Check out our May newsletter!
THE LEGAL NAVIGATOR MAY 2022
FROM THE DESK OF Mike Bryan
If You’re Stressed, Don’t Fight It Alone How to Overcome Stress — Together
Hello everyone!
If you haven’t already, be sure to read my book “Estate, Medicaid and VA Benefits Planning – An Ohio Guide.”
In this book, I tackle serious concerns Ohio residents have like:
• How can I protect my assets from being spent down to qualify for Medicaid? • How can I protect my savings from being spent on unnecessary probate or guardianship proceedings? • How can I qualify for $15,816–$29,175 in tax-free income from the VA to help pay for home health care, assisted living, or nursing home care? This is a great resource for folks to have when they are trying to understand the very complicated process of Es tate, Medicaid, and VA benefits planning. I have a link available on our website to request a copy: SWBWLawFirm.com/estate- medicaid-and-va-planning-an-ohio-guide. By completing the form on our website, you will automatically receive an e-book version. If we have hard copies in stock, we’ll mail that to you as well.
I know the past couple of years of the pandemic have been isolating and stressful for many. Unfortunately, this is bad news in more ways than one: Developing chronic stress can lead to increased risk of heart disease, heartburn, and many other health problems. So, keeping stress low is crucial as we age. Have you been experiencing tension headaches, back pain, indigestion, heart palpitations, poor concentration, indecisiveness, crying, irritability, or edginess lately? Don’t ignore the symptoms of stress — even if you've maintained a healthy lifestyle, stress might be taking a weighty toll on your well-being. But, luckily, you don’t have to seek stress relief all on your own. You might think it’s easier to keep stress to yourself, but that’s not true. In fact, it’s usually easier to manage if you allow friends, family, and even community relationships to help you through it. I have five tips for you on how to do just that. No. 1: Start or join a walking group (or another active hobby). Finding people to stay fit with can be one of the most helpful ways to relieve stress on a regular basis. Not only do you get fitness into your day, which can help improve your current and long-term flexibility, balance, and health, but you also spend time with a group of people who are interested in doing the same thing. You might be surprised by how easy it is to start a conversation and get to know people in walking groups! If walking isn’t your thing, try out other fit group activities like Pilates, yoga, golf, or tennis. No. 2: Make time to share a laugh. Laughter isn’t just the best medicine — it’s a personal antidote you can share with your friends and family! Would it surprise you to know that laughter has huge benefits for stress relief and overall health? It releases endorphins, stimulates your
Feel free to scan the QR code below, which will take you directly to our website to download my book!
Continued on Page 2 ...
740-452-8484 • 1
... continued from Cover
organs, and releases tension in your body. Ask friends and family to watch funny movies, tell jokes, or share hilarious stories. Likewise, don’t be afraid to try and make someone else laugh. Even a good- hearted attempt might be enough to get the laughter flowing. No. 3: Take a break from the routine. Of course, we don’t want to surrender our healthy habits, but stepping away from our typical routine when we’re stressed can sometimes work wonders. In times of stress, we’re more likely to lose our cool, say harsh things, break down into tears, or shut down all communication. We may also be tempted to keep to ourselves, but remember that winding down doesn’t automatically mean you have to be alone. You can always “break away” by getting coffee with an old friend or reconnecting with family members you haven’t spent time with in a while. No. 4: Share a meal with good company. Whether it’s with family, friends, or fellow members of a church community, find ways to sit down and share a meal with people you care for. Not only does it feel good to be nourished together, but it’s one of the oldest ways human beings congregate, begin long discussions, allow chances to vent, and connect with one another.
No. 5: Take an art class. We’re all a little vulnerable when we release our inner artist and take the chance to paint, color, or sculpt away our stress. That’s why art classes are an awesome way to meet new people and connect. Vulnerability allows us to see new perspectives of people and ourselves. You can even take art classes with current friends and family! It’s a great chance to pause a busy lifestyle, relax your mind, and do something creative. Every human being experiences stress, even those who appear the most carefree. If you’re stressed this month, just remember you’re never alone. I hope these ideas will inspire you to take action.
BIG BENEFITS OF CANOEING AND KAYAKING Paddle Your Way to Better Health
Mental Benefits
The weather is getting warmer, which means you can do more activities in the water. Canoeing or kayaking is an excellent way to get outdoors and be active. Besides looking at the beautiful scenery around you, taking to the water confers several physical and mental health benefits.
• While canoeing or kayaking, your body releases serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins from neurotransmitters. This will help boost your mood and self-confidence and improve your focus . • These activities can enhance your memory and learning ability . This is because it exercises your hippocampus, one of the largest portions of your brain that is responsible for verbal memory and learning. • If you have trouble sleeping, this activity can improve your sleep . Exercising during the day can make you naturally tired, which helps you fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. • Since you’ll be in the sun, your body can produce more vitamin D . This vitamin is essential for strong bones and an effective immune system. Canoeing and kayaking are great outdoor activities to help you get your daily dose of physical activity and a mental health boost. So, enjoy the warm weather and be one with nature — this may be your new favorite summer hobby this year!
Physical Benefits
• Paddling can help improve your upper-body strength and muscle tone — because you’re using your arms to guide yourself through the water with the paddle. Paddling helps strengthen your arms, shoulders, chest, and back. • You use your legs to balance, maneuver, and change directions in the vessel. In turn, this movement helps strengthen your lower-body muscles . • While trying to stay centered and balanced on the water, you will develop more core strength . Paddling helps work your lower back, abs, and oblique muscles. • It’s a form of cardiac exercise that will help your heart circulate more blood throughout your body. It will also improve your endurance , enabling you to go longer distances faster.
2 • swbwlawfirm.com
Free Your Team From 'Meeting Brain Drain'
AND WATCH YOUR SALES SOAR
the required attendance for meetings, the less you will impact your employees’ productivity. Entrepreneur suggests keeping meetings at 4–6 people when possible. If you have a daily company huddle, consider making it weekly or even monthly to save brain space. 2. When you meet, always set an agenda. We’ve all attended “30-minute” meetings that stretched to two hours as the speakers rambled. Don’t let this become the norm! Instead, set an agenda for every meeting — even a routine check-in — and stick to it. If you’re a talker, consider including timestamps with each item to really keep you on task and get your team back to work ASAP. (Not sure how to write a fantastic agenda? Visit HBR.org and search “How to Design an Agenda” for an in-depth article on the topic.) 3. Encourage time blocking. Fewer interruptions to your team’s flow means it’s easier to get back in the zone, so try to cluster meetings during one part or “block” of the day/week. This will help your team build routines around those blocks, and they’ll be able to dive deep during non-meeting blocks without the fear of interruption.
Here’s a shocking statistic for you: According to a Productivity Trends Report from ReclaimAI, the average professional is spending almost 309% more time in one-on-one meetings right now than they did before the pandemic. That’s crazy! Worse, it’s a waste of valuable time and a drain on your team’s productivity. Meetings can be productive, but there’s a reason why the phrase “This should have been an email” exists. If you pull your best people into Zoom call after Zoom call, they won’t have the focus they need to work quickly and perform at their best. That has implications across every department from marketing and sales to billing. Entrepreneur has a few suggestions for how to free your team from this brain drain. 1. Say goodbye to company- and department- wide meetings. Think of building a meeting the same way you’d think of building a team: Add as many people as you need, and only that many. The more you can whittle down
Try these strategies today and watch your key performance indicators (KPIs) for lead generation, conversion, and retention closely. You might be surprised at the results!
Take a Break!
Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com Summer Strawberry Spinach Salad
Ingredients
• 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar • 1/4 cup olive oil • 1 garlic clove, grated or finely minced • 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard • 1/2 tbsp strawberry jam • Freshly ground salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/3 cup raw, sliced almonds • 5 oz organic spinach • 2 cups strawberries, halved • 1 large avocado, sliced • 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced • 1/2 cup feta crumbles • 1/4 cup roasted pistachios, chopped
Directions
1. In a small bowl, combine balsamic vinegar, olive oil, chopped garlic, Dijon mustard, and strawberry jam. Mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste. 2. In a pan, toast the almonds over medium heat until they are golden brown. 3. In a large bowl, add spinach. Then layer on strawberries, avocado, red onion, feta, toasted almonds, and chopped pistachios. 4. Toss dressing in salad or serve on the side.
Cinco Fourth
Hawthorn Lemonade Library Maypole
Memorial Nurses Prom Taurus
Freedom Graduate
740-452-8484 • 3
StubbinsWatson Bryan &Witucky Co., L.P.A.
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
59 N. 4th St. Zanesville, Ohio 43701
Mon–Thu: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fri: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
740-452-8484 swbwlawfirm.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Mike Bryan PAGE 1 Overcome Stress —With the Right Help PAGE 1 Strengthen Your Entire Body! PAGE 2 3 Tips for Boosting Productivity PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Summer Strawberry Spinach Salad PAGE 3 Hate Souvenir Shopping? Let’s Make It Easy PAGE 4
Picking the Perfect Souvenir
kind that are illegal in the U.S. due to the potentially hazardous small toys inside.
A way to preserve or share a piece of your trip is to bring home a souvenir, but choosing a souvenir isn’t always a stress-free experience. How do you pick the perfect souvenir and not just the first thing you see in a tourist shop? Here are some tips for picking a truly meaningful gift for yourself or your loved ones. Who are you buying for? What are your recipient’s interests, or what do they spend the most time doing? If you’re buying for yourself and enjoy coffee, you might buy a local coffee blend to enjoy from home. However, if your recipient doesn’t enjoy coffee or rarely drinks it, that type of gift might not mean much to them. Is it legal to bring home? Whether you’re traveling domestically or internationally, there are many regulations that affect which souvenirs you can bring home. Even if you find the item in a tourist shop, that doesn’t mean it’ll be allowed into the country or even onto the plane. And the TSA does take this seriously. In 2012, two tourists were detained at the U.S. border for trying to bring home chocolate Kinder eggs — a specific
Purchase a handicraft. Handicrafts — items created by local artisans — are awesome souvenirs! But make sure you buy where artisans actually sell their own goods, such as an open-air market. Unfortunately, while some popular tourist shops may sell “locally made goods,” many souvenirs intended for tourists are actually made by cheap manufacturers in other countries. Keep something from the adventure. Bringing a glass bottle to take home some sand is a popular way of creating your own souvenir from a beach vacation. But you can do this with almost any item! Whether it’s stones, ticket stubs from favorite shows and activities, or a handmade item from a class, make sure to look out for souvenirs that’ll remind you of great memories and experiences.
We hope these tips will help you make the best choice. Bon voyage!
4 • swbwlawfirm.com
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator