Wellbeing at BMW - Summer Edition 2023

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To view this newsletter as a PDF, click here.

Get Ready for the 2nd Annual Back to School Bash! 

As we enjoy warm weather and summer activities, we can’t help but get the nagging feeling that back to school season is fast approaching. Pretty soon, you will probably have more to-do items and shopping lists than you know what to do with—which often leads to unwanted stress. 

The Associate Family Health Center (AFHC) would like to help you reduce some of this stress so you can enjoy the rest of the summer season with your family. To accomplish this, the AFHC will be hosting the 2nd Annual “Back to School Bash” on Saturday, August 5th from 8:00am—12:00pm. Drop in during this time and plan to spend an hour at the health center. This is an event the whole family can enjoy! Here’s what you can expect: 

  • Healthy Beverage Demo 

  • Raffle prizes 

  • Visits with Disney/Pixar characters 

  • Face Painting 

  • And more! 

  • Vision Screenings 

  • Dental Screenings 

  • Sports Physicals* 

  • Vaccine Record Verification 

  • COVID Vaccines Ages 12+* 

  • Backpack Fittings 

After visiting activities throughout the health center, you’ll be given FREE backpacks and school supplies for each of your school-aged dependents (while supplies last)! To register your family for the event, click here and fill out the quick survey. If you would like to make a vaccine or sports physical appointment, please call 864-989-1432 option 1. This event is open to BMW MC Associates and their Dependents enrolled in BMW HealthCare Plan. 

New Trend Alert: Exercise Snacks 

Let’s be honest—with our busy schedules, its hard to find time to exercise. To make matters worse, we often find ourselves sitting for long periods of time as well. Increased time spent sitting has been linked to weight gain, increased risk for heart disease and cancer, decreased memory, increased risk of depression, and more. 

Here’s the good news: we can all benefit from even small amounts of exercise. Researchers are exploring a new concept called “exercise snacks” to break up long periods of sitting. Early research has shown that after a few weeks of using exercise snacks, people have seen improvement of cardiorespiratory fitness which lowers risk for heart disease and Type 2 Diabetes. They have also noticed better blood sugar control, better blood flow, and lower triglycerides. 

Want to give exercise snacks a try? Choose an exercise to do for 15—30 seconds. A few exercise ideas are body weight squats, walking up stairs, jumping jacks, fast walking, etc. The idea is to do an exercise that gets your heart pumping and blood moving. Then, return to sitting and repeat every 1—4 hours (at least 3 snacks per day). It’s that simple. 

It is important to talk with your doctor first before starting any new types of exercise, especially if you have existing conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes and have not been regularly exercising. You should also get clearance from your doctor first if you have any current injuries. 

While exercise snacks don’t replace the recommendation to do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, it can help out on days when getting to the gym is not an option. Early research has shown many positive benefits, especially when it comes to reducing time spent sitting. We hope this look at exercise snacks helps you realize that when it comes to exercise, something is always better than nothing. 

Mark your calendars 

Group Challenge: Think About Your Drink 
July 17—August 13, 2023. 
Registration is open July 10—23 on the Wellbeing Portal. 

Webinar: Preserving Your Savings for Future Generations 
July 21 at 12:00 PM EST 
Click here to register. 

Webinar: Helping Parents Get Their Kids Back to School Safely 
July 27 at 1:00 PM EST 
Click here to register. 

Mobile Mammography Clinic 
Thursday, August 10 
Located in the AFHC parking lot. Schedule your appointment by calling 864-675-4875. Tell the scheduler you would like to be scheduled at BMW. 

Webinar: Maximize Social Security in Your Retirement 
August 18 at 12:00 PM EST 
Click here to register. 

Webinar: Communication Skills * 
August 22 at 11:30 AM EST 

Webinar: Impact of Gratitude * 
September 12 at 11:30 PM EST 

Webinar: Prepare for the Reality of Health Care in Retirement 
September 22 at 12:00 PM EST 
Click here to register. 

BMW Blood Drive Day * 
Thursday, September 14 
Various times and locations. 

Webinar: Lower Your Lipids * 
September 28 at 12:00 PM EST 

Fidelity Virtual 1:1s 
July 19, 20, and 21 
August 16, 17, and 18 
September 15 and 22 
Click here to register. 

*Registration link will be posted on the Wellbeing Portal event page and in Daily News as date approaches.