What does well-being mean to you?

"I'm so excited for the Step Challenge - bring it on baby..."

- Christel Gardiner on being part of ConneXu's latest 'move' challenge for well-being.

Every one of us has the right to a life of well-being - but what does well-being mean to you?

For ConneXu, a key pillar of our philosophy is ensuring our people - both those we support and our team members - have exactly that. Good lives that have meaning to them.

But, we first have to figure out what that well-being looks like. What things do we need in our lives for wellness, and how do we integrate better well-being into our lives?

The WellConneX team is a group of staff and those we support who have come together with the goal of both answering these questions, and then achieving this aim for our people.

Late last year this team undertook a survey that was sent out to individuals supported or employed by ConneXu to establish what people’s priorities were around well-being. There was a brilliant uptake from the ConneXu community on this survey – an 85% completion rate.

The key findings were that the ConneXu community would first like to improve three areas of their lives: physical health, healthy eating and mental health. Therefore, these areas will be the WellConneX group’s lead priorities.

WellConneX is already well into the project, with an annual calendar set up with an activity target around well-being planned every month. In March the ConneXu Step Challenge was part of the physical activity target ('Move for March'). Both Christel (image above) and Te (left) were two of the many excited participants. April’s focus is ‘Health and Safety Awareness’, and May will be the start of annual health checks for everyone, as well as ‘Pink Shirt Day’, where people will paint shirts and have a fashion show.

ABOVE: Te enjoyed being part of ConneXu’s ‘Move for March’ Step Challenge.

(For those that don’t know, Pink Shirt Day is about creating a community where all people feel safe, valued and respected, regardless of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability or cultural background. See www.pinkshirtday.org.nz/about/ to find out more.)

ABOVE: T-shirt designers for Pink Shirt Day enjoy showing off their creations on the runway.

In addition to the monthly move activities, weekly group walks are done in Tauranga and Te Awamutu on Monday or Friday for those interested in meeting new people, getting out and about, and improving fitness. If you are interested in joining in or finding out more, please get in touch with Kelly Smith at kellysmith@connexu.nz.

Also coming up in the calendar is a fun Well-being Day being held on Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th May in Matamata. As well as a surprise activity, this day will include interesting and motivating presentations on how to get yourself moving, a mindfulness session, and a cooking demonstration. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Laura at laura@connexu.nz or Kelly, otherwise, we look forward to seeing you there!

Watch this space, as well as the ConneXu Facebook page, for more on what the WellConneX team have planned to support the well-being of our people.