By Kris Rich, NBC-HWC, CPT, CET
Here we are, Fall of 2020. What can already be a busy season with challenging schedules in all other years, is even more frantic and confusing this year due to COVID-19. Between kids’ changing school schedules and new work-from-home routines, it can all feel overwhelming.
For many of us, our homes have become our workplace as well as a classroom for our kids. We are figuring out how to make sure our kids are keeping up with schoolwork, while we keep up with meetings and productivity in our professional lives — all under the same roof.
No matter your role professionally and personally, we are all in the midst of uncharted territory this fall. Maintaining a routine for ourselves, let alone our families, is more challenging than ever. The balance is different this year. How can we manage getting our work done, helping our kids learn, meal planning, house cleaning — let alone exercise?
Often, the first thing that comes to mind when you say the words wellness or “wellbeing” is physical health – diet and exercise. But wellbeing also encompasses emotional health as well as many other aspects including social, environmental and financial. All aspects are equally important, but the challenges of 2020 have demonstrated that more than ever.
Workplace wellbeing especially has taken on a whole new meaning this year. When we think about “workplace wellbeing,” some things that come to mind are probably actually leaving your home and going to the office, packing your lunch, in-person camaraderie with coworkers, and perhaps participating in an activity challenge. While some of those things seem out of reach currently, they don’t all have to be impossible.
How else can you imagine workplace wellbeing in your current office space? What are some ways you imagine family wellbeing while all operating under the same roof for school, work and play?
One surprising answer may be your health insurance plan. Many health insurance companies, including Priority Health, offer wellness resources for their members. These resources are meant to help improve you and your family’s overall wellbeing — whether it be improving your financial literacy or turning your home into a healthier environment.
Resources that are included in wellness plans can span from free access to apps that normally require a subscription, to one-on-one health coaching with a certified professional. Check with your employer or health insurance company to see what kind of perks may be available to you.
For example, Priority Health offers PriorityWell – a collection of wellbeing products which allows companies to choose a package that’s perfect for their current health situation, size and budget. Employers are able to choose from things like:
- Personalized programs and tools to help employees improve their health or battle chronic conditions such as diabetes
- Online wellness webinars
- Web-based lifestyle wellbeing programs
- Individual health coaching
- Financial wellness tools
- Inspirational programming
- Meditation and mindfulness digital tools
- And much more
The goal of these wellness offerings is to help employers deliver targeted programs that effectively improve employee physical and emotional health while also improving workplace morale and reducing overall health care costs. It’s not surprising that healthy employees are happy employees — especially when their employer provides them with resources to help them get and stay well.
When you reflect on all you’ve learned so far in 2020, feelings may run the gamut between spending more quality time with family to financial struggles and managing emotional health. During this crazy fall season, look into what wellness resources your employer may be offering to help you stay safe, healthy and well in 2020.
Learn more about Priority Health’s business health insurance plans and wellness plan offerings here.
About the author: Kristina Rich, NBC-NWC, CPT, CET is a nationally-certified health and wellness coach at Priority Health. She works with members to help them develop a personalized plan for their own health and wellbeing based on what is realistic and beneficial. Kristina is also a certified personal trainer and cancer exercise trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine.
