HealthyLife Articles

Tag: family

  • Create Your Ethical Will

    WELL-BEING

    Image of older man sitting at desk.

    You may not be able to take it with you, but you can let the generations to come know what you valued if you create an ethical will.

    An ethical will can be a vital component of an estate plan because it reflects your concerns and hopes for the next generation. Most wills mainly focus on distributing assets and deciding who gets what. An ethical will provides families with the chance to know their loved ones better and for the writer to express what often goes unsaid.

    1. What values or beliefs are of special significance to you? Why?

    2. What are your wishes and hopes for the generations that follow you?

    3. What are your greatest life lessons? How have they influenced you?

    4. Do you have any regrets?

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Family Matters

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of family sitting on a couch with their pet dog.

    Your family is where you learn who you are and how to relate to others. It plays a vital role in fulfilling the human need to belong and have close, long-term relationships. Whether you are a child, teen, or adult, family experiences can promote or hinder your well-being.

    Tips to foster family well-being

    *  Live a healthy lifestyle together.

    – Plan for, shop, and eat healthy foods.

    – Exercise as a family if you can. Or, promote physical activity suited for each family member.

    – Get enough sleep.

    *  Plan to eat at least one meal a day together. Have each person talk about his or her day, such as stating the best part and worst part.

    *  Spend time together. Attend important events for each family member.

    *  Express care and concern. Be available to help each other out. Listen, listen, listen.

    *  Practice good manners. Say, “Thank you” and “You’re welcome.” Make it a practice to send thank you calls, notes, letters, or emails to others for gifts and other acts of kindness.

    *  Express affection. Say, “I love you,” “I care about you,” and “You mean a lot to me.”

    *  Discuss the value of the family as a whole. Encourage individual expression and development.

    *  Define clear, yet flexible roles for family members. Assign family chores.

    *  Keep the house as organized as possible.

    *  Discuss the need to adapt to changes and deal with stressful events.

    *  Seek professional help for problems the family cannot deal with on its own.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Strike The Right Cord

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of young smiling family.

    Children can be strangled by window cords on blinds and curtains. In fact, such tragedies are among the top hazards in American homes. Infants and children die each year from accidental strangling in the cords.

    The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that only cordless window coverings or those with unreachable cords be used in homes with young children. They are available today in the marketplace and will prevent window blind strangulations.

    In addition, the Window Covering Safety Council encourages parents, grandparents and caregivers to follow these basic cord-safety precautions:

    *  Move all furniture, cribs, beds, and climbable surfaces away from windows.

    *  Keep all window shades, blinds, and drapery cords well out of the reach of children.

    *  Install only cordless window coverings in homes with young children.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine