If you struggle with sleep, you probably know all the usual advice on deep breathing or avoiding screens before bed. Instead, here’s some proven methods that mightn’t be so familiar.

2. Get up. Yep, that’s right. If you’re tossing and turning too long, get up and do something quiet and calming, like reading a book in a chair, or colouring. This is a particularly good one if you’ve woken up in the middle of the night. “The key is to avoid associating your bed with being awake,” says Professor Richard Wiseman, of the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. Then when you’re feeling sleepy, go to bed. 

3. Change your body temperature. The ideal body temperature for sleep is a slowly cooling one. Your body will naturally get sleepy as your temperature cools down at night. To encourage this, have a warm bath or shower before bed, and try to keep your room around 18 degrees Celsius. 

4. Plunge your face into cold water.  I know, it sounds like the worst thing in the world you can do to relax, especially when we’ve just told you to have a warm bath. But apparently, a thing called the Mammalian Dive Reflex means that plunging into water can help reset your nervous system.   

Choosing the right sort of international healthcare insurance policy can be influenced by a range of factors – we examine just a few for you to consider.

In order to determine the right international healthcare insurance, you need to assess your concerns and priorities as far as healthcare is concerned. Different insurance companies offer different levels of coverage. 

What is covered?

The main healthcare levels of coverage are usually: Maternity, Dental, Outpatient, and Hospitalisation cover. A healthcare plan with hospitalisation only will cater for major risks such as surgery, diseases, or accidents, that leave you hospitalised. This is the most significant level of healthcare plan, as it provides a way to cover for the typically expensive cost of hospitalisation. 

Generally, you’ll be provided with the Outpatient International Healthcare Insurance plan as an option. This will enable you to go and visit doctors (Specialists, GPs, and for prescribed medication). You may not need a healthcare insurance plan if the outpatient benefits in your country provide low cost visits to the doctors. 

Several international healthcare insurance plans also offer dental care as an option. This usually comes with a waiting period before you can start enjoying the dental coverage. There are some healthcare plans that cover major dental treatment as well. Usually, healthcare insurance plans that include orthodontic cover are the most expensive, which goes to show how expensive they are. 

Maternity cover, on the other hand, is quite different and a policy qualification period of between three and twelve months is often included. This level of cover can significantly increase your healthcare premiums so careful consideration should be made about whether or not it is necessary. 

Determine your priorities 

Figure out whether you want the most cost effective healthcare plan, or the best offer in your range. Relatively inexpensive insurance plans should cover hospitalisation, at the very least. But flexibility may also come in handy when choosing the right international healthcare insurance plan. A healthcare plan that includes dental or outpatient cover will provide more alternatives should you find yourself in an overseas country. For instance, expatriate doctor fees are usually higher as compared to local doctor fees. An insurance plan that includes outpatient cover will enable you to consult any doctor you want freely from any medical facility. 

Compare the International healthcare insurance plans 

Enquire for a healthcare insurance quote (which is usually free), and compare the available plans. When deciding over a wide range of international healthcare insurance plans, you may need to determine how much travel you are likely to do and how many different countries you will visit. A suitable insurance plan will enable you to move from one country to the other without having to reapply.

If you would like advice from experienced professionals please contact our friendly team at info@mayfairworldwide.com

Corporate health is the collective well-being of company averaged by the health of its individual members. Successful business managers are always aware of the health of their employees.

A physically fit and active work force is a great asset to any corporation. We look at several reasons why employers should not underestimate the importance of the good health for their employees, education programmes and healthcare insurance.

· HEALTHCARE EXPENDITURE.

Medical costs keep increasing with each year. For many staff, their health care insurance is covered by their employers. However, staff who are overweight, smoke or drink too much are at higher risk of lifestyle diseases and thus stand to incur more health care costs in the long run.

One of the ways to prevent this is by ensuring your staff keep fit. Education programmes and links with local fitness clubs will reduce the number of employees who regularly suffer from lifestyle illnesses and significant strain on company’s efficiency.

· ABSENTEEISM.

Numerous sick leaves always cost businesses money and time. A fit and healthy workforce means all available working hours will be fully utilized. It also reduces the need for temporary staff or colleagues covering that can often lead to important tasks being left half done or not completed at all.

· ENERGY LEVELS.

Regular exercise is believed to reduce fatigue and increase energy levels. For a business manager, having keen, energetic staff is a tremendous boost to overall staff morale.

Conversely, the heavy smoker will be away from there place of work on a regular basis having a ‘smoking break’. Much working time can be lost due to smoking breaks and smokers will often be less efficient than their non smoking colleagues.

Education and encouragement to give up smoking is practiced in many workplaces and the benefits can be seen in increased productivity and a healthier workforce. 

· COMMITMENT AND GOAL SETTING.

For someone to maintain optimal fitness and health, a good level of commitment to achieving set goals is required. Employees with healthy bodies and minds have learned how to set goals and go about realizing them. This attitudes often spreads to all areas of their life including their jobs. An active labor force will always stay in line with company goals and missions. Additionally, they will always have ways to keep them motivated at all times.

· REDUCED STRESS.

The workplace tops the list of factors contributing to stress in individuals. Overweight staff and smokers will be less efficient because they often have higher stress levels. Employees with healthy bodies are much better at handling stressful situations. With impending deadlines, workload and set targets, there will always be no shortage of stress triggers in any company. With this in mind employers stand to benefit hugely from fit staff that better cope with dynamic conditions.

To ensure full mental and physical productivity employers must ensure wellness programs are put in place to help those employees who need it to become healthier and a more productive member of the team.

ADVICE

If you are in need of advice about how to approach better health in the workplace or where to go for a Healthcare Plan, then we can help, please email us here at: info@mayfairworldwide.com and one of our friendly team will contact you.