Wellness Overview

Wellness goes beyond seeing the doctor once a year. Learn about the tools Villanova University gives you so you can be proactive in pursuing the high quality of life you deserve.
When it comes to health and wellness, you can accomplish a lot by doing just a little, and everyone’s needs are a bit different. Villanova University’s NOVAfit program will help you find your personal path to feeling great, both physically and emotionally.
And that’s really what wellness is all about – creating healthy habits that give you more energy and reduce your stress, allowing you to focus on all of the great things happening in your life. And if that’s not enough to convince you, Villanova also offers some valuable incentives for participating in the program.
Maybe you’re wondering why Villanova cares about your wellness. It’s simple. Employee wellness is tied to the success of the University. When you’re at your best, so is the work you do here. And, over the long run, when employees and their families prioritize regular activity, good nutrition, and proper rest, both you and Villanova will save a lot on health care costs.
Once you know how you can improve, you can take action. Making healthy choices can sometimes seem complicated. But if you stick to the basics, it’s actually simpler than you might think. Think of it as 3 pillars of well-being. The first would be Physical, covering areas like: awareness and prevention; nutrition, exercise, and sleep; and managing chronic conditions. The second pillar is Emotional, covering areas like: resilience and mindfulness, social and community engagement, and spiritual health. And the third would be Financial, covering areas like: security, life planning, and retirement.
Some specific things you can do to start would be eating well, staying active, getting enough rest – these are the building blocks of a healthy physical and mental foundation. Start with something simple, like eating more vegetables at lunch, going for a walk after work, or skipping that last hour of TV at night. And whether your goal is to get in shape, manage your stress, or find treatment options for a chronic illness, Villanova has plenty of resources and programs to help you out.
Aggregate information is collected, which helps the university develop wellness programming to address the top health conditions of our community, but personal health information is always kept confidential. It’s managed by a separate organization. That’s the law, and it means that Villanova will never see your individual health information.
Villanova offers some pretty great rewards for taking steps towards wellness. You can earn great discounts on your medical premiums, or cash bonuses in the form of a Visa gift card, just by doing some simple things such as completing a personal health assessment, or kicking a bad habit. It’s really that easy!
The NOVAfit program also has some great perks that come with it too. Some of these include free fitness centers on campus, a discounted gym membership, on-campus group exercise classes, and tobacco cessation. Plus, you can earn an additional 500 incentive points by completing the many challenges and health activities available to you on the NOVAfit! portal. For more information check out all the resources on NOVAfit!
To participate in the NOVAfit program, you only need to be a full-time, benefit-eligible employee, or a spouse enrolled in one of the University-sponsored health plans. But even if you’re not, you can still take steps to improve your wellbeing — like taking a yoga class or going for a walk during your lunch break. And check with IBC to find out about the healthy lifestyles program.
Remember, wellness doesn’t have to be a huge project. A little effort will go a long way. If you want to know more about the NOVAfit program, start by heading to the program website, shown here. And check out these other resources if you’ve got more questions.