The current situation has created unique challenges for all of us. As you adjust to a new reality of work, home and self-care, the firm would like to offer some resources that we hope you will find helpful.
The current situation has created unique challenges for all of us. As you adjust to a new reality of work, home and self-care, the firm would like to offer some resources that we hope you will find helpful.
The weather may be getting cooler, but there are a number of health opportunities the fall season brings. From outdoor activities to nutritious produce, here are some ways to add more wellness to your autumn routine.
Fall allergy season is ramping up, and sufferers may be experiencing symptoms like runny nose and congestion, irritated eyes, headaches, itchy throat, and skin rashes. While some may mistake some of these symptoms for COVID-19 this year, it is important to remember the main warning signs for the virus are fever, fatigue and a dry cough.
Pollen allergy
Mold allergy
How to treat fall allergies
The importance of flu shots
o MYTH: The flu vaccine can give you the flu. Some people do experience mild flu-like symptoms after getting a vaccine, such as low-grade fever and body aches. But this isn’t the flu, and these symptoms typically only last one to two days. o MYTH: The vaccine provides immediate protection from the flu. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body. Make plans to get vaccinated early in fall, before flu season begins. o FACT: It is possible to infect someone with the flu prior to symptoms developing. You are the most contagious in the first three to four days after contracting the virus. o FACT: People who are most at risk should prioritize receiving a flu vaccine annually. The elderly, young children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems are among the groups more susceptible to life-threatening complications from the flu. o MYTH: The flu vaccine is 100% effective. The vaccine protects many but not all. Additionally, some people are infected after getting a flu shot but before the body has had time to develop antibodies. |
Superfoods of fall
With the official start of fall coming next week, it’s time to get excited about delicious and nutritious produce — including superfoods — that come into season in autumn. Enjoy them during their peak season, whether from your garden, grocery store or local farmers market.
Fall fruit
Fall vegetables
Back-to-school resources
This year’s “back to school” looks very different for many students and families. While some students will return to in-person learning, many will take their classes online or participate in a hybrid model that mixes virtual classrooms with in-person attendance. We’ve put together some resources to help you navigate this uncharted time and hopefully help reduce some of your anxiety as the school year begins.
Have a strategy
Keep it interesting
Be mindful of emotions
Get help if you need it
VSP Vision Care tips for remote working
VSP Vision Care has put together some tips to help defend against digital eye strain and create more comfort working from home. Here’s a sampling:
Ask your eye doctor about computer vision, blue light lenses or coatings for non-prescription eyewear. You can find a doctor in the VSP network here.
Give your eyes a break every 20 minutes and spend 20 seconds looking at something at least 20 feet away. Bonus tip: Blinking more often helps to moisten your eyes, which may help reduce visual discomfort.
Work in an area with natural light and enough room to maintain a good digital distance (at least 20 inches) from your screen.
Reduce the brightness level of device screens and LED and CFL lighting to lower the amount of blue light exposure, especially during the evening hours.
The benefits of bicycling
Getting started
General bike riding tips
Bicycling during COVID-19
Get on the road
For those looking to safely ride while socially distancing, here are some resources for those near the NY and CA offices.
Happy biking!
In Memorium: Larry Kramer
We want to recognize and celebrate the life of Larry Kramer, the brother of founding firm partner Arthur Kramer and an accomplished playwright and activist who recently passed away. Larry helped create both GMHC and ACT UP and remained an outspoken advocate for those living with HIV and AIDS and for LGBTQ+ rights generally. His play and film The Normal Heart captures the early days of the AIDS crisis. For more on the Kramer brothers and the firm’s involvement in the fight for marriage equality, see this front page New York Times story from 2006.
A few LGBTQ+ rights milestones
LGBTQ+ people and allies have been working for decades to achieve equal treatment under the law.
A few LGBTQ+ trailblazers
Kramer Levin’s rich history of supporting pro bono LGBTQ+ rights work
Kramer Levin has played a leading role in pro bono LGBTQ+ rights litigation for decades. The firm is particularly proud to have been at the forefront of legal efforts securing marriage equality, obtaining political asylum in the United States for LGBTQ+ clients persecuted in their home countries because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and working to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and families in various contexts.
A few highlights:
The importance of supporting LGBTQ+ rights
The appeal of LGBTQ+ inclusivity goes far beyond LGBTQ+ employees. We find that the vast majority of allies — non-LGBTQ+ individuals who support and advocate for LGBTQ+ individuals in the wider community — prefer to work for inclusive companies: a stunning 72% of ally respondents say that, all else being equal, they are more likely to accept a job at a company that is supportive of LGBTQ+ employees than one that is not supportive with inclusive policies for LGBTQ+ individuals.
The history behind Older Americans Month
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy and part of the National Council of Senior Citizens (NCSC) came together in the hope that they could solve the mounting burdens on the country’s older population. President Kennedy and the NCSC established May as Senior Citizens Month as a way to promote awareness about these concerns and to acknowledge the contributions of this population.
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Older Americans Act into law in 1965, and May officially became Older Americans Month. The bill created definitive positive changes for older Americans, such as financial and federal aid. Furthermore, it
Older adults enrich our lives every day as volunteers, employees, employers, parents, grandparents, mentors and advocates. They offer their time, talents and experience to the benefit of our communities.
How you can support the physical health of older adults
How you can support the mental well-being of older adults
Keeping the mind of an elder active, positive and productive is important.
How you can support elders in your community
How you can support the community as an elder
Resources to support the caregivers of elders
Our Employee Assistance Program through Humana has services dedicated to caregivers, including a Caregiver’s Toolkit and resources for caring for your loved one and yourself.
Here are some other organizations devoted to providing resources for caregivers of older adults:
Caregiving to older adults during COVID-19
COVID-19 can infect anyone, but adults age 60 and up are noted as more likely to get seriously ill from it. The CDC outlines steps to reduce getting sick if you are over 60.
Here’s why getting organized makes you feel good:
Organizing is a way to regain a sense of control.
Today, there is a lot in the world that we can’t control, but we can control our spaces. When we feel overwhelmed by the world around us, it can be therapeutic to organize a garage or pantry. Similar to exercising, the physical effort to sort and organize your space provides a way to let off steam.
Organizing gives you a sense of satisfaction.
Apart from ridding your space of stuff you no longer use, organizing makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something. The before-and-after transformation offers visual evidence of a job well done, and there is a physical reaction in the body. Given our current virtual world, a hands-on organizing project at home (or work) can give us the emotional lift we need to feel good about what we’ve achieved.
Here’s how to start:
Adopt new habits
Start your spring cleaning now
Get some inspiration
Giving back to the community in a way that is convenient and meaningful to you can be a rewarding way to spend your time at home. In this issue, we’re sharing some ideas for how you can help others during this time. We hope you find these suggestions useful.
If you’re interested in supporting...
the arts:
the elderly or those with disabilities:
medical efforts:
local businesses in your area:
animals:
the community:
Sustainable workspace tips
Environmentally aware practices for your home
Green activities for social distancing
Remote Earth Day celebrations
Set up your workspace ergonomically
Take a critical look at your work surface, chair and computer peripherals.
See also:
Position your body properly
Follow best practices to avoid back pain, eyestrain, carpal tunnel syndrome and other physical maladies.
See also:
Move and stretch
Being tethered to your home workstation can be detrimental to your body and mind. Take the time to move and stretch during the day.
When you want to take a break with a good book or show:
For the foodies:
If you want to learn something new or improve a talent:
When you need to escape to another place:
For culture junkies:
For animal lovers:
When you want to connect with friends and family:
From Kramer Levin
General health and wellness information
Free and low-cost meditation apps
Free and low-cost fitness apps
Take a break