Employee wellness is crucial for maintaining a healthy and productive workforce in the Tooele County School District.
When staff members are physically and mentally well,
they can better support students and contribute to a
positive learning environment.
- Taking Wellness One Step at a Time
- Recipe of the Month- September
- Activity of the Month- September
- More Free Resources
- Spanish Resources
- Wellness Insurance Incentive
- How to Use Virgin Pulse
- Wellness Calendar
Taking Wellness One Step at a Time
Embarking on a wellness journey can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into manageable steps makes it achievable and enjoyable. Start with small, consistent changes. Begin by incorporating a short daily walk into your routine, gradually increasing your activity level. Focus on hydration by drinking an extra glass of water each day.
Prioritize sleep by setting a regular bedtime and creating a calming pre-sleep routine. Introduce mindfulness practices, like deep breathing or meditation, for a few minutes each day.
Remember, wellness is a marathon, not a sprint. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small, and keep moving forward. Each step brings you closer to a healthier, happier you.
Ideas for Taking Wellness One Step at a Time
- Start Moving: Begin with a short daily walk and gradually increase your activity.
- Hydrate: Add an extra glass of water to your daily intake.
- Prioritize Sleep: Set a regular bedtime and create a calming pre-sleep routine.
- Practice Mindfulness: Spend a few minutes each day on deep breathing or meditation.
Remember, small steps lead to big changes. Celebrate your progress!
Recipe of the Month- September
Recipe of the Month from MyPlate.gov
20-Minute Chicken Creole
Makes:8 servings
Cook Time:20 minutes
This Creole-inspired dish uses chili sauce and cayenne pepper to spice it up. Tomatoes, green pepper, celery, onions and garlic spices also surround the chicken with delicious color. This main dish can be cooked on the stovetop or with an electric skillet.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (or cooking oil of choice)
- 1 pound chicken breasts, skinless, boneless
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, low-sodium
- 1 cup chili sauce
- 1 large green pepper, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions
- Wash hands with soap and water.
- Heat pan over medium-high heat (350 °F in an electric skillet). Add vegetable oil and chicken and cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F (3-5 minutes).
- Reduce heat to medium (300 °F in electric skillet).
- Add tomatoes with juice, chili sauce, green pepper, celery, onion, garlic, basil, parsley, cayenne pepper, and salt.
- Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer, covered for 10-15 minutes.
- Serve over hot, cooked rice or whole wheat pasta.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Source: Food Hero. Oregon State University Cooperative Extension Service
Activity of the Month- September
September is Self-Care Awareness Month!
Try one of these activities today:
-
Mindful Meditation: Spend 10-15 minutes each day practicing mindfulness meditation. This can help reduce stress and improve your overall mental well-being.
-
Nature Walks: Take a walk in a nearby park or nature reserve. Being in nature can boost your mood and provide a sense of calm.
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Journaling: Write down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Journaling can be a great way to process emotions and reflect on your day.
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Digital Detox: Set aside time each day to unplug from electronic devices. Use this time to read a book, engage in a hobby, or simply relax.
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Healthy Eating: Focus on nourishing your body with healthy, balanced meals. Try incorporating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into your diet.
-
Exercise: Engage in regular physical activity that you enjoy, whether it’s yoga, running, dancing, or a fitness class. Exercise can boost your energy levels and improve your mood.
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Creative Activities: Spend time on creative pursuits like drawing, painting, or crafting. Creative activities can be therapeutic and a great way to express yourself.
-
Quality Sleep: Prioritize getting enough sleep each night. Establish a bedtime routine that helps you relax and prepare for a restful night’s sleep.
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Social Connections: Spend time with friends and family, whether in person or virtually. Social connections are important for emotional support and well-being.
-
Self-Compassion: Practice being kind to yourself. Acknowledge your achievements, forgive yourself for mistakes, and treat yourself with the same compassion you would offer a friend.
More Free Resources
Sworkit Health
Sworkit provides the support and motivation people need to reach their wellness goals and take control of their health — anytime, anywhere, any age, any experience level. Download now in the App or Play Store.
Headspace
Headspace offers free access to K-12 (primary-secondary) teachers and supporting staff in the US. Visit https://www.headspace.com/educators to sign up for the app filled with guided meditations, sleepcasts, and music.
Gratitude Journal
Keeping a gratitude journal has been proven to greatly improve mental well-being. Download a free gratitude journal and begin journaling today.
YouTube
YouTube is an excellent resource for self-care, offering millions of free videos on wellness topics like meditation and yoga. One channel to check out for free is Yoga with Adriene.
Fall Into Wellness
This month-long program by the Mayo Clinic will help you build healthy habits in manageable steps. Register for free today.
Mental Well-Being Audio Guides
The NHS has created a number of free to listen to audio guides on mental wellbeing. Designed to help boost a listener’s mood, these short guides have been created with doctors and cover everything from coping mechanisms for low mood and depression to anxiety control training and confidence building.
Mindset Mentor Podcast
The Mindset Mentor is designed for anyone looking for motivation, direction and focus in life with short 20-minute episodes. Check out the episodes.
Down Dog
Down Dog gives students, school/district employees, and educators free access to most/all their apps: yoga, pilates, meditation, HIIT, Barre, and prenatal yoga.
Spanish Resources
- Atención preventiva
- Asesoría sobre la nutrición
- Cómo estresarse menos
- Consejos para un refrigerio saludable
- Dormir bien
- Healthy Beginnings
- La Grasa
- MiPlato
- Moverse más
- Prediabetes
- Presión arterial alta y la dieta DASH
- Presión arterial elevada
- Prevención de caídas y lesiones
- Quitar la sed
- Registro de la presión arterial
- Seguimiento de sus hábitos de 1 semana
- Select Health blog contenido espanol
- Tratamiento para la presión arterial alta
- Viva bien, coma bien
- United Way - 211
Wellness Insurance Incentive
Tooele County School District, in partnership with SelectHealth, provides opportunities for
employees to engage in healthy activities throughout the year. Tooele County School District
supports all employees in reaching their personal health and wellness related goals and
encourages employees to participate in the SelectHealth Share wellness offerings.
By completing the wellness activities listed in the wellness program employee engagement
tasklist by the given deadlines, all insured employees can avoid paying a premium differential of $100 extra/month for the 2025-2026 plan year.
Employees have a chance to remove the premium differential by completing ALL the wellness activities listed below by December 31, 2024 and letting Kamille Ortiz know by January 5th, 2025. Once you have completed the activities and let Kamille know, the differential will be removed the following month.
Wellness Program Employee Engagement Tasklist:
1. Attend a workplace health education and screening event or complete a preventative exam from a physician by December 31st, 2024
2. Complete the online Health Check (Health Assessment) on the Virgin Pulse portal by December 31st, 2024
3. Successfully participate and record results in Virgin Pulse for one Activity Campaign/Challenge by December 31st, 2024
4. Complete one or more digital health coaching “Journeys” on the Virgin Pulse portal by April 30th, 2025
5. Successfully participate and record results in Virgin Pulse for a second activity campaign/challenge by April 30th, 2025
*Some SelectHealth Share employees have additional measured engagements to complete
(based on age, gender, medical history, or risk factors). These do not count towards the
Tooele County School District premium differential but are tied to Select Health provided
incentives.
** For a full list of the detailed Share program engagements, please refer to
https://selecthealth.org/share/employees
Please note: Employees who did not complete the 2023/2024 wellness activities by June 30th
2024, will pay $100 extra/month for medical premiums, beginning September 1st, 2024.
If you are unable to participate in any of the health-related activities required to earn an
incentive, you may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting Kamille Ortiz, 435-
833-1900 x 1103, kortiz@tooeleschools.org .
How to Use Virgin Pulse
Wellness Calendar
September 2024
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday, September 1
Monday, September 2
Tuesday, September 3
Wednesday, September 4
Thursday, September 5
Friday, September 6
Saturday, September 7
Sunday, September 8
Monday, September 9
Tuesday, September 10
Wednesday, September 11
Thursday, September 12
Friday, September 13
Saturday, September 14
Sunday, September 15
Monday, September 16
Tuesday, September 17
Wednesday, September 18
Thursday, September 19
Friday, September 20
Saturday, September 21
Sunday, September 22
Monday, September 23
Tuesday, September 24
Wednesday, September 25
Thursday, September 26
Friday, September 27
Saturday, September 28
Sunday, September 29
Monday, September 30
Tuesday, October 1
Wednesday, October 2
Thursday, October 3
Friday, October 4
Saturday, October 5
Calendar & Category Legend:
- Wellness
To receive email reminders from the calendar (staff only):
- Click the orange bell icon in the upper right corner.
- Log in via the pop up window using your full district email address and click Next.
- Close pop up window once you have logged in.
- Click the orange bell icon again.
- Select the Wellness Calendar.
- Set Alert Settings.
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