October 2024 BWI Spotlight

Jane Arnold, Leslie Beary and Ellen Farrell; The Ohio State University at Marion

Congratulations to the October BWI spotlight, Jane Arnold, Leslie Beary and Ellen Farrell from the Marion campus. Most recently, they received grant funding from the Building Resilience and Inclusive Communities through Marion Public Health. They used the money to install 18 kiosks all around the walking paths on campus. Each month, they highlight one dimension of wellness and include tips and techniques to enhance that area of life. These three also created an “Exhale Room” where faculty and staff can engage in “recovery” from their stressful day with self-guided relaxation (bean bag chairs, yoga mats/blocks, exercise bands/balls, essential oil diffuser, nature sounds, etc.). Leslie, Ellen and Jane also visit departments with a Wellness Cart that includes infused water and healthy snacks to enjoy throughout the day. 

 

Read more about their efforts

Question
Why did you join the Buckeye Wellness Innovator program?

Answer

Leslie: I have a general interest in wellness and the power we have over our own bodies.  The BWI program includes a lot of great people who foster social wellness and many wonderful opportunities.

Ellen: I was thrilled to be able to bring wellness initiatives to my co-workers.  On a regional, I feel it is a great mix of helping them learn systems and programs already set up, and coming up with activities we can do here that are in-person and reflecting the needs of our regional staff and faculty. 

Jane: I joined the Buckeye Wellness Innovator program on our campus as I have always personally been heavily involved with several of the dimensions of Wellness. I am passionate about incorporating exercise and good nutrition into each day and being intentional about learning new ideas and ways to improve my well-being. To that end, it made sense to join the team and assist with helping the faculty and staff on the Marion campus to consider and learn about what steps they can take to improve their overall wellness. 

Question
Why is being a Buckeye Wellness Innovator important to you?

Answer

L: I believe in lifting others up and encouraging them to find their best self.  This process takes time and providing consistent wellness messaging will support someone’s journey when they are ready.

E: I love the support we get from your office re: ideas, time together, resources.  It makes this process really fun. 

J: Being a Buckeye Wellness Innovator continues to be important to me when I hear about success stories from the individuals on our campus. Seeing others take small steps, that often lead to big gains toward better wellness reminds me of the importance of setting good examples and providing opportunities to connect and motivate others to continue to challenge themselves toward better Wellness in all areas of life.

Question
Share a few ways you are embracing the 10 dimensions of wellness and providing opportunities for faculty/staff to engage in activities.

Answer

L: Most recently, we received grant funding from the Building Resilience and Inclusive Communities through Marion Public Health.  We used the money to install 18 kiosks all around the walking paths on campus.  Each month, we highlight one dimension of wellness and include tips and techniques to enhance that area of life for the reader.  We also created an “Exhale Room” where faculty and staff can engage in “recovery” from their stressful day with self-guided relaxation (bean bag chairs, yoga mats/blocks, exercise bands/ball, essential oil diffuser, nature sounds, etc.). We also have a Wellness Cart that we surprise a department with that includes infused water and healthy snacks to enjoy throughout the day.

Question
With so many competing priorities while at work, it can be difficult to find time to plan wellness activities for faculty/staff. How do you find time to prioritize wellness and come up with new or innovative ideas for wellness activities?

Answer

L: There are three BWIs on the Marion campus.  We meet quarterly to share ideas and establish a calendar of events for the following semester.  We look at ways to use the resources available.  Within the Marion community, we have partnered with a local chiropractor’s office that volunteers to come to campus quarterly and give 10-minute neck/shoulder massages for faculty & staff.  We also had someone from the community come to campus for a Tai Chi demonstration.  We use recorded wellness talks from Ohio State and offer “View, Chew, & Chat” monthly. We gather a group, watch the wellness video while eating lunch and then discuss the wellness message.  We also coordinate with the OSU wellness coaches to offer a Marion campus-specific group coaching series.

E: We attend your trainings; Leslie has applied for grants from your office and local Marion opportunities.  We meet before each semester to plan our activities and try to keep the activities that are tried and true and popular with our staff and faculty, and we come up with new ideas and new programs each year. 

Question
How have you overcame barriers to engaging colleagues in your wellness efforts during the workday?

Answer

L: This is still a challenge, but I think consistency is key.  We try to approach wellness and the 10 dimensions with the mindset that there is something for everyone.  Not everyone is ready for physical challenges, but can we engage them around another dimension of wellness?  We slowly draw them in.  Before the pandemic, we started a Wellness Warrior Walking team.  The 4th Thursday-Sunday of the month, team members track all activity, convert it into miles then report in the group email, sharing outcomes, photos, and words of encouragement for each other.  We talk about this team in every staff meeting and continually invite new people to join in the low-pressure fun!

E: We know that personal invitation is key. We bring up our programs in every day conversation and make sure to advertise a lot. 

Question
Has your leadership embraced wellness and/or your role as a BWI?

Answer

L: Our campus dean and director, Greg Rose has been a wonderful example and leader regarding wellness.  He joins the various team challenges, leads our Take a Lap event, and attends our Wellness Lunch and Learns.

E: I think it is important to model this.  I am a member of a yoga studio  and decided to bring a class to our campus a few years ago that was focused on meditation for staff, faculty and students.  It has been a big hit. 

Question
Why is it important for leaders to embrace and model wellness behavior and your role as a BWI?

Answer

L: Getting that level of support from the top normalizes the culture of wellness on campus and indicates this is who we are and what we do.  It says, this topic matters and it should matter to all of us.

E: Others may see you following through and realize that wellness is not as hard as they think! 

Question
How do your leaders model wellness behavior?

Answer

L: Attending the wellness events, sending emails announcing wellness events, leading the Take a Lap event, joining wellness challenges, etc.

Question
What benefits have you seen or experienced, personally or professionally, as a result of the program?

Answer

L: Personally, a couple of years ago, I engaged in a wellness transformation that took about 1 year.  All my biometrics improved and generally, I feel better!  Professionally, it has also encouraged me to move out of my comfort zone and strive for more.

E: Being a BWI has definitely kept me focused on paying attention to various areas of wellness.  It helps to keep me motivated and learn new areas of interest.  

Question
you could accomplish anything as a Buckeye Wellness Innovator team, what would your dream be?

Answer

L: I would love to increase the number of participants.  It is exciting to see when someone on our campus becomes enthusiastic about wellness and begins their transformation.  I would also love to host something like a 5K on our campus that would benefit a charity like the Buckeye Food Alliance on the Marion campus that would promote wellness all-round.

Question
What advice would you pass on to other Buckeye Wellness Innovators to help them create a culture of wellness in their department?

Answer

L: Stay the course.  If wellness matters to you, keep talking about it and promoting it.  Utilize the resources available to you.  “Steal” ideas from other amazing BWIs!  Partner with leadership in your department or area.  Have fun and model this for others!

E: Be encouraging of others and tell them WHY you are implementing the programs that you are.  It is good to ask co workers what they would like to see as well.