STRESS LESS

Feeling overwhelmed? While you can't always remove certain stressors from your life, you can try to manage them better. Try these tips to alleviate stress:

• Develop a regular sleep schedule, and get enough sleep! It's important to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day—even on weekends. This allows your body to adjust to a schedule that will allow for a more restful night's sleep. Most experts recommend eight hours per night, but you may need more or less.
• Exercise on a regular basis. This doesn't necessarily mean going to the gym; you can park farther away from a store's entrance, take the stairs at work, take the dog for a walk or play soccer with your kids. Try to get at least 30 minutes of activity daily.
• Set priorities. Try not to stress about minor things you can't control, and manage your time wisely. Make a list of your daily tasks and complete them in order of importance.

And remember, we have a free, confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that you are welcome to take advantage of at any time.

CHOOSE SAFE GIFTS FOR CHILDREN

Going shopping for a child's present? You are probably focused on finding a toy that he or she will love, but you should do the following first:

• Read age and safety recommendations on labels before giving to children.
• Avoid toys with small parts that may be a choking hazard for small children.
• Look for toys with an ASTM label, which indicates that a product meets safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
• Don't leave children unattended with toys.

Also, before you purchase a toy, you can check the Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov for toy recalls and safety tips.

SAVE ON HEALTH CARE BY FINDING THE RIGHT PLAN

Want lower premiums and the ability to use pretax dollars for out-of-pocket costs? If so, a high deductible health plan (HDHP) and a health savings account (HSA) may be right for you. The following information will help you make an informed decision:

• Having an HDHP means that out-of-pocket medical costs will be higher until the deductible is met.
• HSAs may come with fees; unless your employer contracts with a specific bank and covers the administrative fees, it is smart to shop around.
• HSA funds roll over from year to year.
• HSA funds can be used to cover some of your out-of-pocket medical costs, provided that you save your receipts and verify which expenses are eligible for reimbursement and which are not.
• Any unqualified medical expenses purchased with HSA funds are subject to a 20-percent penalty.
• Over-the-counter medications are no longer eligible for reimbursement from an HSA without a prescription, with the exception of insulin.
• The minimum deductible for an HDHP is $1,300 for individuals and $2,600 for families.
• Shopping around for the best price for health care can save you money if you have an HDHP.
• Figure out how much money you and your family usually spend on health care in a year—if the total is relatively low, an HDHP with an HSA may be a good choice for you.