Self-Help Books Can’t Do It All
How Reading Fiction Can Benefit You
Less Stress and Better Sleep When we read fiction specifically, we tend to disengage from the world — and that’s a good thing! Our brains can’t always be functioning at their peak capacity. We need breaks, or else we’ll stress ourselves out and negatively affect other areas of our lives. Stress tends to keep us from sound sleep, but reading fiction before bed engages the imagination, taking us away from the stresses of everyday life before we drift off. More Comfort With Uncertainty Even though many stories (particularly those portrayed in popular movies) have nice happy endings, most people would agree that life sometimes leaves things a little more open- ended. While this fact might stress out some people, researchers have discovered that fiction readers don’t need “cognitive closure” as much as nonfiction readers.
Greater Happiness Even if none of the benefits of fiction interest you, everyone wants to find ways to make themselves happy — and for many, that is reading fiction. According to one survey, 76% of participants said that reading makes them feel good and improves their lives. So, what are you waiting for? Dust off that novel you’ve been meaning to read and crack it open!
Many CEOs and other successful individuals continually espouse the benefits of regular reading. Many times, leaders read self-help books to improve their leadership skills and become more successful. This is all well and good, but even the most successful people in the world could be missing out on the unique benefits that come specifically from reading fiction. But what are those benefits exactly? Greater Empathy When a psychologist analyzed 86 functioning MRI (fMRI) studies, he found that the same parts of the brain that fire up when reading fictional stories also fire up when we’re seeking to understand the thoughts and feelings of others. That’s because when the characters in the book we’re reading are thinking or feeling a certain way, we tend to think or feel that way with them.
DENTAL INSURANCE Use It or Lose It
Believe it or not, the end of the year is almost here. For most people, that means the end of their yearly health plan as well.
Most dental insurance plans expire on Dec. 31, so you’ve probably got limited time to use your benefits. While you likely plan to remain covered next year, that doesn’t mean you should let your current benefits expire without taking advantage of them. Here are four good reasons to use your dental insurance before it’s too late. Yearly Maximum Benefit: It’s your insurance, and you’ve paid for the premiums no matter how much or how little usage you’ve gotten. Since you’ve already spent the money, you might as well get what you paid for. Whether it’s a cleaning, X-rays, or a more-involved procedure you’ve been putting off, get your money’s worth by using as close to your maximum benefit as possible. New Deductible: If your dental plan has a deductible, you have to pay that amount before your insurance starts paying for any of your care. Next year, you’ll be back at square one and need to meet the new deductible all over again. If you’ve already met your deductible this year, now is the perfect time to get any treatment you need — before you have to pay more out of pocket. Premium Increases: Unfortunately, insurance costs tend to go up year after year, and deductibles and copays often increase with them. That means you will end up paying more as time goes on. See a dentist now, before your costs go up. Flexible Spending Account : If you have a flexible spending account (FSA), you probably know you need to use all the money you’ve put into the account before the end of the year, or it’s gone forever. If you’ve still got a few dollars burning a hole in your FSA, dental care is a great way to do something for your wallet and your health at the same time. If you have benefits to use before the year is up, please give us a call as soon as possible. Appointments are limited, but we would love to get you on the calendar. Let us help you get the most out of your insurance — and improve your smile all in the same visit.
2 · www.briarfielddentalcare.com · 419-866-6985
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