12 New Year’s Resolutions for Wellness Coordinators

We’ve probably all thought about our personal resolutions for 2010.

But have you considered doing the same for your wellness program? Here are some smart monthly suggestions to help keep the focus on good health all year long!

January: Remind employees about the importance of preventive screenings. A thorough exam by a primary care physician and the accompanying lab tests (cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar) may be the biggest bargains in health care.

February is American Heart Month. Focus on heart health with posters and brochures, or kick off a walking program. One of the best ways to get the heart fit is aerobic exercise.

March: Celebrate Nutrition Month by offering fresh fruit in the break room and holding a healthful recipe contest.

April: Celebrate Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. Have kids “interview” their parents and other employees about workplace health.

May: Honor mothers by reviewing your maternity and other family-friendly policies. It can help take stress and distraction away for working parents—improving productivity and morale.

June: Time to honor dad! Ask your local urology practices if they can provide literature on prostate cancer screening or benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).

July: Consider adjusting schedules to help employees feel they are able to take vacations. Vacations reduce stress, thereby reducing the chance of health problems.

August (or any sunny month, for that matter): Educate employees about skin cancer screening. Check out the American Academy of Dermatology for free screenings in your area.

September: Focus on cholesterol, which is a number one killer in men and women. Invite your workplace fitness center or an area church or school to co-sponsor a free cholesterol screening.

October: Encourage flu vaccinations! Late October through November is the best time to get a shot because it allows one’s system time to build antibodies to the virus.

November: Mark Thursday the 18th, on your 2010 Year of Good Health calendar. That’s the day of the Great American Smokeout, a perfect time to support smokers’ and other tobacco users’ efforts to quit.

December: Keep facial tissues throughout the workplace. Preventing the spread of droplets from sneezes and coughs—along with frequent hand washing—is a solid defense against absenteeism from colds.

It’s never too late to plan for a healthier year.