Director Connelly's Message
September 2005: Make Wellness a Life-Long Lesson
Although you may be completed with your formal academic education, be sure to continue developing your intellectual dimension of wellness: It will make you a more well-rounded, healthier individual.
Fall is the perfect time to broaden and build upon your health knowledge base. The more you broaden your base, the more achievable your health goals. With this in mind, I encourage all state employees to learn more about their health by completing their free health assessment.
If you are a UnitedHealthcare (UHC) subscriber, go to myuhc.com and complete the on-line assessment. If you are not a United subscriber, ask your Wellness Champion for the "HealthCheck 2010" health assessment. Visit Getfitri.ri.gov for a list of department Wellness Champions.
After completing the survey, you will definitely learn more about your health. I certainly did. My number one risk factor was stress. I actually didn't feel overly stressed. In fact, I was feeling less stressed than I had been two months earlier. But the questions I answered yes to - death of a loved one in the past six months (my dad recently passed away and we were very close), buying a new home, and starting a new job - put me AT RISK for stress and identified a potential problem.
Since completing the survey, I have been practicing an on-line stress management program offered by UHC. I am certain that this knowledge prevented me from what could have been a very stressful state. (I would have really needed that stress-ball!).
Other employees like learning how their score compares with others who are the same age and gender. You not only get a score, but free programs (like the stress reduction program) to address certain risk factors that you can access at any time.
GO BACK TO SCHOOL FOR WELLNESS TODAY!
Here is a brief list of what you can do to learn more about wellness:
- Attend wellness educational events and workshops. Even though you may think you know a lot about a topic, you will be sure to learn one or two new things. And the reminders help to keep you on track.
- Go on-line on your break and find a NEW healthy recipe to cook for your family this week.
- Subscribe to a reputable wellness magazine and read it on your coffee breaks.
- Purchase a reputable wellness book and read it on breaks.
The more you know, the healthier you'll be.
Be Well!
Anne Marie Connolly
Director of Wellness,
Get Fit RI!
