LiveWell Vermont

  August 31 st is Overdose Awareness day.  210 Vermonters died of drug overdoses in 2021, up 33% since 2020. We take this is a time to honor and respect those no longer with us.  Their passing is a sad loss to their loved ones and our communities.  This is also a time to focus on prevention.  Addiction can affect any of us, so taking the time to stay informed is key.  Overdose deaths can be prevented, but support systems are crucial.  We all need to be informed to help our most vulnerable community members.  Check out the resources below for: VT Helplink Provides state-wide substance use treatment services Free, confidential services Recognizing signs of opioid overdose person is not responsive person is not breathing normally Find Naloxone Stories of recovery

  Summer is the perfect time to enjoy being outdoors in our beautiful state!   The long days and sweet sunshine lead to all sorts of wonderful activities, but sometimes we pack in so much that we forget to work in our work outs.   Planning on having fun in active ways can help!    Here are some ideas: Schedule a hike and picnic instead of a dinner date Go rollerblading, biking or walking on a bike path Try a new fitness class with friends – if it’s great you have a new tradition, if it’s not for you, you have your besties to laugh about it with Join a league: volleyball, tennis, pick-up basketball Take up a new outdoors hobby going on bird call walks with the Merlin Bird ID app Wind surfing  Kayaking Rock climbing Go swimming with friends Try an outdoor yoga class Host a bbq with all your favorite lawn games Most importantly, enjoy your summer to the fullest!

  The amazing produce is here and the days are hot!  Here is a recipe for an amazing, refreshing salad so you can get back outside: Summer Salad Recipe 3 cups(ish) mixed greens 1 cup new potatoes 4 slices bacon 2 cups chopped cooked chicken 1 cup cherry tomatoes 1 cup chopped cucumbers 1 cup sliced peppers ½  cup carrot rounds 1 cup chopped plums 1 cup garden produce of your choice Dressing: ½  avocado ¼ cup mayonnaise 2 Tablespoons very finely chopped favorite fresh herbs 1 teaspoon lemon juice Salt to taste Fry the bacon and boil the new potatoes until fork tender.   While those are cooking, assemble the chicken salad: combine mayo and avocado by mashing thoroughly with a fork.   Then mix in onion, parsley, lemon juice, chicken and salt to taste.   When dressing, potatoes and bacon are done, arrange a bed of greens on 4 dinner plates, and add on stripes of chicken mixture, crumbled bacon, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrot rounds, pl...

  Did you know workouts that are at least 10 minutes in length have been shown to have the same improvements in aerobic fitness and weight loss as longer workouts?   Mini workouts have also been shown to have better rates of adherence.   This is great because the best workout is the one you do! If you struggle to find time to work out, try scheduling in a few 10-minute workouts.   A starter schedule might look like: 10 minutes of body weight exercises before work 10 minutes of walking briskly outside or running stairs during lunch 10 minutes of yoga at the end of the day If you can stick to this schedule 5 days a week, you have your 150 minutes of weekly activity! You have also done a wonderful job of incorporating strength, stretching and cardio.   150 minutes of activity a week is a minimum, so don’t forget to add on intensity or length to workouts as you are able! If this sounds like nothing, remember that any activity is better than none.   ...

We all know that the risk of dehydration and sunburn are real in the summer, but did you know that working out in the heat is actually more taxing on the body than working out in the cold?  During your workout, exercise naturally increases core body temperature.  In cold temperatures, exercise helps you stay warm, and a person won't actually burn extra calories from the cold unless they are shivering.  In hot temperatures, your body has the work of exercise, and will then need to expend extra energy to cool itself down.  Outdoor workouts are still wonderful for your fitness, just be aware and respectful of your body’s cues: Never push yourself because you “ought to be able to” Stay hydrated Add electrolytes to your water (a tiny pinch of salt and squeeze of lemon works great!) During physically demanding activities, make sure you have access to shade or air conditioning in case you need it For more information, click here .  

  Bennington battle day takes place on August 16 every year to commemorate the Battle of Bennington, a turning point in the Revolutionary War.  On August 16, 1977, a mostly untrained army of Americans defeated some of Europe’s best trained troops. The Americans were fighting to protect military supplies and prevent British General John Burgoyne’s plan to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies.  Today you can spend time visiting the monument , seeing the exhibits or taking advantage of events reminding us of our history. Did you know: The Bennington Battle Monument was constructed not at the battle site but at the storage site of the supplies fought over during the battle of Bennington. Learn the full story   here . The monument was completed in 1891 Bennington Battle Monument is the tallest man-made structure in Vermont, and stands 306 feet and 4 ½ inches tall.  For more information, click here .

This article was brought to you by our friends at Cerner. Addressing debt, instead of avoiding it, can help your finances and your mental health. You may be in avoidance if you: • Try to put money and finances out of your mind • Avoid talking about money with family and friends • Avoid opening bank statements or credit card bills • Don’t know what your credit score is • Don’t know your net worth Ways to recover: Think critically about beliefs surrounding money that you may have picked up in childhood. Move past self-blame so you can take concrete steps toward financial health. Track your money to see if you’re spending it on things that really matter. Make a spending plan to decide which expenses can be cut and which ones are more important. Use programs and apps to help you track spending and set spending and saving targets. Automate. Automatically deposit part of your paycheck into your savings accounts. Set up reminders or automatic payments for bills. Seek help. Psychologists ar...

  Source: Investopedia.com Financial freedom is having enough savings and cash on hand to afford the lifestyle you want for yourself and your family. It is an important goal for many people. Consider the tips below to set yourself up for success: Set life goals Be specific about amounts and deadlines. The more specific your goals, the higher the likelihood of achieving them. Create a budget for achieving those goals. Live below your means Mastering a frugal lifestyle means developing a mindset focused on living a good life with less stuff. Learn to distinguish between the things you need and the things you want. Take control of your debt Credit cards are toxic to wealth-building. Pay off credit cards in full, carry as little debt as possible, and keep an eye on your credit score. Start saving Make saving easier by arranging automatic withdrawals from your checking account to build your retirement savings and emergency fund. You won’t even have to think about it when pay day comes a...

  We all know that Estate Planning is important… or do we? Estate planning can be used to determine who inherits which possessions or assets, but it does much more than that. Estate plans are legal documents that: Protect beneficiaries: especially important when young children are involved Minimize taxes: even a small amount of planning can reduce the amount of estate and inheritance tax incurred Prevent family fighting: no matter how close or lovely your loved ones are, no one is at their best when there has been a death in the family. So how to get started? Educate yourself on basics. Read on your own or attend: August 4th at 12pm Estate Planning with Sharon Winn August 16th at 11am VEN Advanced Care Planning Overview Once you feel ready, make an appointment to review & update or create an estate plan of your own. For more information check out InvestEAP’s Legal Resource Center .