Health & Family

As a working mother of three children, I am challenged each day to find the right balance for myself and my family. By balance I mean maintaining a healthy approach to our busy lives - physically, mentally, and spiritually. I will be the first to admit, on many days I feel defeated. And some days, I feel like a champion because I successfully guided my "troop" through the chaotic day and their lives were enhanced from the experience.

In today's world it is hard to achieve and maintain balance. Each day you wake up to another email, phone call or conversation that invites you to become involved in a new activity, attend a very important meeting, support a new great cause, or lend a hand to someone in need. With the world tugging at your leg each day, it is hard not to find yourself over-committed and overwhelmed. So, when asked a question such as "Do you prioritize health in your day?" it is tough to answer "Yes". In addition, I think you would be hard-pressed to find many mothers and fathers out there who would confidently say that their family's physical, mental, and spiritual health is at it's optimal level.

So, what if there was a way to help mothers and fathers prioritize their health in their day? For years, companies have been focused on helping their employees prioritize their health by providing great programs and resources to help them understand their health risks, manage these risks, and improve their quality of life. These programs are typically provided to employees and their familiy members, and sometimes retirees of the organization. Although some of these programs are best-in-class, state-of-the-art programs, families do not engage at the level to which we would hope. In essence, engagement is a challenge.

So, back to the family structure ... And the working mother-of-three, when asked "Why is it so hard to maintain balance in your day?" for me, it is well beyond understanding my health risks, knowing the programs available, and understanding how engaging in an activity will improve my quality of life. It is more about looking at each of the activities my family and I do, and identifying which ones contribute to a healthy life, and which ones simply negate these efforts. Could there be a health management program that can help families and parents do this in today's world? Be customized to reflect each families goals, interests and priorities? If so, would it be more effective than an exercise or weight program they cannot even consider fitting into their day because they are just getting through the day and all it's demands. Would it provide parents the ability to truly become more balanced, enabling them to make healthier choices.

I believe these are interesting questions.