6 Ways to Cope with Holiday Stress & Calm Your Mind

The holidays bring joy, celebrations, travel, and gatherings of friends and family. For many of us, the holidays are times of extreme stress. The holidays prove to be unhealthy for you physically or mentally. Here are a few tips to keep your stress low and your mind calm during the festive season.

1. Stick to a Budget

We know that buying “the best” gift for everyone on your list is a goal. Try to take some pressure off your wallet by managing your spending. Set a limit for what you want to spend this year, and instead of just buying the first thing you like, decide what you are looking for. Or at least set a price limit for each person so you have a safeguard against overspending. Budgeting can help you avoid worries about bills that could be hard to handle.

2. Stay Organized

The holidays are the “happiest” and busiest time of the year. If you’ve been invited to several parties or are expected to host, cook, clean, take the kids out, visit relatives, etc., this year, your feeling of “it’s all a little too much” is not unwarranted. Take time out of your busy schedule to write everything on a to-do list or a calendar so you can go about your purchasing, baking, and preparations in an organized fashion. Handle one activity at a time and check it off the list. Sounds simple? This technique is surprisingly effective for stress reduction.

3. Know When to Say “Thank You, But No.”

There is a time when it isn’t feasible to do everything at once. Know your limits, and don’t be afraid to decline an invitation and spend a quiet night on the couch. Of course, you can make all the commitments you want, but don’t feel obligated to say “yes” to every invitation.

4. Go Easy on the Caffeine and Alcohol

When enjoyed in moderation, a hot cup of coffee to start the day or a glass of wine to unwind can be wonderful. During the holidays, drinking too much coffee can give you the jitters. Restrict the amount of coffee and alcoholic beverages you consume to manage your mood. These beverages inhibit your B vitamins, essential nutrients for brain and nervous system function. If you feel stressed, consider food and drink rich in B nutrients instead; B6 is involved in serotonin production, while B1 is vital for cognitive function. Severe B1 deficiency has been linked to irritability, poor memory, and confusion.

5. Set Aside Time for Self-Care

Amid all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, schedule some “me time.” Ensure you get enough sleep, remember to drink water, eat healthily as much as possible, and get out to enjoy the sunshine, fresh air, and some physical activity. Ensure your health insurance policy works for you and schedule your yearly physical. Don’t let the holidays stop you from self-care.

6. Focus on the Positive

It is easy to have differences in opinion to spur conflict in families, but focusing on what we have in common is much more rewarding. By reinforcing the positive and concentrating on what we are grateful for in family and friends, everyone can make their time together more enjoyable.

Let Go of Stress This Season

While you are busy making sure everyone else has a good time, don’t forget that you deserve to be happy this season, too. Health insurance is one of the many ways to safeguard your peace of mind as we move forward into the new year. If you want to update your policy to ensure you are getting the most out of your coverage, please get in touch with one of our agents, who would be happy to discuss your options.

A Guide to Gifting Loved Ones with Life Insurance

Can you give life insurance as a gift? Yes! It is a meaningful and touching way to show how much you care. Here are a few quick things to know about purchasing life insurance as a gift this holiday season.

Why Life Insurance Can Be the Perfect Gift

Gifts are a joy to give and receive, but giving a life insurance policy can be surprisingly meaningful. These policies provide something unique: long-term security. Unlike the usual sweaters, slippers, or even pricey devices, life insurance offers financial protection, and some policies increase in value and can become a valuable asset. It is truly a gift that keeps on giving.

Types of Insurance for Gifting

Term Life Insurance: The most affordable option, term life insurance covers a set period with a guaranteed payout to the policy beneficiaries if the insured individual should suddenly pass away—and provides tax-free income when it is needed most.
Whole Life Insurance: This insurance offers lifelong coverage that becomes an asset over time. Over time, these policies allow you to borrow for future financial needs such as college tuition.
Universal Life Insurance: These policies offer more flexible premiums, adjustable death benefits, and earn interest and cash value.

Three Ways to Gift an Insurance Policy

Buy a new policy: If you want to purchase a policy for a loved one, they are protected in life’s most difficult situations.
Transfer an existing policy: If you already have a policy, you can work with one of our agents to update your beneficiaries to suit family changes or convert a term life policy to whole life.
Fund an existing policy: If your family member has a policy and is having trouble paying the premiums, you can offer to pay the premiums to keep it in force.

Discuss your desire to make a meaningful gift to a loved one with one of our experienced and knowledgeable agents, and they will walk you through the steps.

Giving to Those You Love

Because of the nature of life insurance, you can purchase a policy to give to your loved ones. Key business partners or employees can also be insured to protect your company’s financial health. When it comes to the holidays, giving to those you care about, such as your significant other, children, or other loved ones, can help them have a safer financial future.

The Gifting Process: An Overview

Here’s a simple guide to gifting a life insurance policy to someone you love:

Research: Start by comparing different policy options. Take time to understand the long-term benefits and what would be best for your loved one’s situation.
Choose: Decide on the best coverage and amount you want to give.
Consult: Work with one of our professional agents to help make the best decision for your budget and answer your questions about the best policy options.
Gift: Give your loved one a lasting gift of peace of mind. You can even make it special by placing the policy documents in a box and topping it with a bow!
Explain: After the excitement of opening presents is over, spend some time with your loved one to explain the policy and ensure they understand how it works and how you plan to fund it for them.

Giving the Gift of Peace of Mind

Life insurance is unique in that these policies show you care for years and years to come. If you want to donate to a loved one’s future well-being and happiness, speak to one of our helpful local agents today. We can walk you through the simple process so you are confident you have chosen the ideal policy to protect the people you love the most.

What to Know About Workers’ Compensation and Working from Home

Are you one of the many businesses that has taken on a remote or hybrid working model? Working from home has pros and cons, but it also raises serious questions like what would happen if an employee becomes injured while performing work at home. Workers’ compensation (often shortened to workers’ comp) laws and requirements vary by state, […]

How to Avoid Hitting a Deer

Autumn is beautiful, but it also introduces some fall driving hazards… deer collisions being one of them. From October to December, mating and hunting season make deer go on the move. For drivers, that means you’re more likely to hit one. According to a 2022 study published in the journal Current Biology, about 2.1 million […]

Winter Weather Preparedness for Small Businesses

Winter weather can take a heavy toll on small businesses. The risks posed by storms, slippery walkways, and power outages can lead to financial losses. Taking steps to prepare your company and employees for the winter season can minimize business disruptions and claims filed for slip-and-fall accidents.

The best overall advice is to be proactive. Evaluate any risks on the property to determine where problems could arise and resolve any issues. While you know your business, here are some common areas for a winter weather preparedness plan.

Employee Safety and Communications

Create a Winter Communications Plan

Get your team on a group text or chat so that when storms hit, you have a coordinated method of informing all personnel regarding whether your business will be operating that day, so employees are updated on changes in business operations and delivery times during storms or other inclement weather.

Train Your Staff for Cold Weather Safety

If your work is outdoors, train staff to identify the symptoms of illness, frostbite, and hypothermia and what to do when these symptoms are observed. Training should include preventing these emergencies by dressing appropriately for the weather and taking regular warming breaks.

Stock a Storm Emergency Kit

Prepare for the possibility that staff and customers could have to shelter on-site in the case of a severe weather event. A standard emergency kit should include the following items:

First-aid supplies
Blankets
Non-perishable snacks
Bottled water
Flashlights and extra batteries
Phone chargers or power banks
Battery-powered radio

Public Information and Wellness

Keep Customers Informed

The storm season comes with unpredictable hours of operation. Ensure you have a communications plan to let your loyal customer base know what to expect in extreme weather. You can use social media or email blasts to keep employees, customers, and clients informed. Publicizing any storm-related closure times increases trust with customers and employees.

Prevent Snow and Ice Hazards

Keep your business safe and accessible by regularly removing snow and ice from walkways and entrances to your property. Salt can be put on sidewalks before a storm; snow melts faster and is easier to remove. After a storm, sand can help increase safety in icy areas. For rainy days, place anti-slip mats at entrances for added protection.

Property Protections

Prepare for Outages and Delays

When the wind and snow kick up, power outages and shipping delays are to be expected. If you are prepared, you can make the best of the situation. Invest in a generator if your business relies on power for the refrigeration of food items or medicine. Backup generators must be correctly installed at a safe distance from vents to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Increase Your Efficiency

Seal all windows and doors against cold drafts to lower the cost of heating and energy. Replace your air filters and service your HVAC units. A programmable thermostat can save energy when your location is closed.

Conduct Post-Storm Assessments

Always check your property for damage after a major storm. Business insurance can cover property damage or losses that affect your ability to serve your clients. Make a list of cracks, leaks, or damaged equipment or inventory. If you have a business insurance policy, keep all receipts so your provider can reimburse you.

Protect Your Business with Insurance Coverage

We do our best to prepare for dangerous rain, snow, hail, or wind storms. Even with the best plans, disasters happen, and that’s when your business insurance policy can prove to be one of your smartest investments. It’s essential to customize your business insurance policy to match your enterprise. Call our agents today to discuss insurance options that help protect your business against the risks associated with dangerous winter weather.

What to Know About Renting to Own

Over the last several years, many Americans have become pessimistic on the prospect of home ownership. According to a recent Bankrate survey, 51 percent of aspiring homeowners view cost-of-living issues as a major obstacle to buying, while 54 percent say their household income hasn’t matched the rise in market prices for available homes. With those […]

Safety Tips for Online Shopping

It is that time of year again. Whatever holiday you celebrate, Americans nationwide go to their favorite online retailers to buy holiday decorations, party supplies, and gifts to make the season merry and bright. The convenience of the internet is hard to resist, but the freedom and flexibility of online buying come with some grave risks.

Cybercrime is on the rise. In a recent year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 2.6 million fraud reports, with losses totaling over $10 billion. A significant portion of these incidents were directly related to online shopping scams and identity theft. By being alert and educated, you can keep your holidays truly happy this year.

Use the maxim, “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.” Scammers often use unbelievable deals to lure in naive shoppers or give a false impression that something is free when it’s just a ploy to grab your bank details. An offer to earn “$17,000 in Bitcoin for free!” when you sign up sounds great, but the platform won’t let you withdraw anything, even after you input your credit card number.

Stick with brands you know; research those you don’t. Big-name brands have a reputation to uphold. They have a duty to the public to ensure online transactions are safe and secure and a more extensive process for protecting against identity theft. When attracted to an item a new e-retailer offers, verify its legitimacy by looking it up on independent review sites. Only purchase from an unknown retailer after some research.

Make payments with credit instead of debit cards. Credit cards work better than debit cards for fighting fraud. You can get actions reversed or canceled by speaking with the company. When a debit card is used, the money is gone as soon as it leaves your bank, and it can be more complicated, or in some cases impossible, to have your money returned to you.

Access only secure websites. Another good tip on website security is to look at the lock symbol in the search bar at the top of your web browser. The symbol means the page is secure; passwords and personal information entered will be private. Another safety indicator is if the URL starts with HTTPS, the “s” stands for secure. If there is no “s,” the site may be more easily hacked—and your information with it.

Consider getting personal cyber liability insurance. Most people do not know that you can purchase insurance that will protect you against certain types of online cybercrime. Personal cyber liability insurance can cover fraud losses, identity theft, and even data restoration after a cyber incident.

Avoid public Wi-Fi while shopping. Public Wi-Fi is precisely that: public! A hacker’s dream. Cyber thieves can record your keystrokes from afar if you enter your details using the public internet. Avoid using public Wi-Fi services if you need to shop online when you are out and about.

Open email links with caution. Scammers are getting smarter every day, posing as your bank, the retailer you just visited, or the store where you recently purchased an item. Look out for messages that pressure you to urgently take action or ask you to “re-enter your credit card details” because your transaction failed. Rather than click the link, visit a reputable website or call the retailer to see if the email is legitimate or a scam.

Use secure passwords. A unique password with upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols is one of your best defenses against cyber criminals trying to access your accounts.

Track your bank statements regularly. If you keep an eye on your spending as a matter of course, you’ll be able to catch odd charges or indicators of fraud right away before it is too late to have your money returned to you. If you see something suspicious or off, call your bank immediately to report the matter or get the charges reversed.
Avoid storing financial information online. Yes, it is easy to save your credit card details with every retailer you love, so you can “click and go” when at checkout. Remember that any retailer can run into security issues—as has been proven repeatedly. If there’s a breach, your data is at risk. Take an extra 30 seconds to re-enter your card data so your personal information is not saved on dozens of sites across the web.

Stay Safe, Shop Smart

Remaining vigilant and aware can save you from the incredible hassle of resolving financial fraud or identity theft. With these tips, you can shop safely and enjoy the winter holiday.

If you want to know more about personal cyber liability insurance benefits, our local agents are happy to answer any questions. We’re here to help you achieve peace of mind, knowing your financial health is protected online.

5 Risks to Consider When Hosting a Work Party

Work parties boost morale and employee engagement. Your staff appreciates the time to relax, chat with others and maybe win some fun prizes. However, even the best intentions pose some level of risk. Workplace gatherings could bring out your staff’s worst behaviors—especially if you plan to throw alcohol into the mix. From small pizza parties […]

7 Tips to Winterize Your Business and Protect Against Winter Hazards

Before each winter, business owners should spend time preparing to protect their property and operations from the challenges brought by cold weather, snow and ice. Winterizing your business is not just about staying warm—it’s about safeguarding your assets and minimizing potential risks. A well-prepared business can avoid costly repairs and downtime during the winter season. […]

Stay Healthy This Thanksgiving with These 8 Tips

Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends is one of life’s great pleasures. If you are concerned about staying healthy before you overdose on food and football, try these eight tips leading up to and during the big day.

1. Get Out and Volunteer

On Thanksgiving, we take the time to be thankful for what we have. You can take this further by giving others something to be grateful for. Grab a couple of friends or the kids and spend some time in the local food pantry or any charity you choose. During the holiday season, they can always use extra help. If you get the chance to work directly with people in need, seeing the happiness you can bring to those in need is enlightening and rewarding.

2. Eat a Good Breakfast

To avoid overeating at a big family dinner, start your day off with a healthy breakfast. Eggs, oatmeal, and fruit are all tasty, healthy options. Don’t try to skip breakfast on Thanksgiving, as it can make it harder to be moderate when you sit down at the dinner table later.

3. Drink Water to Stay Hydrated

Did you know you should drink between 11 to 15 cups of water each day? If there is ever a day to meet your full hydration quota, this could be it. Water keeps you hydrated, healthy, and full—one way to prevent overeating.

4. Be Social, Share Your Thanks

Once you start enjoying your Thanksgiving meal, resist the urge to plow through your food. Take this time to talk with the family and friends who have gathered. Good conversation also makes time for good digestion.

5. It’s Not a Race, Savor Every Bite

Enjoy the aroma and flavor as you taste those baked yams, turkey, and stuffing. Maybe even ask Grandma about the recipe. Thoroughly chew each mouthful, allowing yourself to enjoy it. A slow, thoughtful eating experience can contribute to a high level of satisfaction without going overboard on the serving sizes.

6. Balance Your Plate: Add Fruit and Vegetables

Turkey, potatoes, stuffing, glazed onions, and rich brown gravy are all delicious. Adding some green vegetables to your plate gives you a good balance of macro and micronutrients.

7. Resist Temptation: Skip Seconds

Don’t give in to others insisting you take another helping. When you feel full, sit back and join the conversation rather than overeating. Eating fewer calories during the main meal leaves room for dessert—in moderation!

8. Be Active Outdoors

Getting fresh air in your lungs is a great way to burn calories and encourage healthy circulation. Take the family or a friend and try any one of the following:

Walking: Walking is a great way to get some space before or after dinner.
Go for a jog: An early morning run can keep you healthy and refreshed for the day.
Play outdoor games: Kids are often part of a family get-together. Get them out in the yard engaged in a game of tag, Red-Light-Green-Light, or Simon Says. If your party is all adults, flag football, playing catch, or any outdoor game can work.
Take a hike: For the adventurous who happen to be near some good trails, a vigorous nature walk can help work up a well-deserved appetite.

Protect Your Health All Year Long. We’re Here to Help.

Just as you focus on your health goals around Thanksgiving, be sure your well-being is looked after all year with a supportive healthcare plan. Our agency looks forward to working with you to find the right benefits for your healthy lifestyle. Non-smokers and individuals in excellent medical condition may be eligible for reduced premiums. Give our office a call to schedule a consultation today.

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