinks, which is the main way children consume sugar, with healthier options such as milk and water. Begin this healthy overhaul before the food even enters your home.

Don’t be a total killjoy, especially around the holidays, but do be conscientious of what is going into your and your children’s bodies. Don’t leave candy lying in plain view – out of sight, out of mind, right? Impose limits on daily sugar intake that follow the guidelines for children (25 grams per day for children 2 and older) and for adults, especially if you have dietary restrictions for a health condition.

Other ways are to choose healthier options. Insider ranked almost two dozen fan-favorite candies from worst to best (Smarties are “best”). Whole fruits and low- to no-calorie sweeteners are another, healthier way to satisfy a sweet tooth.

Most importantly, be mindful of what goes into your body, and if you buy the groceries, pay mind to those who look to you for guidance on living a healthy lifestyle. There are many resources around you. Ask your doctor, dentist, and even your insurance agent about these resources to cut costs and improve your dental, health, and life insurance plans. Heeding advice now will have more rewards than a king-size candy bar can offer! Your health is invaluable – treat it that way.

The Center for Disease Control recommends taking 10,000 steps per day to maintain good health. This is the equivalent of about five miles, but the average American only takes about 3,000 to 4,000 steps or 1.5 to 2 miles per day with a moderately active lifestyle. The best and simplest way to increase your daily steps is by taking a dedicated walk each day. Here, we break down five reasons why taking a daily walk can improve your health and positively impact your life.  

It Improves Muscle Strength 

Because walking activates nearly your entire muscular system, it is a great way to increase your muscle tone and overall strength. Your legs engage as you balance and walk up or down an incline. Your core, which includes your abdomen, side body, and lower back, works to stabilize you with each step. If you pump your arms while walking, your biceps and triceps can even strengthen through this small isometric movement. Overall, this strength helps increase your range of motion and takes the pressure off your joints.  

It Will Help You Sleep Better at Night 

Moderate aerobic exercise such as walking increases your body’s ability to produce slow-wave sleep. This is the deep stage of sleep that allows the body and mind to recover and reduce stress. The time of day that you exercise may have a small effect on your body’s ability to transition to sleep. Be mindful of this and avoid workouts before bedtime if your body is sensitive to this. Because exercise releases endorphins and raises your core body temperature, it cues a more wakeful state for 30 to 90 minutes. 

It Improves Your Mood 

Have you ever had a bad day and decided to take a walk to clear your head? While the change of scenery probably helped, taking a walk to improve your mood has scientific backing as well. Walking releases endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain killers and mood enhancers. It can also boost energy levels, which may be low if you are in a bad mood. Your body circulates oxygen faster, along with releasing cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, which are hormones that regulate energy levels. This combination of energy and endorphins leaves you feeling more positive after your walk.  

It Is a Low-Impact Way to Trim Your Waistline 

Walking burns calories without placing a major strain on your joints through high-impact or high-intensity workouts. A 155-pound person will burn about 150 calories during a 30-minute walk, and this can increase with time or a quicker pace. Combining a daily walk with a healthy diet will create a calorie deficit, meaning your body will naturally burn slightly more calories than it consumes. Because walking does not place as much stress on joints as running, this is a great low-impact option for all ages and fitness levels.  

It May Even Help You Live Longer 

In a recent study, scientists found that adults who took 8,000 steps per day had a 51% lower risk of dying from any cause compared to those who took half that. Walking improves your overall physical and mental health, putting you in a better place to live a long and happy life. It is also important to note that even a small change can make a major impact. Just a 30-minute walk five times a week can lower your risk of heart disease, the top disease killer in the U.S., by 19%.  

If daily exercise is not already part of your routine, consult with your doctor and start small. Even a brisk 30-minute walk is better than not taking one at all. From there, begin to add time and increase your speed as you become more comfortable with the exercise. Walking has multiple health benefits that can lower your risk of diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, obesity, and Alzheimer’s. Staying healthy even as you age can also lower your insurance premium as well.  

To learn more about lowering your premium by maintaining good health, speak with your insurance agent today. 

Understanding what types of insurance to offer your small business’s employees can feel like a challenge. However, this is a great problem to have! It means you as the owner have done a wonderful job growing the company and adding new staff members to your dedicated team. Health insurance benefits are a major way to attract top talent to your company.  

The Affordable Care Act changed the landscape for small businesses and now requires companies with 50 or more employees to offer an “affordable” health plan. For an employee-only policy, they cannot spend more than 9.5% of their household income for coverage. Even if your business has fewer than 50 employees, there are still major incentives such as tax credits, employee satisfaction and retention, recruiting talent, and reduced sick time. Here, we are breaking down the basics of the types of insurance coverage to keep your small business’s employees happy and healthy. 

Medical Insurance 

The first step in providing insurance benefits is to offer medical coverage. This includes preventative care like annual checkups, along with emergency support. You as the business owner have options for the types of plans and the amount of subsidizing you want to offer. A Preferred Provider Organization plan is the most common and allows employees to go to a doctor or hospital that is within a “preferred” group. This includes preventative and emergency care. Employees will pay for their monthly premium and any costs up to their deductible. To determine what amount you would like for employees to pay and what you as the business can afford to cover, speak with your local insurance agent who can help you find the best plan and pricing. 

Dental Insurance 

Unlike medical insurance, dental insurance is not required under the Affordable Care Act. However, offering this vital preventative service is typically a low-cost commitment for you as the business owner and a valuable form of care for your employees. Individual employee-sponsored dental plans can cost your small business about $14 to $30 per month per person, with family coverage being higher. Most dental issues are preventative, but they can lead to many more serious health concerns if they are left untreated. Therefore, it is important to offer your small business’s employees the opportunity to enroll in a group plan, even if you cannot subsidize a portion of the cost. A group plan that is negotiated by your insurance agent will be more cost-effective for your employees than a private plan. 

Vision Insurance 

Similar to dental insurance, you are not required to provide your small business employees with vision insurance. However, with three out of four Americans wearing corrective lenses, the cost of eye exams, glasses, and contacts are important to a majority of your employees. If you plan to cover some of the cost for your employees, this is often one of the most inexpensive types of insurance to budget for. Your expense may range from $5 to $10 per month for basic preventative care and corrective lenses. More comprehensive plans, such as those that offer a discount on LASIK surgery or other more intensive procedures, could cost you $15 to $20 per month per employee. Showing your staff that you value all aspects of their health and wellness, especially something that is often out of their control, will go a long way in creating a positive environment for your team. 

Short-Term Disability Insurance 

One final type of insurance that you may want to make available to your employees is short-term disability. While policies can range from three months to a year, each one serves to provide your employee with a portion of their income or salary if they are out of work for a short time. Reasons can include a medical illness or surgery recovery, pregnancy, or injury, but the specific list of covered disabilities will depend on the policy you select. The primary benefit is to your employee, who can hopefully avoid financial hardship while they are unable to work. However, offering this also benefits you as a small business owner. You most likely spend a lot of time and resources selecting and training your staff. By offering this benefit, you can help them maintain their lifestyle, recover safely, and return back to work at the appropriate time.  

Regardless of the size of your small business, offering a variety of insurance plans is becoming more and more important. Jobs and salaries are more competitive than ever, and employees are looking for a company that values both the work they contribute and their personal wellness. Speak with your insurance agent today to determine which group insurance plans are right for your organization.