CommonHealth Wellnote

July 16, 2024 / Get Well

How can your Virginia State Employee Wellness Program help? The CommonHealth programs and campaigns cover a variety of health topics and are available in a range of formats to meet the needs of different workplaces. Highly skilled wellness consultants provide the latest on stress, sleep, nutrition, exercise and more for faculty/staff meetings, special events, conferences, benefit fairs, safety meetings, lunch and learns, etc. They provide traditional, in-person presentations and displays as well as virtual presentations, on-demand videos and seasonal health-related challenges that are fun and engaging. Visit the website to see how CommonHealth can help you. If you’re looking to book an event in August, connect sooner rather than later to ensure you get a date that works for you.

  • Click here to view this week’s CommonHealth Wellnote and check out the highlights below!

NOTES:

  • Summer is in full swing! We’re seeing record temperatures across the country, so it’s critical that we make skin health a top priority as we enjoy outdoor summer activities. Broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 is a great everyday option to protect your skin from sunburn, signs of aging and cancer. Consider a higher SPF if you’re spending time outdoors, especially at the beach, in the mountains or on the water. Wearing protective clothing such as shirts, pants and hats can also help protect your skin from harmful UV rays. (Some clothes are even certified in UV protection!) Read this CDC article for more tips on protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Burnalong, an employee wellness group, has a summer essentials kit with information on how to focus on your wellness this season.
  • Part of maintaining good skin health is self-screening at home. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. According to skincancer.org, an average of 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer EVERY DAY! Self-screening is an effective way to detect any potentially cancerous growths. Download this body mole map to help you keep track of your skin health. And check out this Sentara handout, which includes additional information on early cancer screenings.
  • Kaiser Permanente has put together a four-part virtual series for caregivers. Subjects covered include caring for loved ones, owning your time as a caregiver, coping with caregiving responsibilities and mindful caregiving. Anyone can attend regardless of whether they are a Kaiser member. Sessions will take place on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon through August 1. Participation in all four classes is not required. The next session, “Owning Your Time as a Caregiver,” is scheduled for Thursday, July 18, at 11 a.m. Register here.
  • Even with temperatures soaring, movement and exercise remain critical to our overall wellness. To stay cool, move your fitness routine indoors during peak hours. OnTheSquareVA is a program designed to engage Virginia state employees with their coworkers through recreational, educational and social events. A virtual chair yoga session will take place on Wednesday, July 17, at 11:30 a.m. Participants should have a stationary chair or one with wheels that lock into place. Click here to register!

For questions regarding this week’s communication or the CommonHealth program, please reach out to your respective campus coordinator below:

Stock photo of sunflowers against a brilliant blue summer sky. At the bottom of the photo is a black band with white text that reads "CommonHealth Wellnote."

 

Submitted by: 
Faith Redd-Walker, Office of Employee Wellness and Wellbeing, employeewellbeing@nvcc.edu