Health and WellBeing Toolkit

Wellbeing is the state of feeling healthy, happy, and fulfilled. It’s that sense that life is going well, physically and emotionally.

By Telus Health

When experts refer to physical wellbeing, they look at things like whether you feel healthy and full of energy. When they look at overall wellbeing, they include other factors: your work, relationships, mental health, and how you cope with the normal stresses of life.

In this toolkit, you will find resources to help you achieve overall health and wellbeing. You’ll find strategies and ideas on how to adopt and maintain healthy habits and boost energy and resilience in your daily life and especially through challenging times.

You’ll find lots to choose from in this toolkit. So, come back to it again and again for information, reminders, and motivators!

Physical health

Taking care of your physical health is good not only for your body, but also for your work, life, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. From diet to exercise to preventive health, the tips and strategies in the resources below, created by experts, will help you make taking care of yourself a priority every day.

Emotional health and wellbeing

As we strive to meet our personal and work responsibilities, we sometimes pay a price. We may feel pressured or stressed, neglect our health, or give in to unhealthy behaviors like overeating, smoking, or drinking more than we should. The resources below will help you adopt positive behaviors for managing stress and handling whatever challenges life throws at you.

Health, wellbeing, and productivity

When mind and body are in harmony, you’re in an ideal position to perform at your best, achieve your personal and professional goals, and capitalize on your strengths. Below are resources to help you set goals and push yourself enough to rally the enthusiasm and commitment required for success.

Health and wellbeing boosters

Here are some quick and easy ways to recharge and renew throughout the day.

Resources

Healthy Living Resources
This Government of Canada website includes articles and links to reports and other resources on everything from sun safety to mental health, with sections devoted to children, pregnancy, men, women, seniors, physical activity, and much more.

EatRight
This website from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics dishes up articles and videos by experts on food, health, and fitness.

Buddhify
This meditation app offers more than 80 short audio tracks that help you develop mindfulness. They’re designed for use in a variety of situations, such as when you’re at work, going to sleep, dealing with stress, or taking a walk.

Gretchen Rubin
The website of this popular author features a blog, podcasts, and books about building a happier, healthier, more productive life. 

Healthy Eating
This website from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada offers articles on the basics of healthy eating, with information about fruits and vegetables, processed foods, fats, and more.

HelpGuide
This website has a large library of articles about mental and emotional health as well as an EQ Toolkit—activities, videos, and meditations designed to foster emotional intelligence.

Mindful
This website offers helpful resources on mindfulness, including tips on getting started, advice on becoming more mindful at home and work, and audio-guided meditation practices.

Down Dog: Great Yoga Anywhere
This app is devoted to vinyasa yoga—a style of yoga characterized by flowing sequences of poses. The sequences are demonstrated with a series of still photos rather than video, but this works surprisingly well.

Canadian Sleep Society
This organization’s website has brochures and books on a variety of sleep issues and getting a healthy night’s sleep.

USask’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provides confidential counseling, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Through Telus Health, supports and resources can be accessed by phone, video, on-line chat, in-person visits and self-guided learning.

USask also offers Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, an online, short-term form of therapy that helps you develop strategies and skills to help change your thoughts, attitudes and beliefs related to emotional and behavioral issues that may be causing you difficulty.

For eligible employees, your benefit plan also covers mental health supports including clinical counsellors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, psychotherapists, and social workers.