(Family Features) Spending a good portion of each day on camera is no longer a job description reserved for the rich and famous. Working professionals across a wide range of industries spend more time than ever on video chats and virtual meetings. The ultra-connected working world has distinct advantages, especially for those who wish to work from the comfort of home, but the connectivity comes with a price. While meeting fatigue is a familiar workplace challenge, video fatigue brings a new layer of challenges, including the pressure of always being “on” with a camera sitting mere inches from your face. Avoid exhaustion, burnout and digital eye strain from a rigorous video meeting schedule with these tips from ZEISS Vision Care: Avoid digital eye strain: Back-to-back virtual meetings can leave your eyes dry and exhausted. The most important consideration in protecting your eyes is taking frequent breaks. Experts recommend the 20-20-20 rule: look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. This lets your eyes rest and minimizes the physical and mental exhaustion of screen time. Create a comfortable setting: There’s nothing worse than realizing halfway through an important meeting you’re either too hot or too cold. Rather than visibly disrupting the meeting, make sure you have what you need to adjust your climate in easy reach, such as a fan you can flip on or a blanket you can pull over your lap. Invest in a chair you’re content to sit in for extended periods of time, and if you’re prone to fidgeting, be sure to get up and move around before your meeting starts. Look your best: It’s human nature to worry about your appearance on camera, so take a few minutes before the meeting to smooth your hair and straighten your collar. Wearing video-ready attire and accessories can put you ahead of the game. One example is incorporating subtle style such as eyeglasses featuring ZEISS DuraVision Gold UV AR. This high-clarity, anti-reflective lens coating has a striking gold residual reflectance that radiates luxury, elegance and sophistication. The coating also offers several functional advantages including durability, improved cleanability, reduced blue light reflections and enhanced clarity in low-light conditions. Eliminate disruptions: It’s not easy to stay focused and engaged in a video meeting when you have noise and disruptions in your background. In fact, it’s a good way to get flustered. Turn off your music and mute your phone. Put curious cats and friendly pups in a safe place, and if you share your workspace, consider closing your door and hanging a sign that indicates a meeting is in progress. Be mindful of lighting and angles: Lighting that comes from behind your screen will illuminate your face without awkward shadows. Avoid overhead lights or a table lamp behind you if possible. When it comes to setting your camera, be sure it sits at eye level or slightly above for the most flattering angle. A good rule of thumb is to have the same portion of your upper body (head and shoulders) visible as you would in a traditional head shot photo so your colleagues don’t have a close-up of your face the entire meeting. For more advice on protecting your vision, visit zeiss.com/vision. SOURCE: ZEISS

Turn common small business expenses into rewards

(Family Features) With tax season officially in the rearview mirror, it’s the prime time for small business owners to step back and re-evaluate their expenses. Before tossing those receipts, now is a good opportunity to understand how every dollar you spend can fuel your next adventure. One way to maximize your rewards for business spending is by selecting a credit card that works as hard as you do. Credit cards can help manage cash flow but also provide a way to get rewarded for purchases you’re already making. One credit card to consider is the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card from Chase, which offers opportunities to unlock benefits like free hotel nights, elite status and points on every purchase. Cardmembers can conduct business as usual while unlocking a quicker route to an elite status and earning two World of Hyatt Bonus Points per $1 spent on their top three eligible spending categories each quarter. That means treating clients to a dinner, shipping samples or running a digital campaign to boost your business can transform into more points toward a bucket-list trip, higher tier status and more. Those who apply by June 30, 2025 and are approved can also earn a special offer of 60,000 World of Hyatt Bonus Points and enjoy World of Hyatt Explorist status through February 2026 after spending $7,000 in the first three months of opening the account. That means more rewarding stays with perks like room upgrades, 2 p.m. late checkout, and extra points every time you check in. Learn more at chase.com/hyattbiz. If you’re looking to get the most out of your business expenses, consider these categories and how they can be maximized for more rewards. Earn While You Wine and Dine Entertaining clients is more than just a meal – it’s an investment in the relationships that can drive your business forward. Whether that’s closing a deal over lunch or hosting a team dinner to celebrate a milestone, dining can reward your business. By using a rewards-driven credit card to pay for these expenses, you can accumulate points and turn them into valuable rewards. The celebratory dinner for your biggest client can earn you points toward your next business trip or vacation to unwind with the family. Supercharge the Online Visibility of Your Business  Marketing and advertising – including social media and search engine advertising – can be crucial for business growth, and a credit card designed for small business owners can help you earn more rewards for the way you do business. Turn Spending into Upgraded Travel Experiences If your business requires frequent travel, you can earn up to nine Bonus Points total per $1 spent on qualifying purchases at more than 1,400 Hyatt hotels and resorts around the world with the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card. Plus, extended benefits like auto rental coverage, extended warranty protection and travel assistance make it so you can focus on what’s important without worrying about unforeseen events. Being a small business owner requires complete dedication, which can lead to long hours, high stress levels and a lack of time for self-care. A strategic credit card can help drive your business forward and allow you to redeem points for experiences that are designed to complement your well-being. From on-property spa treatments to unique experiences that don’t require a hotel stay, you can reward yourself and your employees. As a small business owner, you can flip the script on business expenses and turn spending into epic getaways and well-earned rewards for you and your team. Content courtesy of Chase and Hyatt. Credit Cards are issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.   SOURCE: Chase and Hyatt

(Family Features) Financial literacy is a critical skill that helps set the foundation for a stable and prosperous future. By understanding the basics of money management, teens can make informed decisions and avoid common financial pitfalls. According to the annual Teens and Personal Finance survey, a study of teens ages 13-18 conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of Junior Achievement and MissionSquare Retirement’s Foundation, 45% of high schoolers took a personal finance or financial literacy class at school. This is up from 31% in 2024, indicating the nation’s youth are interested in building a strong financial foundation. What’s more, of the students who took their school’s curriculum, 64% found it extremely or very helpful, yet despite this increase, data reveals knowledge gaps remain. In fact, 42% of teens surveyed are terrified they won’t have enough money to cover their future needs and goals. “There is so much for teens to absorb when learning about finances and planning for their future, they often struggle to envision what lies ahead,” said Andre Robinson, president and CEO of MissionSquare Retirement. “Offering engaging programs that can boost financial knowledge and decision-making skills can only help to inspire young individuals to build a strong foundation of lifelong financial resilience.” Consider discussing these economic topics with your teen to help make a positive impact on students’ financial readiness and get them ready for financial decisions they’ll face in adulthood. Mastering Saving and Budgeting A good starting point for teens is to create a simple budget that tracks income and expenses. Because only 36% of teens surveyed save a part for their futures when they receive money, this can help them understand where money is going and identify areas they may be able to save for the future. This is particularly important considering 68% of teens agree that saving for retirement is something they can think about later in life. Understanding Credit Credit is a powerful tool but can also be a source of financial trouble if not managed properly. It’s essential to understand how financial behaviors, like paying bills on time and keeping credit card balances low, impact their credit scores. A higher FICO score, which 80% of teens surveyed had never heard of or did not fully understand, can lead to better interest rates and more favorable loan terms. Managing Common Debt Pitfalls According to the survey, 43% of teens believe an interest rate of 18% on debt is manageable and can be paid off over time. However, it’s important to understand the true cost of debt and how interest rates can accumulate over time and lead to significant financial strain. Establishing good debt management habits early, such as avoiding high-interest debt and paying off balances quickly, can lead to a healthier financial future. Investing and Planning Ahead According to the survey, teenagers’ most appealing investing strategies are savings accounts, side hustles and keeping cash at home, and only 13% invest a portion of their money. Encouraging teens to learn about different types of investments, such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds, can help them make informed decisions and begin to build long-term wealth. For more information on how to help teens improve their financial knowledge, visit ja.org.   Photo courtesy of Shutterstock   SOURCE: Junior Achievement