Several months ago, we may have all thought that by September, things would be back to normal. Now that we’ve seen how the pandemic has progressed, some companies may be preparing to go back to the office while many others are still working from home.
August has always been a transition month. Whether it’s squeezing in one last vacation, wrapping up summer projects or planning back-to-school schedules with kids, August has been a month where we have become accustomed to getting ready for the fall season.
This year may look a bit different for many. As we wait to see what the future holds, now is a good time to re-evaluate your health, and we don’t just mean your physical health. Instead, we urge everyone to revisit their holistic health.
What is holistic wellness?
The term, holistic wellness, has become increasingly popular among health experts as we continue to see evidence that a number of factors affect health outcomes.
This conversation began as early as 1948 when the World Health Organization (WHO) was the first to define health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.”
In 2005, WHO formed the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) to determine the social factors that lead to ill health and health inequities. Today, those factors are known as the determinants of health, which include genetics, behavior, environmental and physical influences, medical care and social factors.
Health experts often look at these social factors in combination with other areas of wellness. The National Wellness Institute (NWI) states there are six dimensions of wellness including emotional, occupational, physical, social, intellectual, and spiritual. But what does wellness mean? NWI defines it as “an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence.”
MyAdvisor’s approach to holistic wellness
When we review holistic wellness with a patient, we follow NWI’s definition which involves first becoming aware, and second, making choices.
For example, when we enroll a new client, we walk through a holistic wellness questionnaire. From that questionnaire, we develop a plan that focuses on tangible results. Here’s a breakdown of our process.
Whenever we first come into contact with a client, there is usually a desired outcome they want to focus on – such as sleeping or eating better.
The answer to these problems isn’t always simple or clear. That’s why we carefully triage and assess the root cause of a problem by looking more closely at daily routines and habits.
Reflecting on the social determinants of health, there may be external social factors that we can’t change. In that case, our coaches determine how to best address the problem within the client’s control.
Each client is provided a customized plan that clearly identifies a goal and a timeline that not only measure progress, but provides encouragement every time a new milestone is accomplished.
After we diagnose the problem, we continue to work closely with our patients to help them stay on top of their progress. After working with our care coordinators who are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year, 98% of our clients have reported a higher life satisfaction score.
Re-evaluate your holistic wellness
To help you begin thinking about your holistic wellness journey, we share eight steps to get started.
Coronavirus has certainly shed light on the critical need for all types of health care. While we offer these steps as a way to get started, we stress the importance of working with a licensed medical professional. That’s why our patients have direct communication to a wide range of medical health professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, registered nurses and other clinical professionals.
Want to learn more about our services? MyAdvisor contracts with companies looking to offer these kinds of services to its employees. Contact us to learn more.