Taking Control of Menopause Symptoms
The process of aging has its ups and downs. If you or someone you love is going through menopause, you may be familiar with some of its more annoying aspects.
Educating yourself about the symptoms of menopause can help you or your loved one feel empowered, even as your body changes.
What is menopause?
Menopause is the process of one’s menstrual period ending. The average age for menopause in the United States is age 51.
How can it affect you?
Menopause is a natural phase of life, but it can come along with physical and emotional symptoms like hot flashes, brain fog, lower energy, and disrupted sleep.
Taking control of your symptoms
If you’re struggling with menopause symptoms, talk with your doctor about how you can alleviate or lessen the symptoms.
Some recommendations include:
- Quit smoking
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Exercise
- Increase Vitamin D consumption
- Create a peer support group
- Meet with a counselor
This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. For further information, please consult a medical professional.
Where Will You Go if You Need Urgent Medical Care?
When someone in your family needs medical care now, it can be hard to think straight. Whether you’re worried about a family member or leaving work early with a high fever, you don’t want to frantically search for the nearest in-network urgent care center.
While you can’t predict an illness or injury, you can plan ahead of time so you know where to go when the unexpected happens.
Take some time this week to identify where you can go when you need immediate care. Look for locations near your home, workplace, and other places you frequent, like your gym or church.
Make a list of the locations you find or bookmark them in your maps app—don’t forget to note their operating hours. Next time you or your family needs immediate medical attention, you’ll have a plan in place.
Urgent Care
To make sure these locations are in your medical network, visit your insurance provider’s website. While you can visit out-of-network urgent care centers, you’ll probably end up paying more for your care.
Emergency Room
Only visit the emergency room in the case of a true emergency. If you do have a life- or limb-threatening emergency, your visit will be covered as in-network even if the facility isn’t in your medical network.
This content is for informational purposes only. Contact your physician and/or insurance provider for information specific to you and your benefits.
New Year, New Money Mindset
The start of a new year is the perfect time to take control of your financial health. Instead of crash budgeting—an approach that's too restrictive and often unsustainable—focus on small, manageable changes that lead to long-term success.
1
Reflect on Last Year
Review your spending habits and savings from the past year. Identify areas of improvement and celebrate your wins. Did you consistently save or make progress on debt? Use these insights to inform this year’s goals.
2
Prioritize Your Goals
Start with one or two achievable financial goals. For example:
+ Increase your 401(k) contributions by 1%.
+ Pay off one high-interest debt.
+ Build an emergency fund covering three months of expenses.
3
Create a Flexible Budget
Budgets don’t have to feel restrictive. Allocate funds for essentials, savings, and a discretionary category to add flexibility. Adjust as needed to avoid burnout while staying on track. Think of this as financial “self-care”.
4
Automate Your Savings
Set up automatic transfers for savings or retirement contributions.
This “set it and forget it” strategy makes it easier to stay consistent.
5
Celebrate Progress
Each small win adds up.
Reward yourself for meeting milestones—whether it’s paying off a debt or hitting a savings goal.
6
Use Tools to Help
Track your expenses and set goals with tools like: GoodBudget, YNAB or RocketMoney.
Consider scheduling a financial check-up with an advisor to kick off the year on the right foot.
This material is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to provide ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. MJ Retirement does not endorse or recommend any products, services, or entities mentioned or cited. Consult with a qualified professional for personalized advice tailored to your specific needs.
