Incentives: Where is the Value?

Which part of the wellness incentives are the most valuable or important? Is it the monetary portion or the change in lifestyle?

Most are likely looking for the monetary return. That is what people are looking for in the plan. Similar to how a child (or adult) opens the birthday card looking for the money, prior to reading the card. You want to know how much you are receiving in return.

However, as the birthday card illustration is used, is the value in the note from the friend or loved one in the money or the thought? Is the value in the monetary incentive or the long-term positive health effects?

As we live in a pretty selfish culture, we are wanting to know how this will benefit "me" in the end. Unless we have been impacted with something that will cause us to want to change our lifestyle, the pain of changing is too great, thus we will stay in our same lifestyle. When the pain of the current lifestyle becomes greater than change, we will change.

Maybe we should look past the monetary portion and just think of it as a bonus at the end of the year. The benefit to the "me" is a healthier life. Reiterating that health is more than physical. Skinny people can have high blood pressure and obese people can have normal blood pressure. Skinny and obese people could have about the same lung capacity if the first one is due to smoking and second one to sedentary lifestyle.

If you are like me, you may want to do be involved in the Wellness Incentives due primarily to the financial portion. However, if you work on creating some variations in your life you will be surprised how easily you can adapt to them and create a more healthier you.

Don't be involved in the Wellness Incentives for the money...but for the return. The return could be seeing your kids, grandkids, or great grandkids graduate or get married. It could also be having a retirement where you can be active. There is a huge list of positives for having a healthier lifestyle...choose one and let it motivate you!

May you readjust your sail of value in the Wellness Incentive program!

Now it's your turn...where do you see the value (now)?

Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day. ~ Sally Koch