August State of Maryland Newsletter

August 2023 Wellness Newsletter

For many of us, it can be tough to wave goodbye to summer's carefree vibe. Yet, at the same time we may feel excitement bubbling up as we begin to look forward to our favorite things of a Maryland Fall. This month's newsletter offers information to help you navigate the transitions from summer to fall and from kids at home to back to school. And if thoughts of Fall have your considering returning to the gym, we've got gym membership discount programs for you and your family.

 Read below to see what's in store for you this month!

• Mindful Mondays will power you through transition with the "Power Of" series. You'll learn of the restorative power of taking time for yourself, why it's important to reach out for social support while in transition, how to use your superpower of resilience as you navigate change, and how talk therapy can offer tools to assist you.
   

• Tuesday's MetLIfe Financial Wellness webinar on 8/8 offers tips for the transition of preparing to care for an aging loved one in "Parenting the Parent."
   

• In Wellness from the Kitchen with Chef Sandra, she'll help you hang on to a bit of summer with fast, delicious, and kid-friendly dishes like Go-To-Chili Mac, Best Ever Shish Kabobs, and Crab Cakes Like No Other. 
   
• In the Wednesday Healthy U series, we feature tips on how to beat the end of summer blues, manage stress for positive change, and how to get stuff done while working a hybrid schedule.
   
• On Thursdays, the Healthy U series focuses on Family Health and Wellbeing as back-to-school preparations begin. Learn how to boost immunity and necessary immunizations for back to school, how to talk to your teens about establishing healthy relationships as well as the impact of social media, and how to care for an aging loved one.
   
•  Unwind Time Fridays offer 15-minute meditations to support transitions by practicing gratitude. Join us to practice starting your day with gratitude, how to have gratitude when you have attitude, and how to make room for gratitude and gladness.

•  Bonus webinars - look for 2 Oral Health webinars (8/28 and 8/31) as we prepare for the transitions to back to school. Learn why it's important to keep regular dental appointments, the changes in the industry that may impact securing appointments, and the physical and emotional benefits of smiling!

You're invited for our end of summer challenge NOURISH! 

August is a most wonderful time to celebrate the ending of summer with Maryland's produce bounty - sweet corn, luscious cantaloupe, refreshing watermelon, crisp cucumbers, plump eggplant, the 3 p's (peaches, plums, peppers), squash, tomatoes, and much more! Join the NOURISH challenge and grow virtual veggies and fruits such as these when you participate in fun health activities- no need for a green thumb! And, as your garden grows, your chances to win raffle prizes grows as well!

Learn more about NOURISH in this short video. Registration opens 8/1 - 8/18. 

Use this link to register: The Nourish Garden Challenge 

And, invite friends and family to join - the more, the healthier!
   

NEW - GYM MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS!

Thinking about getting back into the gym as Fall approaches? Well, great news - your medical health benefits providers make this easy with discounted gym memberships!

CareFirst offers Active & Fit Direct gym membership discounts to their members, which includes access to over 12,000 gyms and to over 9,700 workout videos for as low as $28/month. There are no long-term contracts or hidden fees. Learn more here

Kaiser Permanente also offers Active & Fit Direct gym membership discounts at the same rate of $28/month, same access, and again, no long-term contracts or hidden fees. Learn more here

United Healthcare offers One Pass Select, with digital only membership at $5/month and additional options starting at $25/month to over 11,000 gyms. All options come with grocery and home essentials at no extra cost. Learn more here

 
Mindful Mondays: The "Power Of" Series
Manage Transitions and Take Care of Yourself with the "Power Of" Series

Register here for one or more of the "Power Of" Mindful Monday Webinars

Monday, 8/7, 11:00 am - 11:30 am: The Power of Taking Time for Yourself

As we juggle the many roles in our lives, making time for ourselves can lose priority. When this happens, we can get overwhelmed with our daily responsibilities, leading to burnout and more. Learn the power of taking time for yourself and how to incorporate self-care strategies.

Monday, 8/14, 11:00 am - 11:30 am: The Power of Social Support

Feeling stressed, anxious, or burned out? Close relationships and social connections can be a natural way to manage daily or chronic stress and maintain your mental health and well-being. Learn more about the power of social support for enhanced wellbeing.

Monday, 8/21, 11:00 am - 11:30 am: The (Super) Power of Resilience

You have a superpower that helps you handle the obstacles and challenges of life - resilience! Learn about your superpower and how to strengthen it to handle anything that life throws at you.

Monday, 8/28, 11:00 am - 11:30 am: The Power of Talk Therapy
We all go through periods of emotional distress. Participating in talk therapy can make a significant difference in how we feel and even lead to a shift in our perspective. Whether you're dealing with losing a loved one, coping with a medical illness, or feeling anxious, stressed, or depressed, consider talk therapy. Join this session to learn the benefits of talk therapy, tips on finding the right therapist for you, and resources available to you.

Tuesday, 8/8, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Preparing to Care for an Aging Parent Workshop 

What does it mean to parent our parents? Preparing to Care for an Aging Parent workshop can help current and future caregivers better understand their roles and responsibilities, from exploring different types of care options to addressing legal and financial concerns. Register here.

Tuesday Wellness from the Kitchen with Chef Sandra Lewis
Hang on to a bit of summer with these fast, delicious, and kid-friendly dishes that carry over into Fall!

Tuesday 8/15, 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm: Go to Town on a Go-To Meal - Try Chili Mac!

For those nights that you need a go-to, try chili mac. This dish is delicious, fast, and kid-friendly, just what you need for a meal to please the whole family! Register here

Tuesday 8/22, 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm: Best Ever Shish Kabobs

Fire up the grill and grab your cutting board and knife! This is the easiest weeknight meal you'll ever make: shish kebabs. All you need are your favorite meats and vegetables cut into chunks. Thread them on a skewer and grill or broil away! Register here

Tuesday 8/15, 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm: Crab Cakes Like No Others!

A Maryland favorite, this dish will take your tastebuds oceanside with a weeknight meal of crab cakes. Make it a family affair as you prep and form the crab cakes together. One bite of these delicious lumpy crab and herbs cakes and your whole family will be hooked! Register here 

Wednesday Healthy U: Manage Stress for a Positive Change

Register here for one or more of the Manage Stress for Positive Change webinars

Wednesday, 8/9, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: Ease Your Mind with Mindfulness

Do you find yourself on autopilot as you juggle work and home responsibilities? Being on autopilot may seem to be efficient and effective, however, research shows that we are less of both because our brain is making automatic decisions rather than allowing us to pause and consider the right course of action. Learn mindfulness techniques that help you become more aware, alert, and focused throughout the day. 

Wednesday, 8/16, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: Upgrade Your Mindset

Did you know that changing how you think can lead to better stress management, enhanced emotional health, increased physical wellbeing, and a longer lifespan? Mayo Clinic found these to be directly linked to a mindset upgrade. Learn practical tips to transform your mindset towards a more positive one.

Wednesday, 8/23, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: Managing Stress for Positive Change

When did you last evaluate your stress management toolbox to gauge its effectiveness? If it's been a while, you may have tools that result in less than desirable outcomes and need updating or replacing. Join this webinar to learn about stress management tool options that result in positive outcomes.

Wednesday, 8/30, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: Getting Stuff Done - A Realistic Guide to Working from Home

Working from home has many benefits, such as zero commute, cozy clothes, and more time with loved ones and pets (cat on your keyboard?). However, working from home may make it difficult to stick to a routine, can cause boredom because you're missing the water cooler chats, and you may get pulled away from work tasks to attend to home tasks. In this webinar, you'll learn how to avoid time zappers for increased productivity at home and at work.

Health Promotion Thursdays: Family Health and Wellbeing    

Register here for 8/3, 8/17, 8/24, and 8/31 Family Health and Wellbeing webinars

Register here for 8/10 for the Family Health and Wellbeing webinar

Thursday, 8/3, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: Your Immunity - Avoid the Invaders

Our immune system is our body's first line of defense against harmful bacteria and viruses. In this presentation, you will learn why immunity is so important and hear healthy ways to strengthen your and your family's immune system through family lifestyle habits.

Thursday, 8/10, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: Family Health 

Review common health concerns, screening recommendations, and strategies to keep every family member healthy and happy.

Thursday, 8/17, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: Immunizations A-Z for the Whole Family

Review the CDC immunization recommendations and get tips on questions to ask your health care providers so you can make the best decisions for you and your family.

Thursday, 8/24, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: Teen Talk for a Healthy Relationship with Your Teen

Having open and honest conversations with teens can be challenging. Learn how to engage teens in talks about establishing healthy relationships, the influences of social media, and more.

Thursday, 8/31, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: Caring For an Aging Loved One

Caregivers of aging loved ones are at higher risk for burnout due to the the mental and physical toll caregiving can take. Learn tips to avoid burnout, manage stress, and find resources for help and support you.

 
Unwind Time Fridays: Gratitude!
Cultivate greater gratitude with this 4-session series!

Register here for Unwind Time Meditations

Friday, 8/4, 11:00 am - 11:15 am: Start Your Day With Gratitude

Use this meditation to set the intention to be grateful for all that happens in your day.

Friday, 8/11, 11:00 am - 11:15 am: How to have Gratitude When You've Got Attitude

It can be hard to have gratitude when feeling angry, frustrated, or sad. Instead of forcing gratitude, this meditation allows the experience of not being grateful before finding the space to be grateful.

Friday, 8/18, 11:00 am - 11:15 am: Make Room for Gratitude

In this meditation you will simply breathe and experience the wonderful experience of appreciation as you let gratitude wrap around you like a warm blanket.

Friday, 8/25, 11:00 am - 11:15 am: Gratitude and Gladness

Give your mind to gratitude and gladness and feel the content as these two sweet feelings blend together.

 
BONUS ORAL HEALTH WEBINARS! 

Join these fun and informative "Smile, It's Contagious" webinars!

Register here for the 8/28 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm "Smile, It's Contagious" Webinar

Register here for the 8/31, 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm "Smile, It's Contagious" Webinar

Join Oral Health Consultants Gabrielle Bankowski  & Holley Kirkland as they share information on the uplifting impact of smiles on others and yourself. You'll learn the importance of regular preventive dental visits to preserve your smile, as well as dental industry trends - such as why it's hard to get a dental appointment these days - and more insider information. You'll emerge an advocate for your and your family's oral and overall wellness, feeling free to flash your smiles everywhere!