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robintek

Nov 04
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Six Ways to Enjoy a Healthy Thanksgiving Feast

By Life and Health

Juicy turkey, creamy mashed potatoes and sweet pumpkin pie tempt your taste buds this Thanksgiving. However, you might need to watch your weight or follow dietary restrictions for health reasons. You can enjoy the holiday treats but stay healthy this year when you follow six tips.

1. Drink Plenty of Water

When you’re hydrated, you feel full and are less likely to overeat. So, sip water as you prep the meal, watch football and hang out with friends. By meal time, you won’t be tempted to stuff yourself.

2. Fill Your Plate With Vegetables

Crunchy and healthy vegetables make the perfect appetizers, side dishes and game time snacks all day. Plus, raw and cooked veggies satisfy your hunger and offer numerous health benefits. Before dinner is served, fill your plate with a large salad or a selection from the veggie tray as you satisfy your hunger with healthy foods.

3. Hide Veggies in as Many Main Dishes as Possible

No matter how your favorite dishes have been prepared for years, alter the recipes to make them healthier. Substitute cauliflower for at least half of the potatoes in mashed potatoes, shred carrots into the meatloaf and add extra celery, squash and carrots to the stuffing. No one will notice the extra veggies, but your waistline will.

4. Ask for the Recipe

Some of your favorite holiday dishes may be prepared and served only at Thanksgiving. Instead of overindulging in them, ask for the recipes. When you can make these dishes throughout the year, you’ll be less likely to overeat this one day of the year.

5. Serve Fruit-Based Treats for Dessert

Pie, cake and candy don’t have to take center stage on the dessert table. Fruit, whether fresh, frozen or in smoothies, provides a sweet and healthier alternative to sugar-laden treats.

6. Focus on Family Fun Instead of on Food

While food is an important part of Thanksgiving gatherings, focus on fun. Play cards, football or board games, look though photo albums or go shopping with your family members and friends. You’ll enjoy a healthier holiday when your focus in on the fun rather than the food.

As you prepare for your Thanksgiving feast, implement these six tips that help you maintain your healthy lifestyle. Talk to your doctor or health insurance agent, too, about additional ways you can stay healthy this holiday.

Nov 04
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Get Healthy With Drum Therapy And Celebrate International Drum Month

By Life and Health

For centuries, drum therapy has helped individuals and groups get healthy. November is International Drum Month and the perfect time for you to embrace this beneficial health tool.

Reduce Stress

When you experience chronic stress, you also experience muscle tension, stomach ulcers and other physical health challenges. You deserve a better life. Pick up your drum and reduce stress in just a few minutes. Then, practice drum therapy regularly as part of a stress-free lifestyle.

Lower Anxiety

Panic attacks and anxious thoughts can cripple you. Combat these emotions with drum therapy. It distracts and relaxes you as your anxiety flows through your arms and hands into your instrument.

Manage Pain

Follow your doctor’s advice about pain management, and ask him or her about adding drum therapy, too. It releases endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers. Drums won’t cure the source of your pain, but they will help you feel better.

Improve Mood

Whether you’re angry, sad or lonely, drum therapy turns your mood around. Pound on a drum at home or in a public space and you’ll feel better emotionally.

Increase Immunity

In addition to mental health benefits, drum therapy increases your body’s immunity. Along with regular hand washing, use drums to avoid illness this winter.

Build Friendships

Good friends improve your attitude, reduce loneliness, inspire you to greatness and add fun to your life. Connect with others in a drum circle, and build your network of positive friends.

Express Yourself

When you have trouble sharing your deepest thoughts and feelings, pull out your drum. Start playing a rhythm that feels right to you. Mix soft, loud, quick and slow beats as you personalize your playing. There’s no right or wrong way as you use this form of self-expression to release your inner voice.

Whether you use a spatula and pan from the kitchen or set up a professional drum set in the garage, add drum therapy to your medical treatment plan during International Drum Month. It provides numerous health benefits that partner with your doctor’s advice and medication to help you stay healthy.

Nov 04
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Nine Tips for Getting a More Comfortable Night’s Sleep

By Life and Health

Get a good night’s sleep, and you’re more likely to wake up alert, energetic, happy and able to function. Since November is National Sleep Comfort Month, implement six tips that help you sleep better and more comfortably.

1. Invest in a Quality Mattress and Comfortable Bedding

Your sleep comfort depends largely on your mattress. If it’s lumpy, hard or scratchy, you’ll toss and turn instead of truly resting. Visit a local mattress store today and invest in the best mattress and bedding you can afford. It will quickly pay for itself as you sleep better and enjoy greater productivity and happiness.

2. Lower the Temperature

Because your body heat rises slightly as you sleep, you’ll be more comfortable when you lower your bedroom temperature by a few degrees. Opening a window or turning on a fan produces the same results.

3. Limit Big Evening Meals

Visiting the buffet for dinner tasted good at the time, but a large evening meal increases overnight discomfort. It will keep you awake and give you indigestion and heartburn. Step away from the kitchen at least two hours before bed. If you need a snack, indulge in a small portion of cereal with milk, fruit or granola.

4. Skip Alcohol and Caffeine

Your late-afternoon coffee affects your sleep 10 to 12 hours after you drink it. Your nightcap might make you drowsy, but the alcohol will wake you in the middle of the night. To boost your afternoon energy level, grab an apple, walnuts or cheese. If you want an alcoholic drink at night, enjoy it at least two hours before bedtime.

5. Relax

When you’re anxious, tense or stressed, your body won’t be able to relax. Practice yoga, deep breathing and visualization. As you relax your mind, your body will follow, and you’ll enjoy more comfortable sleep.

6. See Your Doctor

If you still can’t get comfortable at night, talk to your doctor. Discuss physical or mental issues that might be preventing you from getting adequate rest. Check with your insurance agent, too, about whether chiropractor visits or specialty pillows are covered by your insurance.

With a good night’s sleep, you wake up in a good mood and ready to tackle the day. Use these six tips to get your most comfortable sleep this month.

Nov 04
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Prep for Holiday Visitors by Updating Your Home Insurance Policy

By Personal Perspective

With the upcoming holidays, your house is going to be filled with guests. Is your pantry filled and your bathroom clean? Even more importantly, update your home insurance policy as you prepare to welcome guests to your home for the holidays.

What Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover?

Most homeowners buy insurance to cover property damages from storms or accidents. It also covers personal property that’s lost, damaged or stolen. Plus, homeowner’s insurance pays for medical treatment or lawsuits associated with injuries people sustain while visiting you.

Make Sure you Have Enough Liability Coverage

You don’t expect accidents to happen in your house, but a visitor could trip over frayed carpet, get food poisoning or fall off the backyard trampoline. Or maybe the traditional Thanksgiving day football game gets rough, and your cousin’s expensive watch breaks, a seasonal storm blows a branch on your friend’s vehicle or the toilet overflows on your uncle’s expensive leather shoes. These injuries and damages are all examples of accidents that liability insurance covers.

Increase Your Coverage Limit

To ensure you have enough liability coverage, check out your policy and talk to your insurance agent. Most policies include a liability coverage limit of $100,000, but you should consider increasing that limit to $300,000 or even $500,000. An accident that affects more than one guest could quickly use up that coverage and leave you with a big bill. The increased coverage limit ensures everyone can receive medical treatment, and it reduces your out-of-pocket expenses if you’re sued.

Buy an Umbrella Policy

An umbrella policy is another insurance product to consider. It adds additional coverage that could be very beneficial as you entertain guests this holiday season.

Because you plan to host holiday guests this year, do more than stock the pantry and clean the bathroom. Update your homeowner’s insurance policy. It gives you peace of mind and prepares you for anything that might happen.

Nov 04
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Complete Five Outdoor Home Repairs to Reduce Winter Insurance Claims

By Personal Perspective

Do you know the most common residential insurance claims? Learn what they are so that you can prepare your home this fall. That way, you’ll prevent expensive repairs and possible insurance rate spikes before winter weather strikes.

1. Water Damage

From a leaking roof to cracked pipes, water damage can ruin your home and possessions. Inspect the roof and make any repairs before heavy snow and ice arrive. Clean and repair rain gutters, too, to ensure water runs off into the street instead of saturating the ground around your basement.

2. Fire Damage

Unexpected cooking or heating source fires can quickly level a home. While you’ll want to test your indoor smoke detector batteries and practice the escape plan, replace furnace filters and clean the chimney, too. Then, inspect the exterior of the chimney to remove bird nests and ensure it is in safe working order.

3. Storm and Wind Damage

Snow, ice and wind storms damage fences and roofs. Take time now to trim trees and remove dead or low-hanging branches that could do the most damage around your property. Nail loose siding into place and secure patio furniture, bicycles and other loose items inside the shed to prevent them from flying away or being damaged.

4. Visitor Accidents

Uneven sidewalk, loose railings and worn deck stairs could cause your winter visitors to slip and fall. Fix these problems now. Also, stock ice melt and a sturdy shovel so that you can remove ice and snow as soon as bad weather starts and before anyone suffers an injury.

5. Animal Bites

Prevent your dog from biting or attacking anyone when you repair the fence so that it can’t escape the yard. Ensure the lock is tight as well. When visitors come into your yard, tie your dog securely to a post with a sturdy leash.

These five common insurance claims could affect you, but preventative measures go a long way toward protecting your family, home and visitors this winter. While you’re at it, ensure your home insurance policy is up to date. Add liability coverage or an umbrella policy if necessary when you talk to your agent today.

Nov 03
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November is Real Jewelry Month: Are Your Jewels Insured?

By Personal Perspective

Valued at $46.2 million, the Graff Pink diamond is one of the most expensive pieces of jewelry in the world. Your jewelry box might not hold anything that priceless, but you certainly want to insure your valuable or sentimental pieces, including the diamond cufflinks you wore at your wedding or your grandmother’s ruby brooch. November is Real Jewelry Month and the perfect time to make sure your necklaces, bracelets, rings and other real jewelry are insured.

1. Hire an Independent Appraiser

An independent appraiser will carefully and thoroughly inspect each piece of jewelry you own, and he or she will then determine the exact value of your works of art. Be sure to obtain a signed document that includes a detailed description and appraiser’s value for each piece.

2. Check Your Current Insurance Policy

Most homeowner or renter insurance policies include cash value or replacement coverage for personal belongings. As long as that figure is high enough to cover everything you own, including your real jewelry, you’re set.

3. Purchase a Rider

If your current policy does not cover your valuable gems, purchase a rider. It offers additional coverage for your precious collection.

4. Take Pictures of all Your Pieces

The police need detailed descriptions of your jewelry if a piece is lost or stolen. Take detailed pictures of each piece to increase the likelihood of recovery.

5. Update Your Inventory Regularly

Once you’re sure your jewelry is adequately insured, mark your calendar for an annual inventory review. Add new pieces you recently purchased and remove pieces you sold or gave away to ensure your collection is completely covered.

6. Inspect Your Jewelry

As part of your annual review; take your jewelry for an inspection. The jeweler will look for loose settings, chips or scratches. Take new pictures after any needed repairs are made.

7. Store Your Jewelry in a Safe Place

Insurance will replace your real jewelry if it’s lost, stolen or damaged, but don’t take chances. A fireproof safe hidden in your home or a safety deposit box at the bank protects your gems, especially if you own expensive pieces that you wear only on rare occasions.

You do not want to file a claim for stolen jewelry and find out it wasn’t insured. Follow these tips and talk to your insurance agent today as you protect your valuable collection and celebrate Real Jewelry Month.

Nov 03
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Protect Your Home and Family with a Fire Emergency Plan

By Personal Perspective

Roughly 374,000 fires occur in homes across the U.S. each year. Protect your home and family from being a statistic when you create a fire emergency plan. It helps you stay safe as you recognize Child Safety Protection Month this November.

1. Discuss Fire Safety Tips

Obviously, you want to extinguish candles, cigarettes and other open flames immediately. You also need to supervise meal prep in the kitchen to ensure nothing catches on fire. However, did you know that fabric can be flammable when it lies near the heater? Teach your family to prevent these and other fire hazards.

2. Hang Smoke Detectors

To ensure everyone can safely escape a fire, place smoke detectors on every floor of your home where you can hear them day and night. Since smoke rises, place them on the ceiling or high on the walls.

3. Locate Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers need to be accessible. Place one in the kitchen under the sink or in the pantry. Other smart locations include near the entrance and exit doors and at least one on each floor. Once they’re securely attached to the wall, ensure your adult and teen family members know how to use them.

4. Choose the Exits

Your home’s layout determines where you can safely exit. In each room, choose two door or window exits that assist your family in safely escaping a house fire. If you have a second story, store an escape ladder near the window, and make sure you know how to use it properly.

5. Designate an Outdoor Meeting Spot

Whether your family meets at a neighbor’s house or a tree across the street, designate an outdoor base camp. Call 911 from this spot after everyone safely escapes the fire.

6. Practice the Plan

Even the best fire emergency plan will be ineffective if your family members don’t know what to do when a fire starts. Test the fire alarms and teach your kids what they sound like. Then, practice escaping out of the nearest exit and meeting at your designated spot.

Your family’s fire emergency plan can keep you safe as you recognize Child Safety Protection Month. Additionally, talk to your insurance agent and ensure you have adequate home insurance for your house and possessions. Insurance won’t prevent fires, but it will give you peace of mind this month and year round.

Nov 03
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Safety Statistics Can Help Guide Workplace Policymaking

By Risk Management Bulletin

Sometimes, making smart decisions about workplace safety is all about having access to data: When you understand, for instance, which accidents are most prevalent, it can make it easier to know what types of safety practices you should be focusing on to decrease injuries and reduce risk-related costs. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) provides some useful statistics about OSHA violations that can aid in determining certain risks your company might be facing. For example, in 2013, the most frequently cited OSHA violations included inadequate fall protection, improper use of scaffolding and ladders, improper use of respiratory equipment, poorly designed electrical systems, workplace truck accidents, and machinery and machine guard violations.

And OSHA isn’t the only place a company can look for insight into accident statistics. Top insurance carriers frequently list aggregate claims data to aid businesses in making risk management decisions. According to a survey of leading carriers nationwide, these are the top-reported worker’s compensation injuries for 2013:

* Overexertion injuries: These are injuries that occur as a result of lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling — injuries that use the big, major muscles.
* Slipping and tripping: Slipping and falling on wet or slippery floors or over objects left lying on the floor was the second most common type of injury.
* Falling from a high location: These include falls from roofs, ladders, scaffolding, stairs and any other high location.
* Reaction injuries: Essentially, these are slips and trips that do not result in falls, but can still result in injury and trauma including whiplash-like symptoms.
* Falling object injuries: This category includes injuries form objects that are dropped or that is dislodged or falls off shelves, equipment or the building itself.
* Walking into injuries: It may be funny when the Three Stooges do it, but at work, walking into concrete, glass, metal or other hard objects can result in broken bones, cuts and other types of serious trauma.
* Vehicle accidents: This includes accidents that occur when employees are driving as part of their jobs.
* Machine and equipment entanglement: These are most common in factories and manufacturing plants where heavy machinery and processing equipment are in use.
* Repetitive motion injuries: Carpal tunnel syndrome is probably the most familiar of these injuries, but other injuries can occur among employees who repeat the same motion over and over again throughout the day.
* Injuries due to violent acts: The number 10 cause of workers comp injuries, most violent acts occur following arguments.

Nov 03
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Is Your Workplace as Safe as It Could Be?

By Risk Management Bulletin

Providing a safe workplace is an important part of reducing risk, as well as decreasing worker absenteeism and keeping insurance premiums as low as possible. It’s also the best way to make sure you stay in line with standards and regulations established by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and other regulatory bodies. Use these tips to determine where safety improvements can be made in your own company:

* Identify potential hazards. The first step in any workplace safety plan is to identify problems that could cause accidents. Identifying potential hazards requires a team effort so you can benefit from different viewpoints and different experiences. Use what you learn to create a comprehensive safety plan and review it often to make necessary changes.
* Get familiar with the laws. OSHA provides one set of regulations, but your state, locality and even your industry provide regulations and guidelines aimed at helping you keep your workplace as safe as possible. Know which laws apply to you and make sure you adhere to them.
* Meet with your insurer. Make sure your business is properly classified so you’re not paying higher premiums than necessary. Your insurer can also provide you with information about trends in workplace accidents and claims results to help you pinpoint areas where you need to make improvements.
* Establish an emergency response protocol. Develop a plan detailing what to do when an employee becomes injured. Mae sure emergency numbers are handy to all employees, and keep a first aid kit well stocked with supplies. You may also want to provide first aid training to your employees for added protection.
* Follow up. When an accident does occur, review how the issue was handled and identify areas that need improvement to avoid a similar accident in the future. Make changes to your safety protocol, determine if there’s a need for new safety training and keep written records of everything you do during follow-up.

When it comes to keeping your workers safe, forget the snappy logos and pithy slogans, and instead take actions that can result in tangible, risk-lowering results. Make safety a priority for all of your employees and hold everyone accountable for their actions and their roles in safety implementation.

Nov 03
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6 Simple Tips for Better Security

By Risk Management Bulletin

No matter how rigorous you think you are in protecting your business against security breaches or other risks, there’s always room for improvement. Here are six simple steps you can put in place right away that can have a significant impact on reducing your business’ exposure to risk:

1. Have a written code of conduct. Writing down rules and repercussions for poor behavior is the best way to make sure your employees know what’s expected of them, as well as the consequences for risky or inappropriate behavior. Offer a copy of the code to new hires, and whenever changes are made, provide updated copies to all employees. Also be sure to review it frequently so it can evolve as your company grows.

2. Maintain ample office security. Make sure to install adequate locks on doors, windows, desks, file cabinets and individual rooms in your office, and keep a close eye on keys. Make sure employees change passwords frequently and adhere to your company’s BYOD policy (you do have one, right?). Install cameras and motion detectors as needed, and be sure to use adequate lighting in all areas, especially near entrances and exits.

3. Schedule regular security audits. Make time to regularly check documents in your employees’ possession, both at their work station and on their computers. The idea is not to penalize employees, but rather to identify risky behaviors or practices where your company can improve its overall security. Once areas in need of improvement have been identified, devise and implement strategies to overcome these weaknesses ASAP.

4. Shred monthly — or weekly. Pretty self-explanatory; don’t leave sensitive documents around. This includes not only your company information, but information provided by your customers. Put a shredding day on your calendar every month or week, and then be sure to stick to it.

5. Restrict computer access. While all your employees may need to access computers to do their jobs, they probably don’t all have to be able to reach every document or file you have stored on your computer network or in your company cloud. Designating clearance levels lets you decide who has access to what, and can be a powerful step in reducing the risk of security breaches and inadvertent — or intentional — information leaks.

6. Have an emergency plan in place. You and your employees should know what to in case of a fire, theft, natural disaster or other emergency situation to avoid unintentional security breaches. Like the code of conduct, you plan needs to be written down and provided to all employees. Review it at staff meetings to make sure it’s understood.

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