February 2024 Wellness Resources
Build New Habits With BetterYou!
Have you tried to build a new habit only to find yourself reverting to old patterns and behaviors instead? If you’re raising your hand, you’re not alone! That’s why we partnered with BetterYou, a healthy habits companion that helps support your goals across all areas of well-being.
Set a goal to get more sleep, hit a few more steps, or meditate for a few more minutes. Your mind and body will appreciate it.
BetterYou is free for ECU® employees and students to use. Earn your first reward after completing onboarding in the app and earn additional rewards for hitting your goals and completing challenges with friends and colleagues.
Ready to start making progress towards becoming a BetterYou?
Financial Wellness Corner
Presented by the ECU® Financial Wellness Hub
Communicating about money can be challenging, sometimes even more challenging when discussing the topic with your loved ones than it is with acquaintances. One of the biggest reasons why discussing finances can carry more weight than other topics with our significant others is that often the only time deep conversations revolve around the topic is when at least one person in the relationship feels there is a problem related to finances. One of the most helpful things you can do to normalize conversations about money is to have a regular check-in. For example, during a weekly check-in, it may become standard to discuss some of the following prompts:
- How do I/we feel about our current financial situation?
- Where did I spend more than I would have liked to this week?
- What caused the increase in spending? Is there a way to counteract this going into next week?
- What progress have I/we made towards [insert financial goals]?
- What meals are we planning on making/buying this coming week?
- What support can we give each other to hold ourselves accountable to reaching our goals?
When discussing progress towards financial goals, consider discussing goals on different timelines such as:
- Saving for a monthly “date” activity
- Saving towards a specific material possession within the next few months
- Saving towards an upcoming experience (either shared or individual) within the next year
- Saving towards a long-term goal
Framing these conversations focusing on goals for the future instead of criticisms over money management in the past/present often will lead to a more productive conversation. This weekly check-in can also be beneficial to do as an individual!
Employees can schedule free, individual financial coaching sessions to discuss areas of personal financial management such as budgeting, credit scores, and federal student loan
Well-Being Tip of the Month
Envision your well-being as a car’s fuel gauge. When full, you’re ‘Thriving‘—living a life filled with purpose and resilience and looking forward to the future with positivity. ‘Striving‘ is like being at half tank—progressing steadily but still seeking to reach your peak. ‘Surviving‘ means running on empty, where challenges loom large, and you need immediate support to refuel. Remember, like cars with different fuel needs, our well-being varies. It’s a dynamic journey, sometimes shifting rapidly between states. Our aim? To help you move from just surviving or striving to truly thriving by embracing and enhancing each essential element of well-being in your life.
Did You Know?
ECU® employees receive a free 14-day membership to our Campus Recreation and Wellness Centers?
The membership includes access to both CRW centers and the North Recreation Complex.
To activate, you will need to Visit the Eakin Student Recreation Center Main Office, fill out a form which includes signing a waiver and your 1Card will become active. This membership will give you full access and privileges to the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centers.
You can also visit the Campus Reach and Wellness website to learn more about memberships for faculty and staff.