March 2024 Innovator Spotlight

I joined the Buckeye Wellness Innovator program in 2018 because I was on the culture team for ASC Technology Services, and it was difficult to organize events without any outside support. Joining the program expanded my awareness about many different OSU resources, including YP4H, Buckeye Wellness, Employee Assistance Program, and more. I was really inspired by Bernadette Melnyk and invited her to present at our all-staff meeting so everyone could become aware of wellness resources.

There are a lot of people going through mental health and substance dependencies, especially after the COVID-19 years. Not everyone has an adequate support system outside of work, and it feels important to provide them with encouragement and guide them towards OSU resources that have helped me personally in the past.

I lead a lifestyle centered around yoga and meditation, which incorporates all ten aspects of wellness in various ways. Prioritizing the well-being of both mind and body within a supportive community enriches every aspect of life, so I actively promote this philosophy to my colleagues and encourage them to embrace this way of living. I frequently organize events focused on yoga, meditation, and music for my colleagues, fostering an environment of exploration and personal growth. Additionally, I collaborate with YP4H to showcase these events on the YP4H wellness calendar.

I've found that planning events doesn't actually require much time. Joining Buckeye Wellness grants access to a network of people and resources, allowing you to simply fill out a web form or email a Buckeye Wellness contact to initiate an event. It's straightforward. Numerous high-quality wellness events and programs can be arranged simply by asking. Most are free, eliminating the need to navigate administrative hurdles typically associated with organizing catering and similar logistics.

A major obstacle is convincing people to allocate time in their day to attend an event. It becomes discouraging when zero, one, or two people show up. Attendance fluctuates; sometimes events are well-attended, while other times, nobody comes. I've learned to persist without getting disheartened, understanding that people are simply busy and it's nothing personal.

I'm deeply honored to have the support of our top leadership for my ideas and those of other BWIs. I feel empowered to make a meaningful contribution to our workplace culture.

Some people are reluctant to do extra activities, such as the Buckeye Wellness Innovator program, because they are not part of the core job duties. Without leadership support for wellness, people may feel like they would get in trouble for not doing enough work. That's not what we're about at OSU. The opposite is true because a stressful workplace culture would cause people to burn out and leave their jobs, which creates extra work for everyone.

Our senior leadership is committed to fostering a culture centered on wellness, belonging, diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. We recently dedicated an hour of our all-staff meeting for training about emotional intelligence. Our core values encompass respect, innovation, partnership, trust, and diversity.

I can't imagine how different my life would be without Buckeye Wellness. I've had life-changing experiences with teachers and mentors that I met through the program. Engaging in various courses such as Health Athlete, Mindfulness In Motion, Sahaj Samadhi, Mindstrong, Mental Health First Aid Certification, SKY Breathing Course, and Lunchtime Yoga has given me the tools I need to live a happy and meaningful life. I feel like I'm living my truth now and it wouldn't be like that if I were just doing spreadsheets and email all day, every day.

My dream would be that nobody feels like they have to go it alone with mental health or substance dependency. I was fortunate to have support from coworkers when I was struggling, and now I want to pay that forward and ensure that nobody slips through the cracks without receiving assistance. We have to work together so we can reach everyone.

I believe the most crucial method for cultivating culture is to bring your authentic self to work and openly share your passions with others. Inviting colleagues to attend events or forwarding an email from Bernadette Melnyk could be life-changing for someone, and you may never realize the extent of the impact you have on others. Being your authentic self is the most important thing.