WELLNESS PLANS AND HOW THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE

What Is A Wellness Action Plan?

A Wellness Action Plan (WAP) is a tailored and personalised strategy outlining the individual’s goals, future activities, potential resources, coping strategies,  and practices to support and promote their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Often, but not exclusively, used in workplaces to help establish healthy habits, reduce stress, and prevent physical or mental illness.

A WAP is a fantastic way for an individual to note down, using a structured framework, what helps them to stay mentally and physically well. The WAP often includes strategies around physical exercise, balanced and healthy nutrition, stress management strategies, realistic goals, and other life-enhancing actions, together with (if appropriate) a plan for seeking medical attention and how they want to be supported if, and when, necessary. The WAP is individualised and completed during a self-assessment, enabling the individual to take control of their well-being and contribute to a better quality of life.

Upon completion of the WAP, a structured conversation about the individual’s mental health and well-being between the manager and the employee, or supervisor and supervisee, or across teams, is highly recommended and with the aid of the structured Plan, much easier.

Benefits of a Wellness Plan for Self and Others

A Wellness Action Plan helps everyone to understand each other’s needs, what factors can contribute to every individual’s mental ill health, and what, ultimately, preventative action can and should be taken.

Prevention and early intervention result in far greater overall well-being in all, rather than a tool only for individuals suffering from mental ill health. It helps the Manager to support their people, and it helps employees to fully communicate their needs, creating a healthier environment for all.

Below are some example questions that could be included within a Wellness Action Plan (provided by iHasco.co.uk). Once the Wellness Action Plan has been completed, it should be shared and discussed with the Line Manager.

Wellness Action Plan

What helps you stay mentally healthy at work?

What can your manager do to support you?

Is there anything that triggers poor mental health at work for you?

What support do you need to help avoid these triggers?

How does poor mental health affect you at work?

What are your warning signs?

What steps can you take to improve things, and should your manager be aware of this?

Is there anything about your working style or personality that it’s worth your manager knowing about?

Is there anything else you’d like to share?