April 2012: Making Time to be Active & Keep Your Wallet in Shape!

Hello Everyone,

With Winter winding to an end, it is time to welcome in the Spring season. Traditionally thought of as a time for new beginnings, Spring is a great time to Fitting In Fitness: start thinking about ways to improve our fitness and well being. This Mindful Mantras month's Wellness Exchange focuses on two forms of fitness: physical and financial. On the first page, we share tips and tricks for fitting fitness in to even the most hectic schedule. We hope that our ideas inspire you make time for physical activity at home, at the office, and elsewhere. With the second page of our newsletter, we discuss various ways to whip those wallets into shape this Approach exercise as though it’s a Spring. Read tips on budgeting, setting limits on spending and more. client meeting or a child’s soccer game that you simply can’t skip. Your Partners at The Wellness Corporation Remember to be patient and stick with your exercise regimen. You will be rewarded! Fitting In Fitness: Making Time to be Active

Life is busy. We’d love to fit in regular exercise, but who has the time? It’s time to stop thinking of physical activity as a “when I have time” option and consider it a necessity for life. Whether or not you want or need to lose weight, exercise is vital to good health. Losing weight and feeling great are just added bonuses!

Getting Started You will start enjoying the benefits of your exercise program in no time. Make sure you choose a time to exercise when there is little chance that you will have to cancel or interrupt your workout due to competing demands.

Make a plan, write it down, and follow through with it. Putting your plans on paper can be a big motivator. Start with a list of short- and long-term goals. Be realistic; looking like Cindy Crawford or Ben Affleck should not be one of your goals! A realistic short-term goal: I will walk three times this week for 30 minutes. A realistic long-term goal: I will lose 20 pounds by my high-school reunion next fall.

No Excuses... Consider potential stumbling blocks and what you will do if they arise. Having a backup plan will keep you from getting sidetracked or making excuses. What if the weather is so bad you can’t get out for your usual run, or the baby-sitter cancels on you? Plan to pop in an exercise DVD or jump rope in the family room with the kids. Are you too rushed in the morning to remember to pack your workout clothes? Try keeping a packed gym bag in the trunk of your car. What Moves You? Do some brainstorming to pick what type of exercise you’ll do. Let your instincts guide you to fun and fulfilling activities. By setting aside 20 to 30 minutes five times a week for vigorous activity and putting a little extra activity into your daily routine, you can enjoy a new sense of health, relaxation, and productivity.

Fitting In Fitness at Home The opportunities to get in a quick cardio session at home are enormous.

Get moving in the kitchen. This is great for cooks who want to avoid engaging in an unwanted taste fest. Do jumping jacks while the water is coming to a boil. Do rear leg lifts while washing the vegetables. Or put on your iPod and dance as you do the dishes.

Lengthy phone call? Make it a habit to be active during that time. Do some squats, walk in place, or do stretches.

TV time is another easy way to fit in some exercise. Skipping rope, doing jumping jacks, marching in place and weight training are all good ways of revamping your usual TV time into workout time.

Fitting In Fitness at the Office The workplace can provide you with a surprisingly good workout.

Parking at the end of the lot and taking the stairs instead of the elevator are standard suggestions. But how about doing a set of squats while washing your hands during a bathroom break? Or rear leg lifts while you’re waiting for that fax to go through? What's Your Take a walk during your lunch hour. Put on a pair of comfortable sneakers Financial Fitness and you’re ready to go. Whether you’re hoofing it alone or with a bunch of coworkers, walking is a perfect way to re-energize for the second half of the Diagnosis? workday.

Are you looking to build muscle? Bring a pair of dumbbells to work or just When considering your level of use your own bodyweight as resistance. Even everyday objects found on your financial fitness, ask yourself the following questions: desk can be utilized. Remember, no excuses. 1. Is my net worth growing?

2. Am I spending more than I Financial Fitness: Get Your Wallet in Shape! earn? 3. Do I need to make any changes to my estate plan? Similar to achieving a balanced diet or keeping up with a regular exercise routine, 4. What are my goals? Am I attaining financial fitness requires time and happy? effort. Although personal finance can seem complicated and confusing, there are a few good habits you can use to prevent debt, save money, and help keep your wallet in shape.

Make a Budget Create a realistic budget and stick with it. Stay on track by periodically checking your expenses against your income and readjusting figures or spending habits accordingly. Keep Your Spending in Check Curb unnecessary spending. Next time you make a trip to the store, consider the following suggestions:

Don’t impulse buy. When you see something you hadn’t planned to buy, don’t purchase it on the spot. Go home and think it over. It’s less likely you’ll return to the store and buy it. About The Wellness Avoid sales. Purchasing a $500 item that is on sale for $400 is not a $100 savings if you did not need the item to begin with. Instead, think of this Corporation scenario as spending an unnecessary $400. The Wellness Corporation is a Charge items only if you can afford to pay for them right now. If free and confidential program you don’t currently have the cash, don’t charge based on anticipated cash provided by your employer for flow. Sometimes the income you were expecting doesn’t materialize or an you and your household emergency situation occurs. An alternative is to place your credit cards in a members. The EAP can help safe place and to commit to credit-free living for a period of time. resolve personal and professional problems. Find alternatives to spending money. You can be frugal without being seen as “cheap”. For a friend’s birthday, take her on a picnic rather than to an Contact us today! expensive restaurant. When someone suggests that you meet for lunch, propose meeting at the museum on its free day or going for a walk in the 800.828.6025 park. www.wellnessworklife.com

Other Pointers Try these ideas for even more ways to safegaurd your financial fitness:

Get medical insurance if at all possible. Although there is not a price tag on human life or wellbeing, hospital bills can be devastating to even the most well-planned of budgets if you don’t have medical insurance. Even a policy with a large deductible can help if a medical crisis comes up.

Avoid large rent or house payments. Only accept obligations that you are able to afford based on your current income. Increase the payments you make toward your mortgage or rent as your income increases. Consider refinancing your home if your monthly payments exceed what you are able to afford right now.

Avoid cosigning or guaranteeing a loan for someone. Although it may feel great to help a friend or loved on obtain a loan, keep in mind that your signature obligates you as if you were the primary borrower. If the other person does not pay, you are responsible.

Avoid joint obligations with people who have questionable spending habits - even a spouse or significant other. If you incur a joint debt, you’re probably liable for it all if the other person defaults.

Invest conservatively. Don’t make high risk investments such as investments in speculative real estate, penny stocks and junk bonds.