Creating Your Wellness Dream Team  

What does your Wellness Dream Team look like? Sandy Campbell, wellness coordinator for Affinity Health System--a WELCOA Gold Well Workplace--shares her insight on how to create a winning team.

"The goal is to develop a cohesive group of wellness ambassadors," Sandy says. Aim to get all of these players on the roster:

Strategic Planning Wellness Team--This is the "coaching squad" designed to oversee wellness efforts. At Affinity, this team is comprised of representatives from HR, Benefits, Network Health, and the Wellness department. "Leadership, from the CEO on down, has to be in the game," Sandy says. Affinity's oversight committee has been in place for ten years.

Wellness Champions--These are the "go-to" people throughout the workplace. If your organization is large or multi-faceted, Sandy recommends having at least one representative from each facility or department. Affinity's Wellness Champions have been in place for two years--a fairly recent development that has made a major impact on wellness participation.

Responsibilities of the Wellness Champions include:

• Take an active role in wellness programs, serving as an example to co-workers.
• Post wellness promotional materials at their work site.
• Discuss wellness activities in department meetings.

Sandy and her Wellness department team members put considerable effort into training Wellness Champions. They are educated on why wellness matters, as well as on the details of all wellness programs and services available to employees.

A major key to success, Sandy says, is to meet regularly. "Meeting on a regular basis for planning and strategizing, rather than just the occasional pow-wow as programs come up, tends to keep things on target," she says. The Affinity Wellness Champions meet at least every other month via teleconference. Sandy organizes two calls at different times in order to accommodate varying schedules.

"Wellness is not just another committee or activity," Sandy says. "At Affinity, it's a way of life. Make wellness a part of your culture, and great things will happen." 

On the Rebound
 How to bounce back from a personal crisis 

A scary diagnosis. A relationship break-up. Loss of a loved one. The fight for your life. Whether physical or emotional, we're easily sent reeling when crisis strikes. But be encouraged--you can rebound from trials.

"Give yourself time to heal, but not to get stuck in self-pity," says Donna Schmitz, Affinity EAP counselor. "You choose your emotions. Decide to be optimistic and use this event as an opportunity to re-evaluate and make positive changes in your life."

Barb Viste-Johnson, Behavioral Health care coordinator for the Affinity Medical Home in Kaukauna, outlines this three-step process for coping with crisis.

1. Acknowledge feelings. "Everyone's reaction is different," Barb says, "but they're all completely normal." Find a confidant who will listen without judgment.

2. Learn and take an active role. Particularly when facing a medical diagnosis, Barb says knowledge is power. "Ask questions. The more you know, the more control you'll feel and better manage your fear," she advises.

3. Take it in stride. It's easy to become consumed by a chronic illness or emotional crisis. Feeling uncertain, sad, or worried is all a normal part of the process. But, Barb says, "Don't forget to live! Your chronic condition is only part of who you are, and it's important to nurture other aspects of yourself."

Donna and Barb agree the key to rebounding is reaching out. "Don't isolate," Donna urges. "Build a support system of family and friends." The following tips can also help you gain hope and energy for bouncing back.

• Ask for what you need. "It eliminates the responsibility from others of having to figure it out," Barb says.
   
• Get enough rest, but not too much. Excessive sleep or avoiding activity can lead to depression.
   
• Eat healthy. Many people lose weight during an emotional crisis. "I encourage people to eat with others as often as they can," Donna says.
   
• Help someone else. "It can put your own problems in perspective," Barb says.

When you face trials of many kinds, working through the process can be therapeutic. "In coping with crisis," Barb says, "you can find strength you didn't know you had."