As a recent college dropout I have had to change many habits and kick productivity up to 10; however, there is still something big haunting me: insurance. I cannot be on my parents’ insurance anymore.
While I can (and must) get health insurance, I cannot afford dental or vision insurance. Along with working harder than ever before, I have found ways to cut down on my risk of truly needing insurance. Here are a few simple habits to gain or kick if you are in a similar situation:
Dental
Dentists have always told me more plaque builds up on my teeth than most people, but I have spent most of my years ignoring the warning. The plaque has caught up to me in the past couple of years, resulting in multiple cavity removals, so taking care of my teeth is more important than ever since I do not have dental insurance.
1
Cut out all sweet food in your diet. This may sound difficult, but my craving for deserts and candy has taken a plunge in recent years. This might be difficult for some, but it’ll save your teeth.
2
Stop drinking sugary drinks. I still do not have this down pat, but I am working myself towards it. Sugary drinks will destroy your teeth.
3
Brush my teeth 2–3 times a day. I use to brush my teeth 2–3 every 4–5 days. I also floss and mouth wash once a day. My teeth have never looked bad, so dental hygiene was low on my personal list of to-dos. I always thought my teeth were fine until I was sitting in that chair, leaned back in a dentist office.
Vision
My eyes are fantastic and have been all my life — with the exception that they become bloodshot badly. I’ll play a game for an hour and it’ll look like I was playing it all day non-stop. Of course, this can harm my vision, so I did go to the eye doctor. I now have glasses to help my eyes from becoming bloodshot.
Getting glasses was number 1 on my not-to-do list for years, but now that I have them here is what I do:
1
When I am staring at a screen or text on a book I always have good lighting. Poor lighting will stress your eyes out and possibly damage them.
2
If I know I will look at my laptop screen for longer than 30 minutes I put on my glasses. These glasses help my eyes from becoming bloodshot. I’ll do anything to keep my eyes from being damaged.
3
I take breaks when I am on the computer or a game for more than 2–3 hours. Anybody can get sucked into the screen easily, but I have to catch myself and take a break. Do the same and let your eyes rest.
Living a Safer Lifestyle
Parties, drinking, and other risky occasions have never been my cup of tea, but I still have to live a safer lifestyle. A safer lifestyle in this sense is not only abstaining from crazy parties, etc. but also one where the chances of needing insurance are less by adopting habits that support a healthy lifestyle.
I strongly doubt that when I get insurance I will drop these habits. The habits lead to a safer, cheaper lifestyle. No matter what age I am or what financial situation I find myself in, a cheaper way of living will sound nice to me.
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