2026🌻September Wellness Newsletter

Get ready for our next APS district-wide challenge! The Employee Wellness Fair is coming. Register early for Mammograms & the annual blood donation drive. Huddles through ComPsych & more wellness trends in the news

Join The APS Walktober Challenge - New England in the Fall

After the hot summer, it is time for crisper days, the smell of green chilies roasting, and the joy of watching the trees show off their beautiful colors. That's what we're going to do here in New Mexico AND virtually in New England. (Well, maybe not the green chili part! That's uniquely us, ya'll;)

Join the APS Walktober event, “New England in the Fall,”  and virtually visit this iconic area of the US, well known for its Fall colors. During our journey, we will go leaf peeping and visit a pumpkin patch, corn maze, and an apple orchard. With the opportunity to do the same in our own beautiful New Mexico communities!

This team and individual activity challenge is open to all APS employees, regardless of full- or part-time status. Registration is open, and the challenge runs October 1-30.

Schools can win chair massages!  To be eligible for chair massage rewards, schools must form teams of at least 10 participants. We will award one winner in each elementary, middle (including K-8 schools), and high school category. Winners are based on the highest % of team members who complete the month-long trek. 

Don't worry if you're not a speedy, top stepper! We will award multiple prizes across categories. Consistency with daily activity and engaging in the discussion board are key to making this a fun and inspiring experience! We'll hold weekly raffle prize drawings for those who participate in the social discussion board and share Fall photos. 

How to join:

• Click on the link to create an account and join: https://apsschool.walkertracker.com
• You must create a new account for every BeWell challenge. 
• After registering, click the New England in the Fall icon on the right side of the homepage screen and "join" the challenge. 
• Download the BeWell app (by TerryBerry)
• In the app, on the bottom menu, click "Challenges" and click on the New England in the Fall icon. 
• To connect a device or app, go to the top-left waffle/menu on the BeWell app, click 'Add/Manage Device'. Follow the prompts to connect your activity watch/tracker, Apple Health, or Health Connect phone app.

To join a team:

*This is a School Chair Massage Challenge!
1. School Categories are: Elementary, Middle-K-8, High School
2. Teams must have a minimum of 10
3. Winners are based on the highest % of completers

*Any non-school-based team with 10 or more will also be up for a separate department award!!  

Let's have some fun, move, and connect with this Walktober activity challenge! If you have questions, please email employee.wellness@aps.edu

The APS Employee Wellness Fair Is Coming! 

Register early for your mammogram and the gift of life - blood donation!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. About 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. Routine screenings like mammograms help find cancer early, when it is easiest to treat. (The link has 2 flyers: one in English and the other in Spanish) Register by clicking here or by scanning the QR code on the attached flyer. 

Also coinciding with the APS Wellness Fair is our annual Blood Donation Drive! Give the gift of life — give blood! 

Donating blood is one of the most critical contributions a person can make to healthcare because blood cannot be artificially manufactured - volunteer donors are the only source. A single donation takes less than half an hour but can save up to three or four lives! 

For Vitalant Blood Donation: 

• Click here to schedule an appointment! 10/7 
• Click here to schedule an appointment 10/8

Please share these two opportunities with your colleagues. 

Mindfulness Keeps Us Rooted In The Present

"Mindfulness is choosing to be present for life's experiences as they happen, with a sense of balance." Michelle DuVal, MA, The Mindful Center.

We talk a lot about the benefits of mindfulness; it lowers stress and blood pressure and enhances well-being. For students, mindfulness improves focus, lowers anxiety, and helps manage emotions, but we might not feel confident using it on our own or in the classroom. 

At the APS Rising Educator Summit, Michelle DuVal, Director of the Mindful Center, led an amazing session on "Awareness in Action: Practical mindfulness for stress, self-regulation, and resilience." It was clear, actionable, and offered simple practices that educators (or anyone) can use in the moment for themselves and their students.  

DuVal has created a content section specifically for our APS educators, kids, teens, and employees. Some of the resources include: 

• Two questions that will change your day.
• Awareness comes first
• Easy, actionable ways to practice mindfulness in the moment.
• Simple classroom rituals.
• Rituals that calm the mind.

This free, flexible program for all employees offers daily drop-in meditations, new weekly and monthly content, and featured meditations. Use the link below to enroll in the Life on Mindfulness program for all content and email reminders. Everything is recorded for on-demand access. Links for daily drop-ins are available in the Employee Wellness Google Calendar. This site is mobile-optimized so you can access a wide variety of recorded meditations anytime, anywhere. *The Life on Mindfulness program is open to all APS employees as well as the youth in their lives. Students/children aged 10-18 years. 

The mindful center has a new page and a new daily schedule. 

New login information for Life on Mindfulness

• Click here to log in or enroll if you are a new participant. 
• If you previously used a shared password (such as LOMPREMIUM), click Forgot Password to create your own secure password. 

LIVE SCHEDULE Monday - Friday

• 11:55 - 12 pm: 5-minute stretch break
• 12-12:20 pm: 20-minute meditation

*Feel free to join or leave anytime. 

Michelle begins the sessions at 11:55 a.m. and keeps things flowing until 12:20 p.m. The same schedule and Zoom link apply Monday through Friday. Sessions are recorded for on-demand access and are available in the Life on Mindfulness member portal.

Get Connected! ComPsych Guidance Resources Offers Huddles

ComPsych Guidance Resources offers free, confidential counseling, financial and legal guidance, and well-being coaching services. If you're feeling a drift from community and connection, ComPsych also offers peer connection opportunities through Huddle Webinars and Alliance events. Check the September Huddle calendar for links and content. 

To access ComPsych GuidanceResource® services:

• Call the toll-free number at (800) 497-9088. You'll be connected with a highly trained professional who can guide you to the appropriate services.
• Register with GuidanceResources® online at www.guidanceresources.com and enter the APS company WebID: APSEAP
• Choose the role group that most closely aligns with your position at APS. For family members, choose the APS employee role group. Your designation (ie, spouse, child) will be captured later.
• Download the GuidanceNow™ app for fast and easy access to all your ComPsych resources. Use the same APS WebID: APSEAP. 

APS Offers Wellness Coaching for All Employees

We can't always control other people and situations. But we can control how we react and respond, and foundational wellness practices help us do that.  If you're struggling, wellness coaching is a great way to navigate emotional and physical health issues and stressors. Try one of these APS programs that offer personalized health coaching and enroll today. 

1. Health Coaching: This service is offered through our Solutions Group wellness partner. Get help shifting lifestyle habits, managing a chronic illness, losing weight to improve health, or simply feeling better. APS offers free Health Coaching for all employees. *Open to all APS employees.
2. APS EAP free, confidential counseling and lifestyle/well-being coaching services through ComPsych Guidance Resources. *This is open to all APS employees and immediate family members. 
3. Livongo/Teladoc is an integrated program for diabetes, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, and weight loss. Livongo offers wrap-around, integrated mental health services and health coaching. *This program is open to all eligible employees and dependents covered under APS Benefits.  Getting started is easy!
   • Text “GO APS” to 85240 to learn more and join
   • Join by visiting  https://www.livongo.com/aps
   • Call 800-945-4355 and use the registration code: APS
4. Hinge Health: Get the relief you need to feel and function better with this virtual physical therapy program by Hinge Health. Hinge Health gives you the tools you need to conquer joint and muscle pain, including back, neck, knee, and shoulder pain, recover from injuries, prepare for surgery, and stay healthy and pain-free. Hinge Health also offers a one-of-a-kind, industry-leading women's pelvic floor program. 
   
   Click here to learn more and register. Begin your journey today with a team of physical therapists and health coaches! *Hinge Health is available at no cost to employees covered under the APS Benefits plans and eligible dependents.

Wellness Trends In The News

 

Why Strength Matters at Every Age When you hear the words "strength training," what comes to mind? For many people, it's images of heavy barbells, crowded gyms, or competitive athletes pushing their limits. Strength training is essential for longevity, disease prevention, and weight loss. It can be flexible, fun, and free of those stereotypes mentioned above.     The Case for a Digital Detox Smartphones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, and televisions have become an essential part of everyday life. They help us stay connected and work more efficiently. They can also lead to stress and digital fatigue.   Healthy Eating Doesn't Have to Cost More Eating healthy is often portrayed as expensive, with social media showing grocery hauls featuring exotic superfoods. Check this article on how to eat well on a budget.    Why Recovery Is Just as Important as Exercise When you're working toward a fitness goal, it can be tempting to think that more exercise will lead to faster results.   Small Daily Routines That Reduce Stress Stress is a part of life, but feeling overwhelmed doesn't have to be. As summer gives way to the busier pace of fall, calendars begin to fill with work projects and family commitments. Try these small routines to reduce stress.