Meeting addresses ways to strike a healthy medium.

By CHRISTAN M. THOMAS Press Business Writer cthomas@johnsoncitypress.com

Finding balance in one’s professional and personal life is a challenge for all working adults — especially when health and wellness are concerned.

The American Society for Training and Development East Tennessee Chapter tackled that subject during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday at the Centre at Millennium Park. Panelists on the topic of achieving health and wellness included Judy Rasnake, director of Wellcare with Wellmont; Dr. Marilyn Bishop, medical director of MEDWORKS for Mountain States Health Alliance; and Lori Hamilton, director of the Healthcare Resource Center for MSHA.

“We have to consider the health of our organization as being tied to the individual health of employees,” Bishop said. “The responsibilities for health come to the individual. I think employers can recognize that and enable their employees to have access to the education and the training on general health concepts.”

All three panelists agreed that lack of time and in some cases insufficient funds prevent people from truly focusing on their own well being. That’s where companies can step in and provide both motivation and resources for their employees to get healthy.

Panelists and attendees also combined to create a “Best Practice” list of suggestions for promoting health/wellness and balance in both the personal and professional arena.

• Learning to say no/setting priorities.

• Taking time for self.

• Knowing your own health risk factors and family history.

• Learning to properly manage stress and how others in your family handle stressful situations.

• Working on time management skills.

• Knowing the financial impact of being unhealthy in both the short-term and longterm, such as increased healthcare costs.

• Get adequate sleep and down time.

• Include social interaction into daily life and show others you care.

• Develop healthy eating habits.

• Strive to exercise regularly.

• Reduce feelings of guilt.

• Be accountable to self and others.

• Have fun — laugh at least once every day.

“One of the things as far as work/life balance is having fun,” Rasnake said. “Enjoy what you do ... I have something that I live by that Tom Selleck said years ago, ‘If you enjoy what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.’ ’’