Check Out the New Take Action Activities

Once again, you can earn an incentive toward next year’s medical premiums if you complete a Take Action activity. This year, we’re introducing a few new activities! These activities are designed to help you eat better, move more and build lifelong healthy habits—all key steps to improving your health, maintaining a healthy weight and lowering your risk for chronic conditions like heart disease.

You can complete as many activities as you want. You’ll earn a $100 credit for completing one, or a $200 credit for completing two or more. Read on to see what’s new and how to get started.

Online Challenges

There are two new online challenges:

  • Step It Up: Challenges you to walk the equivalent of 700,000 steps. You can do any activity—just like you did with Get Fit on Route 66—and easily convert it to steps using the Steps to Minutes Calculator at ra.staywell.com or automatically sync your steps with a Fitbit. Does 700,000 seem like a lot? Break it down. Aim to take 8,500 steps a day for 12 weeks. (Note: A Fitbit is a small device that tracks your daily activity, including steps. You can buy one online or from several national retailers.)
  • Time Out For Health: Challenges you to eat 300 servings of vegetables. This can be any vegetable, whether raw, cooked, fresh, frozen, canned, etc., and even 100% vegetable juice. To meet the challenge, we recommend that you eat four servings of vegetables (about the size of your fist) a day for 12 weeks.

To get started, log in to ra.staywell.com and click either the Step It Up Challenge or Time Out For Health Challenge in the To Do list.

Coaching Programs

There are two coaching options:

  • “Easy Start” Calls & Mailings program: Work with a health coach to set one small health goal—such as eating an extra serving of vegetables or getting in a 15-minute walk after dinner once a week. Your coach will provide educational mailings to help and follow up about a month later to see how you’re doing.
  • Phone Coaching: Work one-on-one with trained health coaches to achieve your health goals. Together, you’ll create an action plan that’s right for your health status, medical conditions and personal goals. Your coach will give you the resources and inspiration you need to make progress.

To get started, call the StayWell Helpline at 1.800.721.2696. Coaches are available Monday though Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon (all Central time).

Published: January 8, 2014