Contributed by Laura R. Novakowski
Why is our health always the last consideration? It seems that most often we plan vacations and parties. Next, we plan for schools, careers and retirement? However, studies too
numerous to mention indicate that most people don’t proactively plan for health until they are struck by a disease. 
Now, consider this…
Building a Well Workplace: Six Reasons Why Health Promotion Makes Good Business Sense
Source: WELCOA – http://www.welcoa.org/wellworkplace/index.php?cat=1&page=1
- REASON #1: Although we spend more dollars on health care than any other industrialized nation, our citizens are not the worlds healthiest.
- REASON #2: Much of the illness in the US is directly preventable.
- REASON #3: Healthcare costs are an issue of significant concern.
- REASON #4: The work-site is an ideal setting to address health and well-being.
- REASON #5: Recent empirical research validates that health promotion programs can improve health, save money and even produce a return on investment.
- REASON #6: More and more companies are building world-class wellness programs.
Finding the Right Tools Finding the right resources, products and services now seem significantly more important. The right tools don’t have to be costly. In fact, the costs of them are significantly lower than the cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and medications. Here are the three most obvious tools:
Medical Profession – Tradition health care is still an invaluable tool. Annual visits to a health professional are less costly than Emergency Room visits. Physicians, Nurses, Therapists, Dietitians are a resource that needs to be carefully selected and a positive relationship developed and nurtured to help overcome present and prevent future health issues Complementary & Alternative
Health – According to National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, complementary and alternative medicines are “The array of health care approaches with a history of use or origins outside of mainstream medicine.” Focusing on symptom relief, complimentary and alternative medicine covers the spectrum with a focus on integrative medicine, natural products and mind/body practices. Generally, it is best when these services are designed to support traditional medicine to help reduce and eliminate stress and increase physical and mental resilience.
The Person– Health can no longer be an observer sport. Personal leadership, management and accountability are the key. This doesn’t mean that we need to go it alone. It does mean that we need to want health more than we want disease. We need to actively engage with first ourselves and then to proactively engage with those professionals and services that can help us plan and live a life focused on health, not disease. 
Call to Take Action
Now is the time to take ownership and make a plan for health. Start by answering three simple, but not easy questions:
- Why is health important to me?
- What am I willing to do to be healthy?
- How do I start?
If you are struggling to answer these questions, check out the site, http://healthpromotionassociates.com/. Health Promotions Associates is a company that is committed to help individuals and organizations focus on health and not disease.
Laura R. Novakowski, President, Positive Power Strategies, Inc. & Co-founder of 720 Thinking
