Health & Fitness Archives - Choice Bank

Creating Couple Goals for a Fulfilling New Year

Becki Engle — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 14:04:27 +0000

While starting a new year might bring a time of reflection and renewal for many couples, for others it’s filled with planning and implementation for exiting the relationship. January has been dubbed “Divorce Month.” At the beginning of the year, money troubles and holiday letdowns may leave you feeling disconnected from your significant other. Couples may do better by harnessing their energy towards strengthening the relationship and easing stress by creating shared goals for the year ahead.

1. Communicate Openly and Honestly

Start by sharing your personal and future goals. This sharing means taking the time to listen to your partner’s aspirations and anxieties and ensuring you’re both on the same page. By setting goals together, you may deepen your emotional bonds with each other and also have the knowledge that your partner gives you the support that you need.

2. Set Specific, Attainable Goals

How you set goals matters – keep them specific. Overly aspirational goals may lead to more frustration and disappointment. Make your goals doable as a couple.

Suppose you want to be more frugal. In that case, it’s a good idea to assess your expenses.

For some couples, their goals may be more emotional rather than financial. For example, if you want to spend more time together, your goal might be to schedule a weekly date night.

Whatever your goals are, make sure they’re challenging yet something you could aspire to do together.

3. Prioritize Health and Well-Being

When you feel well, being more connected as a couple is easier. You both benefit from helping each other stick to your health-positive milestones. Enjoy fun and healthy activities, such as cooking together and exercising. Prioritize resources for improved mental and physical health.

4. Support Each Other’s Personal Growth

Even if you agree with your partner’s shared goals, encourage them to prosper as individuals outside the relationship. Encourage them to continue on their path and follow their ambition.

For example, if they’d like to pivot in their career, offer emotional support to help them with the details, such as attending networking events and helping to prepare for the job interview.

When couples promote their personal goals, they elicit more admiration and respect for each other. Your ideas, opinions, and support matter to the other person.

Final Thoughts

The start of the new year is an excellent opportunity for couples to recommit and work together towards a happy and harmonious union. Shared goals help focus your energy and keep you connected to each other during the coming months.

There are practical steps you may take, including talking, setting clear goals, focusing on good health and good habits, and encouraging each other to develop positive personal growth.

Instead of experiencing the down emotions that January may bring, you and your partner could seize the opportunity to reconnect. Synchronize your visions so you’re aligned, and work together to manifest positive things. In that way, this New Year could be your masterpiece that you create together.

If you have financial goals going into the New Year, our team would love to meet with you!

Important Disclosures:

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

LPL Tracking #643908

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You’re About to Retire: Here are 7 Tips to Stay Independent

Becki Engle — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 13:08:33 +0000

Independence is important in retirement. The more independent retirees are, the more fulfilling their retirement is likely to be. However, living independently as you age isn’t always easy and may take some degree of planning well before you are even ready to retire. Want to ensure your chance of living independently during your retirement? Below are a few tips to put you on the path toward an independent future.

1. Have Your Finances on Track

To remain independent in retirement, you will need to have enough money put aside to take care of your monthly costs and stay on top of inflation. By having enough money to cover your expenses, you may not need to rely on family members and shouldn’t have to adjust your lifestyle as much to make ends meet.

2. Make Your Home Safe

While you may have several years before you have to worry about problems getting around your home, it is a good idea to plan for any major expenses you may need to make to ensure your home is safe when you are older.

3. Keep Up With Medical Visits

One of the primary reasons that many people are no longer independent as they age is due to medical conditions. You may lower your risk of major medical issues and lessen the effects of medical issues you may have by keeping up with medical visits and preventive services before you retire.

4. Take Charge of Your Mental Health

Depression and anxiety may become worse as you get older, especially if you don’t live around family and friends. If you suffer from any mental health conditions, make sure that you address them so they do not become a significant hindrance when you are older and trying to maintain your independence.

5. Build a Strong Support System

The key to independent living is having help and knowing when to ask for help. As you age, there are tasks you won’t be able to complete independently. You may need to outsource tasks to professionals, family members, or friends. By building this support system early, you will be more likely to maintain your independence for longer.

6. Get Organized

Getting organized and having systems in place to help you stay organized is crucial for living independently into your golden years. Keep good records of your finances and budget, keep to-do lists, and have contact information where it is easy to find. The more organized you are, the easier it will be to get through your daily routine.

7. Keep Up With Technology

Understanding and being able to navigate technology is a great way to ensure your independence in retirement. Technology often acts as a lifeline between you and the rest of the world and, when used correctly, has the potential to make your retirement easier. Smartphones, for example, can be used to order everything from food to medical supplies. Camera systems can help you maintain security.

Staying independent in retirement has many factors, we’d love to discuss any of them with you!

Important Disclosures:

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

LPL Tracking #516318-05

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The Origins of Thanksgiving

Stephany Hak — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 14:00:28 +0000

The 1621 Harvest Feast

The feast with which the holiday is credited occurred between the early pilgrims and Wampanoag peoples of the area. What was originally believed to be a set feast was more likely an impromptu gathering that lasted over a period of a couple of days. It started with colonists going out “fowling.” While it was possible that they were hunting turkey, it was much more likely that they were funding ducks and geese, and end up with enough from their trip to feed the colony for several days.

The Wampanoag Pay a Visit

The Wampanoag ended up at the colony most likely not by invitation but by a surprise visit at the entrance of the settlement. Even though tensions where likely high, the two groups ended up socializing and celebrating for the next few days. The Wampanoag had brought venison which became part of the feast along with the fowl, and like stews, fish, and vegetables. The days were spent with outdoor eating, sport shooting, drinking, and races. By the end of the affair, a treaty between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag solidified for the next 50 years.

A Day of Prayer

The Thanksgiving holiday became a day of prayer for the New England colonists who would get prayers of thanks for victories, harvests, and the end of droughts. The Continental Congress attempted to add a day of national Thanksgiving during the enactment of the Constitution, but many were opposed to the interference in a religious holiday, so it was eventually up to the state whether or not they wished a holiday to be declared.

A National Holiday is Declared

It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that a national holiday was declared. During the midst of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln set the national date for celebration as November 26th. The holiday was subsequently proclaimed by each president after and a new date was named each year until a resolution by Congress in 1941 set the date for the fourth Thursday of November.

Securities are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Investment advice offered through GWM Advisors LLC dba Goss Advisors, a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial. Choice Financial Group and Choice Wealth are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using Choice Wealth, and may also be employees of Choice Financial Group. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, Choice Financial Group or Choice Wealth. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are:

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Sources

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Thanksgiving-Day

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)

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What to Do If You’re Working From Home Longer Than Expected

Stephany Hak — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:00:39 +0000

As the threat of the coronavirus swept through the nation in March, many businesses sent their workers home, and now, as fall looms around the corner, many people are continuing to work from home. If you’re working from home longer than expected, you are not alone.

Want to make the best of this new situation? Check out these tips!

Optimize Your Work Space for Productivity

If working from home is likely to continue indefinitely, consider setting up a more permanent workspace. Invest in a desk, a comfortable chair, a better computer, some inspirational art to hang on the walls, or whatever helps make your space feel more conducive to productivity.

Miss the buzz of the office? Then, you may want to look into co-working spaces with socially distant protocols. This set up can be a great middle-ground between going into the office and staying at home all day.

Consider a Permanent Work From Home Arrangement

Being in limbo can be hard. If you’re not sure when the office is going to open again and you enjoy working from home, ask your boss if you can make a permanent transition. Many employers may be open to this idea because it can save them money in office costs.

To successfully negotiate an arrangement, you may want to be open to a flexible schedule. Then, once the office reopens, you can do part-time at home and part-time in the office with your colleagues.

Crunch the Numbers

Whether you plan to work from home permanently or only until the office reopens, you may want to take some time to see if working from home is saving you money or costing you money. If you’re spending extra money on computer equipment, faster internet connections, or other expenses, you may want to reach out to your employer for a bump in pay or some compensation.

On the other hand, if the savings on travel, work clothing, and lunch out is saving you money, you may want to continue working at home as long as possible. In either case, a financial checkup can help you assess the situation.

Balance Business and Personal

As working from home continues, take some time to make sure you’re balancing your business and personal life comfortably. Even though you’ve moved the office home, you don’t necessarily want to be checking emails just before bed, and on the flip side, you don’t want to be folding laundry when you should be focused on work.

One of the advantages of working from home is that you can blend personal and business life. For instance, you can rock a baby while on a conference call or throw dinner in the oven during a quick break. But for your health and your family’s health, you need to make sure that you’re balancing these two elements, and not letting work overrun your personal life or vice versa.

Keep Your Career Moving

Just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t mean your career should be stuck. Make sure that you’re continuing to think about advancement. Are you learning new skills? Do you contribute to the company in innovative ways? Are you reaching out to your boss for new opportunities?

Find interesting ways that you improve your skillset, make yourself invaluable to the company, and ultimately keep your career moving forward.

Important Disclosures:

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Content Provider: WriterAccess

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Why Some Doctors are Prescribing a Day in the Park or a Walk on the Beach for Good Health

Stephany Hak — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 13:00:36 +0000

Taking a walk on a wooded path, spending an afternoon in a public park, harvesting your backyard garden and even looking at beautiful pictures of Hawaii can all make us feel good. Certainly, for many of us, it’s beneficial to have time outside in natural environments. Being cooped up inside can feel unnatural and increase our desire to get outside. The renowned biologist E.O. Wilson created a theory called the biophilia hypothesis, where he stated that people have an innate relationship to nature.

On an intuitive level, this makes sense. Humans evolved in an open, natural environment and removing us from this environment could have a negative effect on our health. But what does the research say? Is there actually evidence that being in natural environments can promote our well-being, prevent disease and speed recovery?

Nature and healing

Hospital gardens can help ease pain in some patients, studies suggest.

The pioneering work in this area started in the 1980s with Robert Ulrich, who was a professor at Texas A&M University. His work looked at surgery patients who had a view of trees out of their window compared to those who had the view of a wall. Those with the natural view reported less pain and spent less time in the hospital.

Since then, several studies have shown a reduction in pain both through viewing natural scenes as well looking at nature videos and pictures.

Other studies have looked at the effect of exposure to daylight on patients and found they experienced less pain, stress and use of pain medications than patients who did not have exposure to natural light. There is also preliminary evidence that hospital gardens can alleviate stress in both patients and their families.

In the area of designing health care facilities, there appears to be consistent evidence that exposures to natural environments have a positive effect on pain, stress, anxiety, blood pressure and heart rate. In the Center for Health and Nature, a joint venture between my university Texas A&M, Houston Methodist Hospital and nonprofit Texan by Nature, our new studies are assessing if these effects extend to the virtual world, including immersive VR and virtual windows.

A preventive effect?

Some doctors in Scotland are encouraging people to learn to like lichen and appreciate the simple pleasures of being outdoors.

While nature appears to be helpful in restoring health after illness, can it actually help us keep healthy? Researchers across the world have been asking this question.

From forest bathing (“shinrin-yoku”) in Japan to the 30 Days Wild campaign in the United Kingdom, which encourages people to connect to wild places, people have been examining the healing powers of nature.

While walking is well established as a health promoting behavior, studies are now examining if walking in natural environments is more beneficial than indoors or in urban environments. Results have shown positive effects for mental health, improved attention, mood, blood pressure and heart rate. Several programs across the country have been formed to expose military veterans to natural spaces to combat symptoms of PTSD. In children, playgrounds with greenspace increased vigorous physical activity and decreased sedentary time and even has led to fewer fights.

While there is growing evidence that exposure to natural environments is beneficial to health there are still many questions to be answered. What is nature? While this may seem simple at first glance, there are many differences between a national park, an urban pocket park and a picture of waves crashing on the beach. What is the dose of nature needed?

In physical activity, there is scientific consensus that people need 150 minutes a week for good health. How much and how often is exposure to nature needed for better health? How do longer doses – such as a weekend camping in a forest – and shorter doses – such as a walk through a park – affect us? What sensory part of nature is affecting us? Is it sight, sound, smell, touch or a combination of them?

A recent paper proposed enhanced immune function as the central pathway for the variety of positive health outcomes received from nature exposure. This needs to be tested.

Despite the need for more research, the need for more nature exposure is urgent. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans, on average, spend 90% of their time indoors. A study in the U.K. found that children spend only half the time outdoors than their parents used to.

There are signs that a nature movement is beginning to take hold. The 30 Days Wild program run by the Wildlife Trusts in the U.K. encouraged people to engage with nature every day for a month. In its first year, more than 18,000 people signed up. It starts again June 1, 2019.

Doctors in Scotland are now able give Nature Prescriptions to their patients. The educational leaflet they provide describes numerous monthly activities including touching the ocean, taking a dog for a walk and following a bumblebee. In the U.S., the Park Rx America program has been working to connect publicly available outdoor space to physicians to have them prescribe nature.

As spring arrives, it is time to make a commitment to spend more time in nature. Better health could literally be as easy as a walk in the park.

Author

Jay Maddock, Professor of Public Health, Texas A&M University

Dr. Maddock is a Profess or in the School of Public Health at Texas A&M University. He is internationally recognized for his research in social ecological approaches to increasing physical activity. He has served as principal investigator on over $18 million in extramural funding and authored over 100 scientific articles.

Disclosure statement:

Jay Maddock is affiliated with the Center for Heath and Nature, a joint research center between Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas A&M University and Texas by Nature.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

The article was prepared by RSW Publishing.

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Working in an Essential Position? How to Cope with Coronavirus Stress

Stephany Hak — Mon, 25 May 2020 13:00:13 +0000

The coronavirus crisis has temporarily shuttered entire industries, closing many businesses deemed “non-essential” until the peak of the illness curve has passed. But while some businesses have closed until further notice, others are ramping up production. Healthcare facilities (including nursing homes), grocery stores, delivery and transportation companies, and online retailers are all leaning heavily on their workers, who are now deemed “essential” in the face of this pandemic.

The unique pressures placed on essential employees, many of whom feel they can’t complain when so many others are struggling with unemployment, can make it tough to decompress at the end of the day. Learn more about the specific stresses facing essential workers and how to cope during this crisis.

Step One: Accept How You Feel

It can be tempting to want to “fake it ‘til you make it,” pretending to be at peace with your situation even when you’re brimming with anxiety. But it’s important to accept your feelings, no matter how unpleasant they may be, and to know that it’s normal to be suffering from anxiety, anger, or even depression during these unprecedented times.

Once you’ve identified and accepted any negative feelings about your current circumstances, you can begin to evaluate what actions you’re taking to fight against them, as well as behaviors that may be exacerbating them. For example, if you’re finding it tough to stay away from news about the coronavirus, anxiously refreshing websites to get the latest statistics, you may inadvertently be increasing your stress levels. Stepping away from social media or scheduling times to check in on the news (and avoiding it the rest of the time) can help you disconnect from this source of anxiety.

Step Two: Identify Daily “Mini-Steps” That Can Help You Cope

It can be all but impossible to shut out all worries about becoming ill or spreading the coronavirus to others. But by identifying and practicing some micro-steps or mini-steps that can reduce your risk of illness in tangible ways, you’ll gain a greater feeling of control over your situation.

These can include:

Packing spare napkins, tissues, gloves, or sanitizing wipes on your bag each day
While washing hands, sing a song you enjoy or identify a few things you’re happy about
Practice social distancing without distancing—send a text, snap, or friendly message to someone you don’t talk to as often as you like
If possible, thoroughly clean and disinfect your workstation each night
After work, get undressed in your garage and take your clothes directly to the washing machine, which can minimize the risk of contaminating other surfaces in your home

These steps won’t completely insulate you from illness, but can still help flatten the curve for those who have little choice but to be exposed to the public on a daily basis. And by reducing this risk, you’ll be able to gain confidence that you’re doing all you can to protect yourself and your family.

Sources

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/coronavirus-essential-workers-stress-anxiety-strategies/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-thoughtful-manager/202003/managing-employee-stress-and-anxiety-during-the-coronavirus

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Healthcare Workers: How to Keep Your Head Up During Scary Times

Stephany Hak — Tue, 12 May 2020 13:00:50 +0000

Being a healthcare worker can be a stressful and tiring job at the best of times, but in the face of vast uncertainty and fear around the coronavirus, this profession has become even harder. If you are a healthcare worker on the front lines of the coronavirus, you are bravely dealing with an unprecedented situation — thank you.

As you navigate this situation, these tips may help you keep your head up during these scary times.

1. Protect Your Family from the Virus

As a healthcare worker, one of your biggest fears may be that you bring this virus home to your family. With the right precautions, you can manage this risk. Take care to clean all personal items such as phones, bags, or keys when you leave the hospital or clinic.

At home, set up a changing area or a sanitization station to prevent the virus from coming into your home on your scrubs or your skin. For example, remove clothes in the garage and put them directly into the washing machine. Then, slip on a clean robe and shower immediately.

2. Be Proactive About Preventing Burnout

During stressful times, you need to be easy on yourself and give yourself (and your family) lots of grace. To avoid burning out, give yourself ample time to practice self-care. Don’t be hard on yourself. Recognize that you may need to watch extra TV, take more baths, indulge in an extra dessert, do longer workouts, have an extra glass of wine, or whatever helps you to deal with stress.

Remember, therapy or just reaching out to a counselor can also be beneficial. You don’t have to wait until your mental health symptoms get severe. A therapist can help with even mild symptoms of worry and anxiety.

3. Find Ways to Reach Out to Others

If you’re just going to work and coming home, you may really miss your social outlets and support systems. Depending on your situation, you may be dealing with loneliness, or you may be living with children, spouses, or others who are dealing with their own stresses. Both can make the situation harder.

Find ways to connect with other people. Set up a phone date with a friend one evening. Reach out to old friends and see if they’re up for a virtual chat. If you like games, you may want to play a game virtually with family or friends. Human connection outside work can feel like a breath of fresh air and remind you of the simple joys in life.

4. Don’t Get Overwhelmed with the News

The news can be very overwhelming, especially in times like these. Try to find ways to stay abreast with what’s happening, without getting overwhelmed. Consider limiting how long you look at the news during the day, and if possible, look at stories about other topics so you don’t hyperfocus on the coronavirus.

5. Remember You Can’t Control Everything

To get through stressful times, remember that you can only control a limited number of things. Once you make your efforts, you have to believe that you did the best you could, and everything else is out of your control. Simply accepting that fact can help reduce stress levels.

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