Beyond Insurance: Why Staying Active is Key to a Long and Healthy Life

When it comes to safeguarding your health, having a solid insurance plan is crucial. But insurance is just one line of defense. What are you doing daily to prevent health issues before they arise? Living an active lifestyle is one of the most effective ways to ward off diseases, delay aging, and boost happiness. While insurance protects your finances, daily activity strengthens your body, mind, and emotional well-being in more ways than you might realize.

In this blog, we’ll explore the broad benefits of staying active, from the physical perks to the often-overlooked mental, social, and emotional rewards. Whether it’s running, axe throwing, yoga, or something else, there are endless ways to move your body and enhance your quality of life.

The Physical Perks of an Active Lifestyle

Regular physical activity does wonders for your body. It improves cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles, enhances flexibility, and helps with weight management. For example, running boosts your heart health by lowering blood pressure and increasing circulation. It also burns calories and speeds up metabolism, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy weight.

However, if running isn’t your thing, activities like yoga are fantastic alternatives. Yoga improves flexibility, builds muscle strength, and reduces physical tension. It’s gentle on your joints and offers an excellent full-body workout for people of all fitness levels.

For something a little more adventurous, there’s axe throwing. While it may sound unconventional, axe throwing helps improve your hand-eye coordination, strengthens your core, and challenges your body in new ways. No matter the activity, the physical benefits of staying active lead to more energy, better sleep, and improved immunity.

Mental Health Benefits: Natural Stress Relief

Physical activity isn’t just good for your body—it’s a powerful tool for boosting mental health. Exercise releases endorphins, which act as natural mood enhancers. This can significantly improve symptoms of anxiety and depression, offering a natural antidote to stress.

Activities like yoga, in particular, are known for their mental benefits. The deep breathing and mindfulness involved in yoga help calm the nervous system, improve focus, and reduce mental fog. On the flip side, axe throwing provides a fun, cathartic way to release pent-up tension, helping you feel more relaxed afterward.

Similarly, running offers an excellent mental escape. It gives you time to clear your head, focus on your breathing, and reduce mental fatigue. The repetitive, rhythmic nature of running can be meditative, helping to alleviate stress and anxiety.

Social and Emotional Boosts from Group Activities

Staying active also brings emotional and social benefits, especially when done with others. Participating in group fitness classes, joining a running club, or even attending an axe throwing league allows you to connect with people who share your interests. These social interactions create a sense of community and belonging, which is vital for emotional well-being.

Having an exercise group or a fitness buddy can also boost accountability. When you’re working toward goals with others, you’re more likely to stick to your routine. Sharing your progress, challenges, and victories with others helps build emotional resilience, which can lead to improved mental health.

How Exercise Helps with Aging Gracefully

Staying active is particularly important as you age. Regular exercise slows the aging process, both physically and mentally. Activities like yoga help you maintain flexibility and muscle tone, while also keeping your joints healthy. Low-impact exercises like these are ideal for aging adults looking to stay active without putting unnecessary strain on their bodies.

Meanwhile, trying new activities, such as axe throwing, stimulates your brain and body in new ways, helping to delay cognitive decline. It’s never too late to start something new, and learning a new skill can be invigorating, offering both physical and mental benefits as you age.

It’s About More Than Just Insurance

At Jackson Health Advisors, we believe in a holistic approach to health. While we’re here to ensure you have the coverage you need, it’s important to remember that prevention starts with you. Maintaining an active lifestyle through activities like running, yoga, and axe throwing provides not only physical benefits but also boosts your mental and emotional well-being.

So, make movement a daily priority. Whether you’re running through local Indianapolis parks, practicing yoga in a studio, or trying your hand at axe throwing, staying active is the ultimate investment in your long-term health.

Selecting the Right Employee Insurance Benefits

When choosing employee insurance, consider what your employees need and want and how it will affect your business financially.
Understanding Your Employees’ Needs
Before selecting insurance benefits, it is essential to understand your employees’ needs and preferences. You can do this through surveys, focus groups, or one-on-one conversations.
Consider your employees’ age, health status, and family size. Younger employees may prioritize lower premiums, while older employees may value more comprehensive coverage.

Evaluating Costs and Coverage Options
Evaluating the costs and coverage options available is essential when selecting insurance benefits. This includes considering premiums, deductibles, co-pays, out-of-pocket maximums, networks, employee assistance programs, wellness programs and value adds.
In addition, it is equally important to consider the coverage options available. For example, some plans may offer more comprehensive coverage for specific medical procedures or prescription drugs.

Working with an Insurance Broker
Working with an insurance broker is valuable when selecting employee insurance options because they assist with insurance decisions, explain compliance requirements for your business and employees, and offer expert advice in a complex industry.
When picking an insurance broker, ensure they have industry experience and a proven history of success. If you have a business in Carmel, you might consider working with an employee benefits insurance broker in Indianapolis. They know the local market well and can give you personalized advice.

Communicating Employee Insurance Benefits
Effective communication ensures that employees fully understand and utilize their insurance benefits. This involves providing information about benefits, how to access them, and any necessary deadlines or requirements to meet. Employers should have a qualified broker to clearly explain benefits to employees so they can make informed decisions about their healthcare and finances.

Providing Clear and Concise Information
When communicating group benefits, providing clear and concise information is important. This includes explaining the coverage options, costs, and important deadlines or enrollment periods.
Providing visual aids, such as infographics or videos, to help employees better understand the benefits can also be helpful.

Offering Personalized Guidance
Every employee’s situation is unique, and it is essential to offer personalized guidance when communicating insurance benefits. Meeting with a dedicated insurance broker is the best way to ensure all employees’ questions and concerns are answered.

Real-World Examples of Maximizing Employee Insurance Benefits
One company that has successfully maximized its employee insurance benefits is a manufacturing company in Indianapolis, Indiana. They partnered with an employee benefits insurance broker to evaluate their benefits package and make necessary changes. By working together, they got better insurance for employees at a lower cost, making workers happier and more loyal.
Another example is a small business in Avon, Indiana, that struggled with managing employee benefits independently. They chose to work with an insurance broker in Indianapolis to simplify things and offer better assistance to employees. By communicating more effectively and personally with their employees, they saved time and resources.

Employee insurance benefits are crucial to attracting and retaining top talent. To maximize employee benefits, first understand their needs. Then, choose the appropriate benefits and communicate effectively.
Additionally, manage the benefits efficiently and collaborate with an insurance broker. This approach will benefit both employees and your business.
Jackson Health Advisors has over twenty years of experience in consulting and providing employer insurance plans in the Indianapolis area . They help businesses customize employee insurance benefits to fit their workforce’s needs, ensuring happy employees and cost-effectiveness.
Contact Jackson Health Advisors today to help navigate the complexities of your organization’s insurance benefits with confidence.

How Being In-Active Impacts Living a Long and Healthy Life