LiveWell Vermont

  A 403(b) plan is similar to a  401(k) plan  with a few exceptions. The most notable  difference between 401(k)s and  403(b) s  is that 403(b) plans are restricted to employees who work for non-profit organizations, such as schools and charities. Employees of religious institutions are eligible for  special  403(b)  plans  if their employer offers them. Just like 401(k) plans,  403(b)  individual retirement plans  provide a great way to save for the future. This is especially true if you work for an organization that matches all, or a portion of, your contributions each pay period. Continue reading to learn more about how 403(b) plans work, as well as the pros and cons of investing in this type of retirement plan. How does a 403(b) plan work? When you enroll in a 403(b) plan, you can determine how much you want to contribute to this plan each pay period. You can either select a flat amount, such as $100, or a percentage of your overall pay. For example, if you want to contribute 3% o

  Whether you recently moved to a new town or life just took an unexpected turn, solutions can require resources.  Vermont 211's mission is to provide all people in Vermont with free access to community resources information and referral. To accomplish this, Vermont 211 provides a single community resource information center, offering statewide information and referral services.  Resources available around the categories of: food, housing, fuel, aging, education, employment, health/dental/mental health, legal services, substance use, tax, transportation, and more! Connect with Vermont 211: Call or text 211. Use the website  to explore the database of services.

  Members of our pharmacy team share their expert advice for protecting your skin from the sun. As we are spending more of our time outside basking in the warmer days, it’s important to be vigilant in protecting our skin from the sun. But this leads to the question, what exactly should we be looking for in sunscreen? We spoke with members of our pharmacy team, Kristen Hildebrand and Kevin Stark, to get the scoop. Pharmacists are great resources for learning how to protect and heal our bodies with products and medicines.  The American Academy of Dermatology recommends these essentials when buying sunscreen: Broad-spectrum protection . Meaning it protects against UVA and UVB rays. “UVA rays are considered aging rays while UVB are burning rays,” adds Kristen. SPF 30 or higher . Kristen notes that no sunscreen can filter out 100 percent of UVB rays, which makes it important to seek shade and wear protective clothing, especially during the peak hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Water resistance .

  Did you know that the Vermont State Library offers special perks for State Employees? Request a Library Card to access this free service. Once you receive your card, check out the handy online resources . Udemy is popular, as it contains courses pertaining to DEI, Leadership/Management, and technology based work skills. Love a good audiobook or ebook? Check out The Palace Project . (Username and Pin will both be your library card number.) Request a physical book from the State Library collections or use the Interlibrary Loan system to request any other books or resources. Details on the Interlibrary Loan system here . Questions?  Email april.shaw@vermont.gov, call (802) 318-7889 or visit the website .

  When a natural disaster happens, protecting ourselves and loved ones are the prime concerns. Once we’re safe, we’re left to assess damage, solve problems, and process emotions. All of this affects our mental health. Take time to cope in your favorite healthy ways - hobbies, movement, time with friends, and be sure to sleep.   Below are some additional types of self-care to help manage our stress and other emotions.  1. Minimize time consuming news Although you may want to keep the news on to stay informed, doing so after the point of being helpful can actually overwhelm you. Instead, try setting a time limit.  Allow yourself to check the news once every ___ time period for ___ minutes to check in for updates. Meanwhile, you're avoiding being overwhelmed by spending most of the time away from news.  2. Know your options Take a moment to assess your needs, then determine what  resources are available  to you.  If you are missing any key items, contact  Vermont 211  or  Invest EAP  

  When Planning Breakfast, Think of the Nutrient Power Couple:  Fiber and Protein   High fiber foods are packed with loads of nutrients. Then combining fiber and protein helps your body digest more slowly.  This helps you: -stay full between meals/ snacks (better focus when you're not getting hungry) -keep blood sugar stable (prevents that dreaded energy crash!) If you're curious about numbers, 15-20 grams protein and 7-10 grams fiber is a good goal for breakfast time for many people. Examples: Apple + peanut butter Pear + cheddar Yogurt + oatmeal + fruit Eggs + whole wheat toast  Breakfast burrito with eggs, beans, tomatoes and peppers Omelet with veggies

  You may think that building strength means lifting weights – either at a gym or at home. But there are many ways to build strength without ever touching a dumbbell. In this blog post we’ll cover some of the easier and more common ways to increase your strength without lifting weights.   Before You Begin: If you have any concerns, such as knee or back pain, you should talk with your doctor before you start. A doctor will be able to recommend activities for you that won’t aggravate your existing medical conditions.   Resistance Training:  Giving your muscles opportunities to work against a form of resistance or external force is called resistance training. For example, if you push on a pull door, that’s a form of resistance training. The door is your resistance and you’re building strength in your muscles in attempting to overcome it.  Doing resistance training several times a week, and increasing the resistance over time, will build strength for the muscles involved. A set o