Wellness and well-being awareness are on the rise. About time, too! As our society gets busier, balancing family, jobs, side hustles, bank accounts, and commitments, it's becoming increasingly difficult to fit in self care.
But that's not to say it's not on people's minds.
In fact, more employees are requesting that companies take their health seriously. And not just physical health. According to Benefits Pro, 90% of employees want more emphasis on well-being over physical programs. This is mirrored by findings in the 2019 Employee Wellness Industry Trends Report from Wellable. As shared in the Trend Report, employees preferred programs that offered variety. Also,
69% of workers want wellness programs that reward healthy behavior
Variety and incentives. Check!
Now, are you wondering what the difference is between wellness and well-being? In a nutshell, wellness typically refers to physical health, while well-being is holistic. That being said, I see "wellness" being used in global health terms all the time. So explore the context of the wellness or well-being program - they might very well mean the same thing!
"How many dimensions of wellness do you know?"
If as an employee you want variety and incentives, then it's a good idea to know what programs should be available to you. Well-being/global wellness involves:
Physical
Mental (how you process information)
Financial
Spiritual
Emotional (how you express information)
Social
Environmental
Occupational
Intellectual/Creative
Washington state initiated the SmartHealth voluntary wellness program in 2015. For eligible persons, incentives includes a $25 Amazon gift card after you finish the initial well-being assessment. Plus, you get $125 in your Health Savings Account if you have PEBB medical coverage and collect 2000 wellness points by the deadline stated. The nice thing is that the wellness points are very manageable to get (I did it!) and you can link apps to your SmartHealth account to help you reach your points faster!
Check to see if your state offers a similar wellness incentive program. And whether your self-employed or company-employed, know your health. Know your worth.