Wellness Tips
2025 Monthly Tips
-
Blood Donor Month
Fact: Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illness, traumatic injuries and more.
Fact: Red blood cells must be used within 42 days and platelets must be used within 5 days, they cannot be manufactured and can only come from volunteer donors.
Fact: The most universal and requested blood type to be donated is O negative.
Fact: One donation can help save more than one life.
So why donate? To be a part of the process of saving someone’s life. Are you interested in donating? CLICK HERE to locate the nearest blood drive or center to you. This link also provides a helpful guide for first time donors, eligibility requirements for donating and more!
New Years Resolutions
New Year, Same Resolutions?
New Year’s Resolution week starts January 1st through January 7th. About 40% of Americans are going to set New Year’s Resolutions, however, come February the majority will not continue with them. Here are 7 ways to help you this year with your goals for 2024:
- Goal setting is a marathon, not a sprint- start with SMART goals; specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound
- Goals are tools, not to measure value- many people say “I want to lose 10 lbs” instead try “I want to invest in my health”
- Be mindful of setting too many goals- focus on one or two
- Be on your timeline, not social media’s- the only validation needed is yours
- Remember your goals are your own
- To move forward, let go of the past
- Know that some of your best goals are the ones you never achieve
Happy New Year Everyone!
Mind-Body Wellness Day
Take a moment for yourself on January 3rd to embrace the International Mind-body Wellness Day. January is known as a time to reset after the overwhelming holidays, time to recharge, and become aware of what you might need both physically and emotionally. This includes mindfulness, meditation, changes in diet, and/or spiritually- anything that personally helps you achieve balance and promotes your interconnection for mind, body and soul.
Here are some tips to embrace your day:
- Start with something you enjoy that helps you relax, for example meditation, yoga, journaling, and more.
- A good night’s sleep is especially important when you are trying to achieve balance with your mind and body. Restful sleep can reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and lower extreme daytime exhaustion the next day.
- Additional ways to create balance are eating healthy, staying hydrated, and exercise daily (by doing something that you enjoy).
It’s important to listen to both your body and mind and find what works best for you. Everyone may have different practices on how to achieve it, creating a mind-body connection is important and can contribute to our overall health and well-being.
Mindfulness Resources
Resources
MVP Wellness
Monthly Tips
Track Food and Exercise
Living the healthiest life you can is good for you and for your family. One of the ways to track your progress toward a healthy lifestyle is by writing down the food you eat and the exercise you get every day.
Click Here for a printable Nutrition Log to record your healthy eating habits.
Click Here for a printable Exercise Log and record the physical activities that you incorporate into your day.
Share these logs with others to encourage their healthy lifestyles too.
Smoking Cessation
Living tobacco-free enhances your quality of life and the quality of life for others. If you currently use tobacco, NY44 supports your efforts to break the tobacco habit.
Smoking cessation prescription drugs are part of The Pharmacy Plan under your NY44 Medical Coverage. If you are covered by The Plan, follow these steps to participate in a smoking cessation program.
- The enrollee’s provider will need to obtain prior authorization from Capital Rx prior to use, documenting the enrollee’s participation in an approved smoking cessation program. The initial prior authorization will be valid for one month and will be extended based upon documentation of the enrollee’s continued participation and compliance in the smoking cessation program.
- The following prescription drugs are available on the drug formulary:
- $30 Co-pay Tier 3: Nicotrol® Inhaler, Nicotrol® NS and Zyban®.
- $0 Co-Pay Tier 1: Bupropion SR (generic Zyban)
- $0 Co-pay Tier 1: Chantix® (as of 7-1-11)
