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Cali Naughton

Cali Naughton graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington. She joined the marketing team at Empower Brokerage in the spring of 2021 as a marketing specialist and the department photographer.

Three Steps for a Morning Routine

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Troubled Start?

Do you find yourself constantly hitting the snooze button, falling out of bed, rushing to get ready, and arriving at your job already stressed and running towards the coffee? No judgment here, morning does not come easily for us all. However, a morning routine may be just what you need to start your day off on the right foot.

Benefits

You may be asking “how can getting up earlier make mornings any better?”. The answer is simply that by gifting yourself with some “me time” before starting to concern yourself with everyone else, you will find yourself feeling more relaxed and in control of your day. Consider it a chance to ground yourself and fully address your own needs. By creating this space, you will likely find yourself happier throughout the day.

Three Steps

First, you need to establish what things will help you best start your day. It does not need to be a killer workout at 5 am although that is truly amazing if you decide to go that route. It can be as simple as taking time to sip a cup of tea and write in a journal for 15 minutes. You may find that doing some light stretching or spending time meditating will be enough to get your body going in the morning.

Next, decide how much time you will commit to gifting yourself to do these things in the morning. You should really start small here. If you struggle to wake up, then you probably do not want to set your alarm an hour earlier. Try giving yourself an extra 15-20 minutes at first. It may help to go to bed a little early to help compensate. Once you get into a small routine, you may find that you want more time for yourself and increase your time from there.

Lastly, you have to commit. You have to make the decision that you are a priority first and foremost. When you take the time to serve your own needs, everyone else will benefit. Taking this time will help you go through your day responding with control instead of in reaction to everything around you.

 

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Can Medicare Help You Quit Smoking?

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Help Quitting

Quitting smoking can be a daunting task when you go it alone. Your Medicare Part B insurance may be able to help. Through their tobacco counseling program, you may receive extra help in order to kick the habit for good.

The Facts

Tragically, smoking causes the death of over 480,000 people in the U. S. every year. It ranks as the country’s leading cause of preventable deaths. While smoking obviously causes severe repercussions to the user, others who are exposed to secondhand smoke also suffer. Experts estimate that an additional 41,000 people die from the effects of secondhand smoke each year.

What Does it Affect?

Many people realize that smoking causes damage to their lungs, but they may not be aware of the damage caused to other organs. It causes substantial strain on the cardiovascular system which can lead to coronary heart disease and stroke. The effects are far-reaching, and the reality is that smoking takes a toll on the entire body. Your risk for developing things like gum disease, rheumatoid arthritis, infertility, loss of bone density, and colorectal cancer are all substantially increased by smoking.

Taking Back Control

When it comes to beating the habit and taking back control, the first step is simply making the decision to quit and then backing it with your own very personal reasons. When you are ready to start, you should talk to your doctor about creating a game plan and how to handle challenges along the way. A support system and accountability will increase the odds of your success.

Counseling Program

Medicare’s Tobacco Counseling Program can help you gain access to support. Through the program, you will be able to receive 8 in-person counseling sessions from a qualified doctor during a single year. Medicare Part B will cover the cost of the counseling sessions in full as long as your doctor accepts assignment, and you qualify for the program. This program is only available to you before you are diagnosed with a tobacco-related disease. Do not wait until it is too late. Start talking to your doctor about Medicare’s Tobacco Counseling.

 

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Medicare for Acupuncture

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Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

Coverage for Acupuncture

Suffering from chronic lower back pain? While this is a frustrating situation, the good news is that Medicare Part B may cover acupuncture treatments for you. Acupuncture has long been known for its benefits of relieving muscle pain and tension and has become an increasingly popular choice for treating lower back pain. As long as you meet certain requirements, your Medicare plan may cover as many as twenty treatments in a single year. This is a great option to possibly provide needed pain relief.

What is Acupuncture?

The practice of acupuncture has been around for thousands of years and is thought to have originated in China. The treatment involves applying thin needles to various points along the body. These points are determined by a map of meridians throughout the body thought to be energy (Qi) pathways. Many experts believe that this works by stimulating the central nervous system; however, there are many different theories about the specific mechanisms of it.  It is usually considered to be a safe treatment. The risks and side effects associated with acupuncture are rare, provided that a trained and licensed acupuncturist is providing the service.

Providing Relief

Many studies have confirmed that acupuncture can be an effective short-term solution for lower back pain. Because of the aid it provides in managing pain, it may also help decrease the need for pain medications. Depending on the situation, acupuncture may also be used in combination with other treatments. Always talk to your doctor about the best comprehensive approach for your lower back pain.

Medicare Coverage

Medicare may cover acupuncture for chronic lower back pain only, provided that the pain has lasted for at least twelve weeks. You may receive up to twelve treatments within a 90 day period. However, if the condition is improving, Medicare may approve an additional 8 treatments. Medicare does not cover lower back pain associated with surgery or pregnancy.

Acupuncture may be just what you need to find relief from chronic lower back pain. With the opportunity to receive treatment and avoid or minimize the need for pain medications, this is a great option to consider. You should consult with your doctor if this is an approach you are interested in.

 

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Restorative Yoga

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Restorative Yoga

Restorative Yoga

 

A Gentle Approach

Restorative Yoga offers a gentle and more accessible approach to yoga while providing benefits such as easing muscle tension, relieving stress, and improving sleep. It is a slow quiet practice that focuses on relaxation, deep stretching, and opening your mind to a meditative state. It provides a great option to those unable to keep up with the physical demands of more traditional yoga practices. This style of yoga utilizes many props such as blocks, blankets, straps, and bolsters. Through restorative yoga, you can alleviate muscle strain and fully relax into the poses.

Origins of Restorative Yoga

Restorative yoga was first introduced by B.K.S. Lyengar. His goal was to create a form of yoga that provided deep stretching and relaxation while fully supporting the body to avoid any strain. Unlike traditional forms of yoga where it is common to flow from one pose to another after short periods of holding, restorative yoga will have you holding a single pose for ten minutes or as long as thirty minutes. This allows a slow gentle opening of the body while also challenging the mind to be still. This form of yoga really deepens the meditative aspect of yoga. You may find that the biggest challenge during this practice is in fact the quieting of your mind.

Health Benefits

The deeper relaxed stretches of restorative yoga will help to alleviate stiffness and tension throughout the body. Over time you will find an increase in your flexibility and you will become more in tune with your body. Restorative yoga has a tremendous impact on mental wellness. The meditative aspect of it helps to relax the mind and relieve stress and anxiety. After committing to a regular practice, you will likely find that you are sleeping better and feeling more at ease throughout the day. This is because restorative yoga helps to calm the sympathetic nervous system which controls the fight-or-flight response and instead activates the parasympathetic nervous system which allows for relaxation and regulation of our heart and breath rate. In turn, we begin to bring balance back into stressed, tired, or overworked bodies.

How to get started

There are several options to get started. You may be able to find a local restorative yoga instructor offering classes in your city. Many instructors are now offering classes online through various video platforms. If budget is a concern, you may be able to find pre-recorded videos online offered at no cost. Getting started will require a few props such as a yoga mat, blankets, and pillows to help support your body during the class. Depending on the class, you may find you will want to also have yoga straps, a block, and bolsters. The props needed will likely vary depending on the poses your instructor is guiding you through during class.

 

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Medicare Extra Help Program

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Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@nci?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">National Cancer Institute</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/@c_naughton/likes?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>

Savings Program for Medicare Part D

The Extra Help program may be available to people wanting to participate in a Medicare Part D insurance plan. When someone enrolls in Medicare’s Part A and Part B medical insurance, they have the additional option of also enrolling in a Part D plan to help cover the costs of prescription drugs. Those people meeting certain eligibility requirements may receive additional help paying for extra out-of-pocket prescription drug costs through the Extra Help program.

Understanding Part D

Medicare contains an optional Part D plan that provides coverage for prescription drugs. This plan provides many savings benefits for a long list of prescription drugs. While coverages may vary based on the insurer, every plan is required to cover two drugs at a minimum within each of the most prevalent drug categories.

Qualifying for Extra Help Program

The Extra Help program may also be referred to as the Part D Low-Income Subsidy. This program may help eligible participants pay for the costs associated with their prescription drug plan. Eligibility is determined based on income and assets. An applicant must fall into the specified range to qualify. In some cases, you may qualify automatically. Someone who is enrolled in Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid may often qualify automatically. Those who are enrolled in the Medicare Savings Program will automatically qualify.

How Does it Help?

The Extra Help program provides many benefits that will help ease the financial burdens of covering prescription drug costs. These benefits include paying a portion of Part D premiums as well as lowering the out-of-pocket drug costs. The program also provides a yearly special enrollment period to allow enrollees to switch plans if they so choose. Finally, Extra Help will allow late enrollees to enroll in a Part D plan without the penalties.

With all these benefits, there is no reason not to enroll if you are eligible. The savings could provide someone with extra funds to put towards any number of other household costs. The program is certainly a great option to consider.

 

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