Workplace Wellness in Lincoln – March 2022

Healthy behaviors and wellness opportunities in the workplace continue to be implemented in offices around the country, though it can be difficult to maintain this standard in the new day and age where more and more people are working from home. Employers may be wondering how they can continue to encourage wellness when their team members are not in the office. On the flipside, employees who work at home may be interested in ways they can continue to maintain healthy behaviors away from their office that may have provided them with encouraging amenities, such as a gym, or find themselves becoming sedentary after spending so much time in their house. We spoke to businesses and experts in our community to learn more about how we can all continue to improve wellness in the workplace, no matter where our workplace is at.

Achieve Wellness Through Hydration

IV nutrition at LIVE Hydration Spa (livehydrationspa.com) is much more than intravenous vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other nutrients. Their IV nutrition program has consistently been proven to be one of the most effective ways to improve your overall wellness. It can be beneficial in preventing illness as well as improving symptoms of those suffering from pre-existing conditions.

“LIVE can design the IV nutrition program to target specific needs, such as boosting energy, hydration, immune system improvement, improving circulation, decreasing inflammation, and improving mental focus and concentration,” said Owner Mandy Brummels. “IV therapy is a great solution for those who are looking for that extra boost to their general health or love the idea of being proactive in preventing symptoms of numerous illnesses.”

LIVE Hydration Spa welcomes private parties and groups to participate in IV therapy. This is a great way to encourage the whole office to take control of their health and wellness! For smaller groups, LIVE can even bring their IV therapy services to the workplace.

“Nutrient deficiency, such as Vitamin D, magnesium, and B vitamins can play a huge role in moods and mental health,” explained Mandy. “We offer Vitamin D and B12 injections, as well as IV treatments specifically geared towards boosting moods and the immune system, and reducing stress and anxiety. There are so many different treatment options available at LIVE – we encourage anyone who is interested to stop by and see how we can help them boost their wellness.”

Ocular Health

Premier Vision (premiervisionlincoln.com) offers many products and services that help alleviate the symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome and help our eyes work more efficiently. They have recently rolled out a new type of prescription lens called Neurolens that is specifically designed to help people who have constant headaches, eye strain, and fatigue. Plus, all of their prescription lenses come with the option of blue light protection. In some studies, blue light has been shown to increase the development of cataracts and macular degeneration.

“I ask my patients, what is the one thing you use all day that is necessary for you to be productive and effective at your job? Your eyes!” said Dan Novak, OD. “As we all spend more and more time on the screen, whether that be at work or at home, our eyes are under constant stress and strain. Computer Vision Syndrome is a real thing and is characterized by eye strain, eye pain and fatigue, dry eyes, chronic headaches, and pain in the back, neck, and shoulder areas.”

Dr. Novak encourages employers to really consider ergonomics when discussing an employee’s workstation. As an optometrist, he recommends to his patients as much natural light as possible, positioning the computer screen below the line of sight, and trying to avoid a situation where forced air is directed right at a person’s face and thus drying out the eyes. This is especially important now as more people are working from home and spending more time at the computer.

“I discuss with my patients that technology is always improving and evolving, but our eyes are the same,” said Dr. Novak. “It is essential that people consider how their eyes can affect their work and personal lives. The services and products provided at Premier Vision will enable a person to work more efficiently and productively while reducing the strain and stress that is placed on our eyes!”

Let’s Get the Workplace Moving!

The concept of going for a run or walk is quite simple – just walk out the door and you are on your way. However, as the Lincoln Running Co. (lincrunningcompany.com) pointed out, it is not easy! One way employers could encourage their office to get moving is through weekly or monthly challenges for time spent outside walking or running. Another alternative is to sign the office up as a team for a run or walk event.

“The Lincoln Running Co. has a Beginner’s Luck beginning running program that starts June 8,” shared Manager Ann Ringlein. “It runs for eight weeks, and features a speaker and a run each week. By the end of the eight weeks, the participants will be ready to complete a 5K!”

Ann explained that being consistent when beginning an exercise program is the top thing to help people stick with exercising and improve. The second most important factor is finding a group to be accountable to. The Beginner’s Luck program provides both of those things for people looking to begin a run or walk program.

“We have the time, the knowledge, the passion, and the empathy to help people get moving,” said Ann. “We want to arm our customers with everything they need to start a running or walking program for themselves. Lincoln Running Co. has everything from the equipment needed – such as shoes, socks, and apparel – to a training program they can take home with them or a walking/running class to sign up for. We take care of our customers from the ground up!”

The Lincoln Running Co. is so much more than a store that sells shoes. While it is their mission to get everyone in a great pair of shoes that make them want to exercise, Lincoln Running Co. is truly selling healthy lifestyles. Visit them today to see how they can help you encourage wellness in your workplace.

A Modern Approach to Wellness

Aceso Total Healthcare (acesototalhealth.com) is a modern approach to medicine that combines natural and traditional therapies to help their members achieve total health. The facility will decrease insurance premiums for your employees and enhance your wellness benefit program by providing employees with corporate discounts for medical services. These services also include a complimentary initial evaluation with a medical physician so they can decide on a wellness path that’s right for them. Marcia Roberts, SPHR, business manager and wellness coach at Aceso, told us more about the services they provide.

“Through a team of specialists, we provide hormone replacement therapy, acupuncture, massage therapies, movement and emotional therapies, and health coaching to keep you on track,” shared Marcia. “The path and choices of services are yours to take! We also provide live educational programs and services at your location or on Zoom.”

Marcia advises employers to practice self-awareness so that they can better understand their employees. Everyone’s story and situation is unique – so be patient, respectful, and understanding. Self-awareness is a key part of personal safety classes. Marcia’s very own Aikido of Nebraska is an example of a personal safety class that also incorporates discipline, community service, and integrity. She also encourages setting up an account specifically for your health and wellness.

“Most people save money so that they can enjoy their retirement years. This is typically an IRA or 401K,” said Marcia. “At Aceso, we encourage people to also set up an IRAH – Individual Retirement Account for your Health – so you will be healthy enough to enjoy life in your retirement years!”

Mental Wellness

Awareness for mental wellness has increased in recent years, though not everyone is getting the help that they need. In 2020, an estimated one in five adults experienced mental illness, yet 4.9 million were unable to access the care they needed. This results from a combination of inadequate resources and the stigma surrounding mental health. Choices Treatment Center (choicestreatmentcenter.com) Director Deb Hammond said the number one reason people don’t reach out for help is embarrassment, followed by time, fear, and money or lack of insurance benefits that would allow for counseling.

Clouding the entire picture is people’s poor understanding of mental illness, to the extent that they dismiss depression as feeling down and lazy, or anxiety as being over-worried, when the fact is that these symptoms actually could represent cases of clinical mental illness. The risk of downplaying the warning signs can be dangerous.

“There is absolutely no shame in having an addiction or mental-health issue,” Deb said. “If people continue to ignore signs, their condition can become far more dire and they begin to believe the misinformation and false stereotypes that they hear repeated so often. It’s important to seek help as early as possible, and we’re here to help without any judgment. I would encourage anyone who might be suffering with depression, anxiety, stress, or anger-management issues or anyone experiencing increased substance use or gambling to reach out to the community services available and keep calling until their needs are met.”

Nebraska LTC Pharmacy (neltcpharmacy.com) is a concierge pharmacy that provides individualized patient care and a “small town” level of customer service. They gave a pretty solid piece of advice for those wanting to encourage wellness in the workplace: Take care of your employees and they will take care of you and your business! Owner, Founder, and Lead Lincoln Pharmacist Shannon Hammerschmidt reminded us that our wellness is more than just our physical health, but also our mental health.

“We believe mental health is just as important for each person’s wellness,” said Shannon. “We encourage mental health to be a priority and, in our office, we offer flexibility with scheduling, breaks, resources, and support. I encourage other businesses to do the same.”

Shannon and her team thrive in their positive and upbeat environment by making time for self-care. Self-care is different for everyone; it may be taking time to relax and read a book, going for a walk outside, sleeping in on a day off, taking a break from social media, or baking a favorite treat. She also added that it is important to balance your priorities so that you are also catering to your health and fitness. A good way to make exercise a priority, for example, is to look at it like an appointment. Write it down in your planner or set up a date in your calendar to spend time focusing on your fitness.

Wellness Amenities for All Workplaces

Top Spot Cleaning & Solutions Too (topspotcleaning.com) has long been known for their quality carpet and floor-care products and services. Recently, Top Spot’s air management division began offering a solution for quality air management at an affordable price.

“Sanders Electrostatic Filters are HVAC air filters with capture rates far exceeding the EPA and ASHRAE indoor air quality guidelines of 8-10 MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value),” explained Owner Doug Neill. “Sanders Electrostatic Filters are rated at 16 MERV, which safely secure facilities and school systems. These high-efficiency particulate containment air filters remove 94% or greater of submicron particulates or more in a single pass. This innovative material represents the simplest, most cost-effective method to achieve HEPA or near HEPA indoor air quality for the first time.”

The current filters that are used in almost all residential and commercial systems are exclusively used to protect the coil of the HVAC system, providing purely a mechanical function. These filters do little to nothing to protect from the sub-micron pathogens that can travel through the HVAC system, possibly infecting people who would never come into contact.

“Most commercial and residential air filters are rated at maximum as MERV 8,” explained Doug. “Even air filters rated MERV 10 are not rated for submicron air filtration, which is the size of COVID-19, influenza, colds, measles, and viruses. A MERV level 13 air filter, which is being discussed as a new minimum standard, has only a submicron filtration efficiency rating of less than 50%. This is why Sanders Electrostatic Filters are unmatched in quality.”

Another outstanding suggestion for air purification services is Custom Cooling & Heating, Inc. (customcooling.net) They provide multiple products that can help you clean up the air in your office. One is the REME Halo LED, an LED in-duct air purification system that is both mercury-free and zero ozone compliant. The system reduces contaminants both in the air and on surfaces using REME-LED technology and bi-polar ionization. By reducing indoor pollution, the overall air quality of your workplace will greatly improve, in addition to neutralize odors and remove illness-causing biological contaminants and pollutants from the air.

The RGF Quad-DM is another product designed to purify the air of homes and commercial buildings. It reduces particulate, allergens, smoke, bacteria, viruses, and mold spores. The unit is designed to be mounted in the HVAC air handler and installed using its no-tools-required magnetic mount for quick and easy installation. The RGF Quad-DM is a good air quality solution for the budget-minded consumer.

Pure Drinking Water

Aqua Systems (ilovemywater.com) aims to provide the best water filtration systems for business. They deliver truly filtered water that can help your employees stay hydrated, safe, and healthy. Their water systems assist you in foregoing adding to the alarming environmental impact of bottled water, which is both wasteful and bad for the environment because plastic bottles take more than 1,000 years to bio-degrade and, if incinerated, produce toxic fumes. What’s more, there are more standards regulating tap water in the U.S. than bottled water, so the quality can be questionable. Aqua Systems filtered water systems can provide the best of all worlds as a solid base for your workplace wellness programs.

With Aqua Systems, you will have a reliable, cost efficient, and eco-friendly drinking water solution. You will eliminate the need for big, bulky plastic jugs, running out of water, or concerns about the cleanliness of your dispenser. No hassle – just great water for your business!

Reach out to these local professionals today to learn more about how they can help you improve wellness in your workplace, whether it’s in the office or at your home!