Wellness Guide
Luke Reynard Executive Director
NFI North Mission
We inspire and empower people to reach their full potential.
Dear Team,
Welcome to NFI North!
At NFI North, our mission is rooted in supporting mental and behavioral health for individuals and families, and that mission extends to every member of our team. Your wellness and well-being are not just priorities for us—they are integral to the work we do and the culture we strive to create.
We understand that caring for others begins with caring for ourselves. That’s why we’ve created this wellness guide, designed to support you on your journey with us. Inside, you’ll find resources, strategies, and activities that reflect our commitment to fostering a healthy and supportive environment.
We’re thrilled to have you as part of the NFI North family and hope this guide serves as a valuable companion in achieving balance, resilience, and joy both at work and in life. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.
Thank you for being here and for all the ways you contribute to our mission.
Warm regards,
Luke Reynard Executive Director, NFI North
Our Mission, Vision & Values
Belonging
Dedication
Empathy
Resilience
Trust
NFI North Vision
We strive to create a world where mental and behavioral health services are readily accessible for everyone–truly creating a place to belong
NFI North Values
Belonging
We believe people are social and want to belong and feel they are a part of a community. We create opportunities for participants which are meaningful. We celebrate diversity and foster a community of care where people are seen, heard, and know they matter.
Dedication
At NFI North, we are all in! We provide the most extensive level of care, and do whatever it takes, for the betterment of others
Empathy
We deliver our best by listening and responding to our participants’ challenges as if they were our own
Resilience
We take challenges in stride and come back more informed and empowered as a result, exemplifying this quality so our participants can do the same
Trust
We build every relationship on a foundation of direct communication and honest action, and we measure our integrity by how we exemplify these commitments every day.
What to Expect
What You Can Expect From Us
This manual serves as your guide to experiencing optimal health and wellbeing in the workplace. As your wellness mentor, we are offering support and guidance to making your NFI North experience a meaningful one all around.
Health and wellness extend beyond physical fitness to encompass mental, emotional, and social wellbeing. We'll help you understand these interconnections and their impact on your overall health. This manual provides educational information only
You should not replace professional or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from anyone but your healthcare provider. Please consult with qualified healthcare providers about your specific circumstances
What We Can Expect From You
We expect engagement and participation on a professional level. We expect professional development, support, effort, encouragement and willingness to try to be part of or promote a healthy workplace.
We expect that all employees will be respectful, and support individual privacy and personal health choices for all members of our team. We expect that wellness is a challenge by choice activity available to all employees.
“Wellness is the act of practicing healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes so that instead of just surviving, you're thriving” (Pfizer, p1). If we understand the significance of wellness, we can learn to understand how it's linked to our health.
How to get the most out of our manual
This Health and Wellness Manual is a powerful resource designed to empower our leaders in supporting their teams. It offers insightful suggestions and innovative tools to help each program cultivate a meaningful practice and implement strategies tailored to their unique staff. Think of it as the starting point, the beginning of endless possibilities to inspire creativity in prioritizing the health and wellness of our teams. Feel free to adapt these strategies to meet the specific needs of your population, facility, and level of staff engagement, as these factors will guide how best to integrate these practices. Together, we can create an environment where well-being thrives!
Strategies Influencing Health & Wellness
Nutrition, Exercise & Fitness, Sleep and Rest
01Nutrition
Balanced diet and healthy eating habits that include nutrient rich foods are important for the body to functionally. Know your balanced diet needs are so that you can reach your goals of feeling your best self.
Exercise & Fitness
03
Engaging in exercise or fitness are different for everyone. Find what activity brings you joy and keep doing it each day The only purpose is to move your body daily.
05Sleep & Rest
Sleep allows the body to restore itself, to access essential growth and tissue repair and optimal functioning It assists support for the immune system, regulate energy and reduce injuries.
Stress Managment, Mindfulness & Emotional Well-being
Mindfulness
02Stress Managment
Stress management techniques are designed to help people cope with and reduce negative effects of life and stress. Lowering the effects of stress has a positive impact on your mind and body, helping people feel more relaxed, sleep better and maintain resilience to stress of life.
04
is the practice of paying attention in the moment with acceptance of your environment. This skill can be cultivated through regular practice and has a high impact on stress reduction and emotional regulation.
06
Emotional Well-Being
The balance of emotions, moods and thoughts. It’s about having experiences and being able to manage how it impacts you in a way that doesn't overwhelm you or dysregulate you, especially in the workplace.
Strategies Influencing Health & Wellness
Work-life Balance, Spiritual Wellness, Purpose
07 Work life balance
Work life balance Is about finding a way to manage the demands of your work or school and your personal life. Creating time to enjoy both things without one dominating the other. It is a mindful practice.
Spiritual Wellness
Is about finding meaning and purpose in your life and simply reflecting on your values and beliefs. It’s about connecting with something bigger then yourself and often is experienced through religion, nature or creativity and is a personal journey.
09
11 Purpose
Purpose is the framework for personal or professional development that is a mindset or approach that can be applied to the many aspects of your life and encourages you to live with intention.
Career Satisfaction, Self-care, Financial, Understanding Health Insurance
08 Career Satisfaction
Job satisfaction is feeling good in your job or have a positive emotional state that results in feeling fulfilled in the quality of work your provide. This is a personal experiences and needs to be measured as so for full understanding
Self Care & Financial Responsibilities
10
This means being in control of your financial and budgeting needs. Being in control of your money and the conscious decisions on how you spend, save or invest your money. Maybe having a retire plan. Self care means taking the time to do things that help you live well.
12
Health Benefits
Preventive care is important to our health and wellness. It provides assurances for preventing more serious problems. Health insurance is an investment and assists in reducing healthcare costs for the employers and the organization. Time off is also part of our wellness and needs to be a planful priority.
Health & Safety Tool Kit
These tools focus on creating a supportive, fun, engaging and safe environment for both the employees and the participants we work with. In an effort to achieve success, it is critical for us to all work together. To ensure our success here are some key in-service and training tools our leaders should engage on a monthly basis We need to keep teaching our agency benefits and bring awareness of the details to our teams. It’s a lot for them to remember and it’s our duty to remind them.
Training & Education
Training and education is a preventative approach in helping employees know and understand their role. It ensures the success of wellness in the workplace, a team approach. See our training list for requirements.
Risk Assessment & Managment
This is a tool used to help organizations to use a proactive approach in understanding potential hazards or exposures in the work place and not all hazards are equal. Use our risk management policy guide.
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
EAP offers a holistic approach, offering additional external help for a wide variety of additional resources, reducing challenges in a proactive way. This tool helps to contribute to a healthier and more positive workplace. Ensure your poster is visual to the staff.
Enforcing a Drug Free Workplace
A drug free workplace will enhance the health and safety in any work environment as it helps to reduce accidents, improves staff morale and increases staff retention for a more productive and healthier work environment for all employees. Teach awareness. Be sure to provide outings that promote alcohol free activities and events.
: https://www.gettingsmart.com/2015/08/16/infographic-11-
Examples: Post and share fun links
(Pinterest2025)
(Pintrest2025)
(Pinterest2025)
(Pinterest2025)
Wellness Calendar
This 12 month Guide is designed to offer targeted events that promote and practice health and wellness topics, challenges or events in the workplace.
Calendar Quarter 1
Personal Growth & Development
January: Setting Intentions
February: Emotional Well-Being
March: Stress Management
Quarter 2
Holistic Well-Being
Physical Wellness
Calendar Quarter 3
Social Health
July: Resilience Building
August: Social Connection
September: Professional Growth
Calendar Quarter 4
Emotional Wellness
October: Healthy Habits
November: Gratitude and Reflection
December: Celebrating Achievements
Wellness Calendar, First Quarter: PERSONAL GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
Setting Limits
January: Setting Intentions
Training Topic: Building a Culture of Wellness.
Activity: Goal Setting Development- Workshop set up for program goals.
Focus: Workplace well-being vision and planning, word of the year.
Emotional Well-Being
February: Emotional Well-Being
Training Topic: Managing Emotional Agility and Empathy in Teams.
Activity: Self-care challenge for team members (daily check-ins).
Focus: Mental health awareness and support strategies.
Stress Management
March: Stress Management
Training Topic: Recognizing and Mitigating Burnout in the workplace.
Activity: Guided meditation or mindfulness training.
Focus: Stress reduction practices. Planning for time off.
Wellness Calendar, Second Quarter- HOLISTIC HEALTH
Physical Wellness
April: Physical Wellness
Training Topic: Encouraging Active Lifestyles for Productivity.
Activity: Step challenge or workplace fitness session.
Focus: Physical health and its impact on the team.
Mental Health Awareness
May: Mental Health Awareness Month
Training Topic: Destigmatizing Mental Health in the Workplace.
Activity: Host a panel or talk with a mental health professional. Wear Green, May Day Baskets
Focus: Promoting mental health resources and education.
Work-Life Balance
June: Work-Life Balance
Training Topic: Setting Boundaries and Encouraging Downtime.
Activity: Team summer picnic or retreat.
Focus: Achieving harmony between work and personal life. Planning time off
Wellness Calendar, Third Quarter- SOCIAL HEALTH
Building Resilience
July: Resilience Building
Training Topic: Developing Grit and Resilience in Challenging Times.
Activity: Resilience-building workshop-TED Talk & 4th of July float
Focus: Overcoming workplace challenges-Keeping gratitude journals.
Social Connection
August: Social Connection
Training Topic: Fostering Inclusion and Belonging.
Activity: Cultural diversity potluck and program bulletin board development.
Focus: Building workplace relationships and trust. Award Nominations submitted
Professional Growth
September: Professional Growth
Training Topic: Leadership Styles and Their Impact on Team Dynamics.
Activity: NFI North Conference and attend training of choice.
Focus: Continuing education and skill-building.
Wellness Calendar, Fourth Quarter: EMOTIONAL WELLNESS
Healthy Habits
October: Healthy Habits
Training Topic: Nutrition and Energy Management for Leaders.
Activity: Healthy meal prep or recipe exchange, Team Apple picking.
Focus: Sustaining energy through better habits and collaboration.
Gratitude and Reflection
November: Gratitude and Reflection
Training Topic: The Power of Gratitude in Leadership.
Activity: Attitude of Gratitude wall or letters of appreciation, program thanksgiving dinner
Focus: Recognizing achievements and fostering positivity.
Celebrating Achievements
December: Celebrating Achievements
Training Topic: Reflecting on Wellness Progress and Future Planning.
Activity: Year-end celebration, Program Holiday Gathering.
Focus: Acknowledging growth, reflection on this year goals & setting new goals.
Employee Wellness Acknowledgment
I recognize that my wellness is not only a valuable skill for me, but also for my employer. I understand that prioritizing my physical, mental, and emotional well-being is crucial to maintaining my health, energy, and productivity in the workplace. I deeply appreciate that my employer values my well-being and offers resources to support my efforts. I am committed to utilizing these resources and seeking guidance when necessary, taking full responsibility for my own self-care.
I am dedicated to cultivating a positive and healthy work environment for both myself and my colleagues. I embrace wellness practices such as regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, mental health care, stress management, fostering meaningful social connections, nurturing relationships, and ensuring restful sleep as powerful tools to enhance my overall well-being.
I will remember that wellness is a journey, not a destination. I will be patient with yourself, celebrate our successes, and will not be afraid to ask for help when I need it as we are all in this journey together here at NFI North.
Date:
Signature of Employee
Citations
Pfizer. (n.d.). What is wellness? Health & wellness. Retrieved December 28, 2024, from https://www.pfizer.com/health-wellness/wellness/what-is-wellness
NFI North. (n.d.). Home. Retrieved December 28, 2024, from https://www.nfinorth.com/
Getting Smart. (2015, August 16). Infographic: 11 tips for work-life balance. Retrieved from: https://www.gettingsmart.com/2015/08/16/infographic-11tips-for-worklife-balance/
NFI NORTH Inc. (2024), Brand Positioning Guide, NFI North Marketing team-for internal use only
Mentoring Best Practices. (2015). Larry Bienati, Ph.D., SPHR, CCP. Senior Principal, Consultants to Management, Inc. Retrieved from: Pacific University, 4/16/2024.
Pinterest (2025) Images Retrrieved from: https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=Daily%20thoughts&rs=blp
Canva. (n.d.). Retrieved Magic Media Images from https://www.canva.com
Stovall, L. (June 26, 2023) 9 Inspiring TED Every Wellness Pro Should Watch Today: https://info.totalwellnesshealth.com/blog/9-inspiring-ted-talks?hs amp=true
