WELLNESS AT WORK (& BEYOND) - JANUARY 2011

January.  The first month of the new year, a theoretical fresh start/clean slate/beginning of limitless possibilities.  At USKH, we’re kicking it off with our annual Wellness program.  The program began three years ago when USKH recognized the importance of preventive maintenance in reducing overall healthcare costs (i.e. biannual teeth cleanings and a yearly check-up can help catch and address dental problems early, ideally keeping us from major dentistry later in life) and that since we spend 40+ hours here a week, investing in our general health (mental and physical) is the right thing to do. Here’s the best part:  it actually works!  Everyone participates at the level they’re comfortable with. Employees have lost weight, identified chronic diseases early, learned stress management, and some have even competed in their first ever triathlon. 

This year, USKH-ers are participating in Sonic Boom: Breaking the Barriers to Wellness (www.sonicboomwellness.com).   This program involves wearing a ped (Sonic Boom’s term for a souped up pedometer) on your shoe that tracks your activity and wirelessly uploads the information into your own personal website.  It includes daily fitness challenges, information about eating a healthy diet, and an online wellness assessment.  This information, combined with USKH’s annual health fair where employees can opt for low cost blood tests, check blood pressure, and even enjoy a massage, will help each one of us gain the tools we need to determine our overall level of health and discover where we need to focus for increased wellness.

USKH’s commitment to wellness extends beyond the company, and we recognize that supporting our community can have a big impact. In fact, last year USKH sponsored Olympian Holly Brooks as she headed to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver to represent the United States Cross Country Ski Team.  She kept us updated on life inside the Olympic Village and shared some unique tidbits – for example, Olympians have access to dentists, optometrists, and other medical professionals… for FREE.  Many athletes from other countries don’t have regular access to these services and take advantage of everything they can. After that peek into another world, I’m very, very thankful to have a great benefits package and work for a company that actually invests in my health.

Apart from the perspective on healthcare and Olympic updates, Holly has kept in touch with us throughout the year, giving us an inside look at life as an athlete.  It’s inspiring to see someone – who just over a year ago wasn’t ready to give voice to her Olympic dream – not only achieve it, but keep going – Holly just won her first National Championship this weekend (you can read about it here http://www.adn.com/2011/01/02/1628803/alaska-skier-wins-1st-national.html).  As she says, “Acknowledge, confront, and vocalize your dreams without fear of failure.”  We’re not all going to make the Olympics.  But nothing is stopping us from identifying our goals and going after them until we achieve success. (If you want to learn more about Holly and her adventures, you can follow her blog here: http://www.hollyskis.blogspot.com/.)

So what does all of this talk of wellness and goals and dreams have to do with being a multi-disciplined design firm?  Better health brings happiness and productivity, both as an individual and as a company.  We approach our design work with increased enthusiasm and creativity when we’re operating at a high level of wellness, and that enthusiasm rubs off on clients and peers.  Our wellness benefits ourselves, our coworkers, our clients, and the community.

Want to learn more about USKH’s Corporate Wellness Program?  I’d love to share tips and swap stories.  Contact me at gwieman@uskh.com.

“So many people spend their health gaining wealth, and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health.” – A.J. Reb Materi