September is National Cholesterol Education Month, a good time to get your blood cholesterol checked and take steps to lower it if it is high. Children, young adults, and older Americans can have high cholesterol.
High cholesterol typically has no signs or symptoms but can lead to heart attack and stroke. That’s why it’s important to have your cholesterol checked by your health care team. All it takes is a simple blood test. Learn more from the National Institutes of Health.
September is official National Yoga Month (a national observance designated by the Department of Health & Human Services) designed to educate about the health benefits of yoga and to inspire a healthy lifestyle.
It's a good opportunity for anyone unfamiliar with the ancient system to find out why it’s all the rage. If you've been wondering what the 16 million Americans who go to yoga classes are up to, the official website, www.yogamonth.org, will guide you to nearby studios that are offering free classes, free weekly passes or special events this month.
Are you looking for reasons to try yoga? From increased strength to flexibility to heart health, here are 38 benefits to rolling out the mat from yogajournal.com.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Want one more tip on how to find peace and relaxation? Listen to the song “Weightless” by British band Marconi Union.
“Weightless” has been named the world’s most relaxing song by Time Magazine. Doctors have found that listening to it lowers your heart and respiratory rate. Some describe it like 8 minutes, 10 seconds of aural bliss. You can listen to it on YouTube.
An easy way to start: move your body a little more during the workday. To help you get started, Snack Nation put together this list of 25 easy, desk-friendly exercises that’ll offset the effects of sitting all day. The more you move, the better you’ll feel — it’s as easy as that. Read More
Source: snacknation.com
“Mindfulness is a skill anyone can learn,” says renowned mindfulness teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn. “What is required is a willingness to look deeply at one’s present moments, no matter what they hold, in a spirit of generosity, kindness toward oneself, and openness toward what might be possible.” Learn about the art of overcoming distractions and reconnecting to who you are. Read More
Source: experiencelife.com
Yearning for crisp, fall weather? It doesn't have to be chilly outside to enjoy a hearty soup, especially if it's simple to make! This delectable taco soup is low in calories and offers variations to help meet your family's nutritional needs. Read More
Source: cooperaerobics.com
The caramelized butternut squash and crispy roast chicken pieces in this salad make turning on the oven 100% worth it. Read More
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
Destination bWell ended August 31, bringing this wellness year to an exciting close. Who will reach the Luxury Resort level and qualify for the drawing to win one of the 10, big prizes? Stay tuned for next month’s Benefits eNews when we announce the winners and prizes. Good luck!
In the meantime, congratulations to the 37 travelers who reached the Luxury Resort level with 8,000 points as of August 31.
Well-being is something sought by just about everyone because it includes so many positive things – feeling happy, healthy, socially connected, and purposeful. Starting October 1, BMC will launch the next phase of bWell with simple tools to help you build your well-being — one piece at a time — and earn rewards while you do it.
While we wait for fall and the return of cooler weather, the BMC Benefits team is turning up the heat preparing for big events. Mark your calendar for the launch of the next phase of the wellness program, financial well-being workshops, and the annual benefits enrollment period.
Wellness: We’ll launch another new phase of bWell, BMC’s wellness program, on October 1, 2019. Hint: The new phase will include many of the physical challenges you’ve come to know and many exciting, new non-physical challenges. Visit mybmcwellness.com starting October 1 to see what’s new and sign up for the new challenges.
Onsite Health Screenings: Your health is important, so you’ll want to mark your calendar and participate in free, confidential on-site biometric health screenings at BMC campuses (Houston, Austin, and Santa Clara) in October. Testing is quick and virtually painless, and you receive results within minutes. The screenings will measure total cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting glucose (blood sugar); blood pressure, and body measurements – height, weight, and waist circumference.
When you put the measurements together, you’ll receive a surprisingly accurate picture of your risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. These illnesses and health conditions are preventable with early detection, which is why knowing these numbers is so important. Watch your email in October for dates and times.
Retirement: Fidelity experts return to BMC in late fall with the next FEDTalks workshop. FEDTalks are a series of quarterly financial well-being workshops BMC hosts featuring Fidelity experts. Whatever your age or financial goals and challenges, these workshops are designed to help you get to your financially healthy place by better managing your finances, making smart financial decisions, and saving for retirement.
Benefits Enrollment: The U.S. Annual Benefits Enrollment will run from November 4 to November 15. Annual Benefits Enrollment is your once-a-year opportunity to review your benefits and make any changes you need.
Watch your email and future issues of Benefits eNews for details.
Whether you’re looking to move into a management position or make a career move, going back to school is a great way to make that happen. The only thing that may be stopping you is the expense of pursuing that advanced degree. With prior manager approval, the BMC Tuition Reimbursement Program may reimburse you for certain tuition expenses for undergraduate and graduate-level college courses up to the annual $5,500 cap.
If you are taking a college course this fall and plan to submit your eligible expenses for reimbursement, you’ll need to fill out some paperwork first. Before you register for college classes, you must complete the pre-approval process on the Your Spending Account (YSA) website. Visit My BMC Compensation & Benefits and select the Your Spending Account tile. Your manager or director must also sign a pre-approval form that you submit to YSA. For more information, watch our BMC graduate share timeless wisdom about how BMC helps you learn while you earn, or call YSA at 1-877-BMC-4849, Option 2—Your Spending Account.
Stress is everywhere in modern life, but when it accumulates for an extended period, it can lead to burnout. While day-to-day stress affects everyone, someone suffering from true burnout usually has lost the hope, caring, and motivation needed to be well again. However, there are ways to ward off burnout.
Join Magellan’s live interactive webinar on Wednesday, September 11, ‘From Stress to Success: Strategies to Defeat Workplace Stress.’ Learning objectives include:
Space is limited, so register now.
Source: magellanascend.com
If constant stress has you feeling helpless, disillusioned, and completely exhausted, you may be on the road to burnout. When you’re burned out, problems seem insurmountable, everything looks bleak, and it’s difficult to muster up the energy to care, let alone take action to help yourself. Ways to ward off burnout include:
How R&R Can Help
Mind Your Mental Health
Unfortunately, suicide rates in the U.S. over the past decade have risen across the lines of age, gender, race, and ethnicity. People from all walks of life can suffer from suicidal thoughts; your awareness of suicide risks can save lives.
Working on Wellness
Health boosters such as exercise and eating a balanced diet can help you stay strong and beat burnout.
Getting out of debt is possible when you know what you owe and what you can do to repay it. If you’re ready to begin paying down your debt, start with these three steps.
Source: consumerfinance.gov
Triggers ranging from policy uncertainty in Washington to earnings reports, to geopolitical unrest can spark market volatility. Dramatic moves in the stock market may cause you to question your strategy and worry about your money.
Rather than worrying about volatility, be prepared. A well-defined investing plan tailored to your goals and financial situation can help you feel ready for the normal ups and downs of the market and to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. Read More
Source: fidelity.com
MyBMC Rewards provides a snapshot of your pay, retirement benefits, health and insurance benefits and corporate programs. Visit MyBMC Rewards to:
Go online anytime or call 877-262-4849. Representatives are available from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Eastern time.
From enrollment reminders to important 401(k) information and benefits updates, you can be the first to know when your attention or action is required.