Whenever you walk into a store, youre dazzled by the abundance of choice at your disposal. If we need to spend time choosing between a dozen ketchup brands, then we can safely say weve gone too far with our desire for versatility. In a similar manner, we treat our entire existence as that store we spend hours of our lives making irrelevant decisions that will have zero influence or purpose on the quality of our life other than the temporary satisfaction of making a choice. Once you let go of all the irrelevance, you begin to appreciate the full meaning of everything, no matter how little that may be, that truly matters in life, starting with your wellbeing.

In a time so overcrowded by choices, we need to find the strength to simplify our existence if we were to truly revel in what matters most. By doing that, you will also boost your quality of life and your essence, so the effort invested will be returned manifold. Here are a few strategies to help you ditch all kinds of clutter from your life and invest time as well as funds in those few things that fuel your soul and cherish your spirit.

In this sea of chaos were surrounded by, its tough to recognize your own voice. Even when youre just out there choosing a bottle of ketchup. The noise can be overwhelming, so you either forego your freedom to choose based on what you really want, or you forego ever considering your wants at all. Taking a moment to silence the noise around you and to listen to your mind will go a long way in helping you simplify your decisions and make smarter choices in life.

How? Meditate. Spending a few mindful minutes every day immersed in your thoughts and feelings and regaining control over your reactions is pivotal in simplifying your existence. Its equally essential in improving the quality of your life, since a clear mind and a clear voice will let you choose simple over complex every time.

We all crave more energy, more health, and more vigor in our daily lives, but few of us are prepared to tackle whats necessary for us to create that energy and zeal. For starters, simplify your menu and youll boost your health all in one go. Opting for whole, unprocessed or minimally processed foods is always a simpler, smarter option, albeit not always a convenient one, but the time you invest in preparing and enjoying your meals will be time well spent.

Your meals dont need to sound like another exotic coffee from Starbucks. They should, in fact, be simple and nutritious, tailor-made to your needs and activity levels. Instead of reaching for fast food whose ingredient list is unknown, simplifying your diet means making sure that you know exactly what youre consuming.

Were constantly plagued by internal conundrums: Should I buy that new jacket? Do I renovate the bedroom? How about that ski trip? While all of those investments may be legitimate and necessary, you also need to take a breath, step back from all those materially-focused questions and think about ways you can actually take care of yourself in the long term. One of the simplest ways to do just that is to get health insurance that will cover all of your bases and leave you with your mind at ease.

Before you start racking your brain over how to select the perfect policy, you can check out health insurance comparison online to make the right choice by checking different criteria and various coverage options to fit your lifestyle. Not only will you simplify your life but youll also invest in your present and your future, and tend to your every health need. Steer your mind away from material possessions and think of ways you can invest in your wellbeing and your longevity.

Yes, the internet keeps us informed and connected, but its also another paradox of life: it makes us less aware of our present moment, it disconnects us from the people in the room, and it serves as a way to escape our innermost feelings and experiences. Not to mention the long-term impact on your confidence, since being exposed to a filtered, target-tailored reality means you only get to see what youre meant to see.

While its fine to spend some time scrolling on Instagram and chatting on various apps, do cut down on your digital time. Invest that time in something more productive and self-affirming such as meditation, reading, walking, talking to your loved ones face to face, or playing with your pet. All of those actions carry more substance, let you evolve as a human being, and they allow you to enjoy the simple pleasures of life without being bombarded by confidence-wrecking imagery.

Self-improvement can indeed be simple, much like your entire life. All it takes is a mindful approach, structuring your mindset to focus on health and wellbeing, and choosing wisely whenever given the opportunity. Use these tips to simplify your life and youll enjoy its many hidden, yet simple pleasures for many years into the future.

Read more from the original source:
4 Essential Ways to Simplify Your Life and Improve Yourself Over Time - Thrive Global

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Signature Bank (Nasdaq: SBNY), a New York-based full-service commercial bank, announced today it has been named the winner of the annual Cigna Well-Being Award in 2019 for demonstrating a strong commitment to improving the health and well-being of its employees through its expansive workplace wellness program.

2019 marks the fifth consecutive year Signature Bank was named winner of the Well-Being Award by Cigna. Signature Bank was selected based on its robust wellness program, which was put in place in 2007. The program, with strong support from the Banks leadership, has continually grown and expanded to feature many incentives encouraging healthy behaviors in and outside the workplace. These include, among others, seminars and webinars relating to topics such as diet and stress management as well as in-house bio-metrics and cancer awareness programs. The Banks work environment and policies support a culture of health and well-being.

At Signature Bank, our assets are the 1,500+ committed colleagues who come to work every day and are productive and dedicated to their roles and this institution. Their health and well-being are top priority. We have broadened the wellness components of our program since its inception, which contributed to enhancing the health of our workforce and benefit the well-being of our colleagues. We are honored to be named a winner of the Cigna Well-Being Award this year and every year since 2015, and appreciate being recognized for our wellness program, which has been an important initiative for the Bank for more than a decade, said Joseph J. DePaolo, President and Chief Executive Officer at Signature Bank.

Cigna is committed to creating a healthy workplace and a culture of wellness, said Tony Contessa, Cigna's senior vice president of sales in New York and New Jersey. We continue to be impressed by the year-over-year efforts of Signature Banks wellness programs. They set the example for other companies in building healthier communities in the region."

Cigna Well-Being Award applicants are evaluated based on the core components of their wellness program, including goals, implementation, incentives, leadership engagement and employee participation. All applications are reviewed and judged by a multi-departmental Cigna selection committee.

While poor health takes a physical toll on workers, it also poses a burden to employers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. employers lose more than $225 billion each year in productivity due to employee health problems.

About Signature Bank

Signature Bank, member FDIC, is a New York-based full-service commercial bank with 31 private client offices throughout the New York metropolitan area and Connecticut as well as San Francisco. The Banks growing network of private client banking teams serves the needs of privately owned businesses, their owners and senior managers.

Signature Banks specialty finance subsidiary, Signature Financial, LLC, provides equipment finance and leasing. Signature Securities Group Corporation, a wholly owned Bank subsidiary, is a licensed broker-dealer, investment adviser and member FINRA/SIPC, offering investment, brokerage, asset management and insurance products and services.

Signature Bank recently introduced its revolutionary, blockchain-based digital payments platform, Signet, enabling real-time payments for its commercial clients. The Signet Platform allows the Banks commercial clients to make payments in U.S. dollars, 24/7/365, safely and securely, without transaction fees. Signature Bank is the first FDIC-insured bank to launch a blockchain-based digital payments platform, and Signet is the first such platform to be approved for use by the NYS Department of Financial Services.

Since commencing operations in May 2001, the Bank has grown to $49.41 billion in assets, $37.94 billion in loans, $39.06 billion in deposits, $4.74 billion in equity capital and $3.51 billion in other assets under management as of September 30, 2019. Signature Bank's Tier 1 and risk-based capital ratios are significantly above the levels required to be considered well capitalized.

Signature Bank is one of the top 40 largest banks in the U.S., based on deposits (S&P Global Market Intelligence). The Bank recently earned several third-party recognitions, including: appeared on Forbes' Best Banks in America list for the ninth consecutive year in 2019; and, named number one in the Business Bank, Private Bank and Attorney Escrow Services categories by the New York Law Journal in the publications annual Best of survey for 2019, earning it a place in the New York Law Journals Hall of Fame (awarded to companies that have ranked in the Best of survey for at least three of the past four years). The Bank also ranked second nationally in the Business Bank, Private Banking Services and Attorney Escrow Service categories of the National Law Journals 2019 Best of survey.

For more information, please visit http://www.signatureny.com.

This press release and oral statements made from time to time by our representatives contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on those statements because they are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and may be beyond our control. Forward-looking statements include information concerning our future results, interest rates and the interest rate environment, loan and deposit growth, loan performance, operations, new private client teams and other hires, new office openings and business strategy. These statements often include words such as "may," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," potential, opportunity, could, project, seek, should, will, would, "plan," "estimate" or other similar expressions. As you consider forward-looking statements, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us or in our control. These factors include but are not limited to: (i) prevailing economic conditions; (ii) changes in interest rates, loan demand, real estate values and competition, any of which can materially affect origination levels and gain on sale results in our business, as well as other aspects of our financial performance, including earnings on interest-bearing assets; (iii) the level of defaults, losses and prepayments on loans made by us, whether held in portfolio or sold in the whole loan secondary markets, which can materially affect charge-off levels and required credit loss reserve levels; (iv) changes in monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (v) changes in the banking and other financial services regulatory environment and (vi) competition for qualified personnel and desirable office locations. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, beliefs and expectations, if a change occurs or our beliefs, assumptions and expectations were incorrect, our business, financial condition, liquidity or results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. Additional risks are described in our quarterly and annual reports filed with the FDIC. You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statements made by Signature Bank speak only as of the date on which they were made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and we cannot predict these events or how they may affect the Bank. Signature Bank has no duty to, and does not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements after the date on which they are made. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made in this release or elsewhere might not reflect actual results.

The rest is here:
Signature Bank Recipient of Cigna's 2019 Well-Being Award for Fifth Consecutive Year - Business Wire

Transportation

Our transportation system is full of big problems in need of even bigger solutions. Here, transportation experts dish their most creative ideas.

Additional reporting by Spencer Buell, Jacqueline Cain, Brittany Jasnoff, and Alyssa Vaughn.

Photo by Michael Prince

Bill JamesFounder and CEO, JPods

JPods are an overhead network of ultralight vehicles that carry people and cargo from origin to destination using a tenth of the energy of cars, trains, and buses. Solar collectors at the top of the rails gather the energy to power the networks, which look something like Ferris wheel cars hanging from monorails.

Our vision is that it will start at places such as Logan Airport, where it will connect the terminals to the T station, hotels, and car rental building. Then it will spread. Within four years, you will be within walking distance of one station, and get to a station within walking distance of where you want to go. Or you could scooter or Uber the last mile to a JPod station to get around Boston. We will build the network with private capital, operate it without government subsidies, and pay the city 5 percent of gross revenues. We could begin building if Massachusetts passes a bill sponsored by state Senator Patrick OConnor, An Act Relative to Solar-Powered Mobility Networks.

Photo by Randi Freundlich

Joe CurtatoneMayor, Somerville

With the term road diet, Im really speaking about how we humanize our roads: how we think about and plan our community for people, not just the automobile. If you plan a city for cars, thats what youre going to get. We need to reclaim the right-of-way for the people.

That can mean adding protected bicycle lanes to create the bicycle infrastructure we have today. Or simply putting paint on the ground and delineating where the bicycle infrastructure is. Or widening the sidewalks, and reclaiming asphalt for placemaking, which has incredible social and economic benefits for a community. It even means reclaiming the streets for housing: We have a development on the west side of the city that will take part of the roadway to expand affordable housing.

On Bow Street in Union Square, we changed to angled parking, which did three things: added more parking for the merchants; allowed us to put in a bike lane; and acted as a traffic-calming measure. On Broadway in East Somerville around the same time, our goal was for that street not to be the on- and off-ramp to Boston any longer. So we eliminated a lane of traffic in each direction, added bike lanes, and expanded the sidewalks. And what happened? Traffic was less congested, and our businesses can take advantage of more vibrancy on the sidewalks.

Change is never easy, but weve been inspired by community members who have come out in support of these measures, because they are based on a set of shared values. One of our goals is to shift mobility to 50 percent more biking, walking, and public transportation.

Transportation is a regional crisis, like housing and climate change. There are great opportunities across communities in how we can connect those projects to have greater benefits. Weve seen the benefit of that from Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, and Boston working on the Bluebike system. I chair the Metropolitan Mayors Coalition, which represents 15 cities in the inner core of Boston, and we are having these conversations now. We are talking with Medford about priority bus lanes on Mystic Avenue, and with Arlington about connecting those buses in a more efficient and equitable manner to transit stations like Sullivan Square.

The important thing is that were learning from these incremental steps taking place around this region and across the country. To have true impact, we need to have full systemic change.

Gwen LighterCEO, GoFly

I spent three years of my life in Boston for law school and have spent most of my life in the New York/New England area, so I understand the density issue there. We need to go up to alleviate the congestion in our city centers and provide more viable, more sustainable mobility options.

GoFly has created a community of engineers, industry experts, and academics to solve this. The $2 million GoFly Prize has 854 competing teams from 103 countries creating personal flyers. They all look different and they all function in different manners. We are supported by Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, and Google Planetary Ventures, as well as the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Royal Aeronautical Society, and 18 other aerospace organizations around the world. The competition culminates in a grand final fly-off at NASA Ames Research Center in California on leap day: February 29, 2020. One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. That will be the moment when the world will watch as we make people fly.

There will be flying platforms, which may be best for first responders to land in areas that were inaccessible previously. Certain types of flyers might be better for package delivery, others for personal commutes. We have a number of teams designing flying motorcycles.

There are major companies working on flying taxis, where people go to a rooftop, get into a large flyer, and go to another spot in the city. Boston might have point-to-point travel from your home to your office or restrict it to skyport-to-skyport in certain areas.

Photo courtesy of NAACP

Tanisha SullivanPresident, Boston NAACP

Transportation is an issue that goes far beyond reducing emissions or whether the train is bright and shiny. It really should be about addressing our economic disparities, our affordable-housing crisis, and even our education disparities. Greater access to transportation enhances quality of life.

To achieve this, some of our public transportation should be fare-free for students and seniors. We should also consider flat rates for commuter railrather than penalizing people who live farther outside the major metropolitan areas. There should be incentives for families and companies to be more creative in how they think about transportation options. I propose a tax credit on trade-ins for electric cars; its not just about adding a new car to your households fleet, its about getting that fuel-operated vehicle off the road as soon as possible. Likewise, to get people out of rush-hour traffic, we need to incentivize more companies to actively promote, through financial benefits, the use of flexible-working schedules. We talk about where we live, we talk about where we workwe also need to talk about how transportation affects the time we spend with family and the time we spend with community.

Alice BrownDirector of planning, Boston Harbor Now

Today, its really hard to take public transportation from East Boston to the Seaport, or to the Navy Yard in Charlestown. Weve proposed a new star-shaped ferry route for the inner harbor. As part of that, Im especially excited by the prospect of rebuilding Lewis Mall next to Maverick Square to be a full ferry-dock facility. The people of East Boston will have a ferry, not only to go to Long Wharf, but to Charlestown and the Seaport.

People are rediscovering the harbor in so many ways. Theyre already out on the water in water taxis, ferries, and shuttle boats. We just need to expand where publicly accessible boats go.

Photo by Marilyn Humphries

Jim CanalesPresident, Barr Foundation

Based on the work that we have done and the partnerships we have funded over many years now in the mobility space, whats evident is that there is no silver bullet and no single fix. So what I end up focusing on is: What are some of the values and principles that should inform how we think about solutions? And there are a number of things that I would land on.

One is that we should think a lot about how we put people at the center of whatever solution were trying to advance. How do we think about what people fundamentally need in order to get to the places that they need to go? I think another element that is important for Boston, which aims to be a world-class city, is how can we ensure we are aspirational and bold as we shape the kind of mobility system that a world-class city deserves? Sometimes we can get stuck in these conversations about Well, thats not possible, Our system is so old, or We dont have the money to do it. Im hoping that we can really think big, bold, and aspirationally, and acknowledge that its also going to take time and resources and that its not going to get solved overnight.

Lama Bou MjahedResearch director, Mobility Lab

Shared dockless e-scooters and e-bikes could be a really viable way to enhance mobility in Boston, based on our study of Arlington, Virginias pilot program. The results show that people dont just use them recreationally, as was predicted, but to go to destinations, such as shops or work, or make connections to metro rail.

Companies that operate the shared-bike programs in Arlington paid a fee to the city, and deployed them across the county. Riders use an app to scan the code to unlock one. Theres usually a $1 fee to unlock it, and then a fee per minute; the average cost is around $3 for the scooters. When youre done, you park it, usually on the sidewalk. The city can use corrals to de-clutter the sidewalks; Arlington has seven now and is rolling out more. Of users surveyed, 32 percent said e-scooters and e-bikes replaced cars for them, whether Uber or private vehicles. So there is the potential to take cars off the road.

Karl IagnemmaPresident, Aptiv Autonomous Mobility

Self-driving robotaxis, which are currently operating in Las Vegas, will one day increase accessibility in Boston. Autonomous vehicles are without bias; they do not discriminate based on where people live, their income level, or their race. For underserved communities, they provide low-cost connectivity to reach transit lines.

Imagine a Boston with an efficient network of vehicles that are deployed only when there is demand, moving seamlessly to and from destinations, helping people better travel to transit stations, healthcare facilities, school, and job opportunities. That means improved mobility, reduced congestion, safer roads, and equitable access.

We have a fleet on the road in Las Vegas thats picking up and dropping off passengers six days a week, and so far weve given more than 75,000 rides to members of the public. We dont have a specific timetable for Boston yet, but we plan to ramp up significantly in the middle of the next decade.

Patrick SullivanExecutive director, Seaport Transportation Management Association

Because transportation affects all of us, it can bring people to the table who might not otherwise collaborate. I propose fostering stronger partnerships both among neighboring businesses that share many of the same transportation challenges, and between the public and private sectors. Its really interesting how willing businesses are to take that call, take that meeting, and be of assistance.

On the South Boston waterfront, for example, our organization brought together business leaders, along with leaders from city and state agencies, to launch the SeaportNorth Station ferry service in February of this year. The state agency, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, led the effort to procure the boats and figure out how to operate the service. A mix of employers and property owners in the Seaport came together to 100 percent privately fund the service, which serves their employees and the public. Related Beal, which owns Lovejoy Wharf, constructed the dock, which received some public funding. Today were seeing 14,000 riders per monthand six buses that were previously making dozens of trips a day between North Station and the Seaport are off of the road.

Ambar JohnsonProgram director, LivableStreets Alliance

Its so important for people to be able to connect safely and efficiently to transit centers that will take them to and from their jobs. The last mile concept can make or break transportation. And its the community that knows what obstacles they face to get to that next spot.

When we are doing this work, whether its state agencies, cities, or municipalities, it is integral to make sure that the process is community-driven. There is so much knowledge that community members hold, being so proximate to the issues theyre dealing with every day. In some cases, yes, we need new technologies. But really it gets as simple as, what if we just listen to community members, and get the things that theyve been asking for done? There are things theyve been asking for for years: more frequent service along Columbia Road; lower fares on the Fairmount Line; more connections, with lower transfer times; not having a road in their community treated like a highway, so that their children cannot safely cross the street. Listen and trust their judgment, and just implement it.

Tracy CorleyTransit-oriented development fellow, MassINC

For too long we have been designing our communities so that all of the activities are concentrated in major metropolitan hubs such as Boston, and everywhere else is just housing. That is what is causing congestion. By revitalizing our gateway cities and making them hubs of activity, we can ease people out of traffic on our roads and lower usage on our rail systems.

There are three ways to make that happen. First: more diverse employment opportunities close to home in those gateway cities, led by small-business development.

Second: Strengthen our Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs). We need not only those first- and last-mile connections to rail and other infrastructure, but also alternatives to cars for getting around in peoples own communities. That includes more frequent and reliable bus service, but we also need to empower RTAs to think systematically about ways to coordinate and collaborate with other communitiesfor example, providing one-seat rides between those gateway cities.

Third: Allow regional ballot initiatives so that gateway cities and surrounding communities can raise their own funding to address local transportation needs. Right now, transportation is centrally planned and gateway cities are really getting left behind. There is a bill being considered in the legislature for this.

Amy DainTransportation policy analyst, Dain Research

Theres a lot of demand for housing in the municipalities along the Route 128 corridor. But were continuing to build isolated developments that are only accessible by cars. If we build places that are walkable or have other means of transit, then we will reduce the amount of car use for the people who live there.

Theres a real opportunity there, but we need people who are thinking about that region, and devoting their careers to it, and feeling responsible for it. Who right now is responsible for 128? We could use an unofficial mayor. Think of Vivien Li, the longtime mayor of Bostons waterfront, as a model.

The Mayor of 128 could help view development in a different way. Whats the infrastructure we need to get people walking from place to place, taking the train, taking shuttles, and riding bikes, or maybe taking a kayak down the Charles River to your job? How do we set up regional mitigation funds and funding to upgrade stations? We need somebody whose whole career is devoted to it, thinking about it, pushing itand doesnt just come up with a plan and then move on to the next project.

Interviews have been condensed and edited for clarity. Additional reporting by Spencer Buell, Jacqueline Cain, Brittany Jasnoff, and Alyssa Vaughn.

Read the original post:
How to Save Transportation in Boston: Big Ideas - Boston magazine