Health Directions

02/01/2026

01/30/2026

“Tea for the Soul” was a wonderful experience for our Health Directions team last month. We are truly thankful for the chance to refocus on our well-being while fostering connections with our teammates in a supportive and nurturing environment. Additionally, the complimentary snacks and tea were a wonderful treat! A heartfelt thank you to the Lexington Health Foundation for generously funding this initiative, and to our compassionate Pastoral Care team for organizing and leading this effort for our organization.

Sometimes care looks like a quiet cup of tea 🍵 Through We Care Grants, our employees have the opportunity to introduce programs that invest in the well-being of our caregivers. Tea for the Soul is bringing calm moments to our providing environment ✨

01/29/2026

⭐️Staff Spotlight - Jessica McKeown⭐️

Jessica is passionate about her work with our cancer exercise program. She excels at helping people realize that exercise doesn’t have to be intimidating. Jessica's love for movement began in a childhood filled with synchronized swimming, gymnastics, figure skating, and water skiing. As a teenager, she shared her knowledge by teaching swimming and figure skating lessons. She even coached synchronized swimming at the University of Minnesota! Jessica’s lifelong dedication to fitness inspires her calling to help others reach their personal goals.

Jessica says, “Health Directions is THE place to grow in your health and fitness no matter where you are in your journey!”


Jessica McKeown

01/29/2026

Well-being Wednesdays w/ Tami
January 28, 2026

Have you ever found yourself doing things on autopilot? Has your mind ever wandered from what’s happening to ruminate on the past? Intentionally focusing on the present can make your life more meaningful. When we stop and notice this moment we can find appreciation for our surroundings whether it is a small flower through a crack in the sidewalk, or getting a job done quickly instead of wasting time as your mind wanders.

How does being in the present improve your life?

*Your effectiveness increases with less distraction and better decision making
*Your relationships enhance through undivided attention
*Your engagement expands by stopping mental time-travel
*Your anxiety lessens by focusing on what is actually happening
*Your satisfaction in life boosts by appreciating what is around you
*Your sense of peace grows by exchanging what is unknown for the known

The future holds enormous possibilities, and often our minds go to dread for all of the “what ifs”. When we shift our attention to this moment, we make the most of what is happening now. Fear and anxiety come with our hope to control the future. By choosing to focus on this point in time, we leave our past behind and release the worries of what cannot manage. This shift in focus does take practice, so start with small, intentional effort. Engagement in the present can make our lives richer as we choose to make the most of the now.

This 4-minute video discusses why a present focus is sometimes hard.

https://youtu.be/MSE6ZIaEFHM?si=xrEAonkPcScG5_0v

01/26/2026

Upcoming Specialty Programs - February 2026

**Deadline to register is this Wednesday, January 28**

Mobility for Movement I
February 3 to February 26
Tuesdays & Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.

Better Balance I
February 3 to February 26
Tuesdays & Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.

Email twpernell@lexhealth.org to register.

See the flyers below for additional information.

01/21/2026

Well-being Wednesdays w/ Tami
January 21, 2026

Have you ever thought you just needed more willpower to break an old habit? If you could just be more dedicated, would everything come into alignment in your life? To build a better future, it’s important to shift the way we view change. It takes intentional focus to rewire long-established routines. This is necessary to recognize which things our brain does on autopilot. When we realize this is not about good intentions, but making a small shift in our routine, we create a new normal that we can maintain.

How do we transform ineffective patterns in our lives?

·Believe that change is possible
·Understand why you want things to be different
·Realize that altering habits isn’t about determination, but intentional steps
·Acknowledge what cues make you want to revert back
·Create small, achievable practices that are sustainable
·Ditch the “all or nothing” mentality
·Allow yourself mistakes
·Celebrate wins regardless of their size
·Focus on the present instead of our past

A habit contains a pattern of cue, routine, and reward. For example, if we pull out our phone when we are bored, we want to acknowledge this cue. Something as simple as putting our phones in our pocket can bring awareness to our mindless scrolling. Replacing a negative habit with a positive one takes time, so let our self-talk become words of encouragement instead of judgment. Rewarding our efforts keeps us trying. Remember we are all still learning.

This insightful 5-minute video explains how to break a habit loop.

https://youtu.be/bUtLiAu5rYc

01/20/2026

01/15/2026

⭐️Upcoming Specialty Programs: February - March 2026⭐️

⭐️Mobility for Movement I
February 3 to February 26
Tuesdays & Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.

⭐️Better Balance I
February 3 to February 26
Tuesdays & Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.

⭐️Mobility for Movement II
March 3 to March 26
Tuesdays & Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.

⭐️Better Balance II
March 3 to March 26
Tuesdays & Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.

⭐️Maintaining the EDGE
March 24 to May 19
Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.

Email twpernell@lexhealth.org to register.

See the flyers below for additional information.

01/14/2026

Well-being Wednesdays w/ Tami
January 14, 2026

Have you ever looked at your past with regret? Much too often we ruminate on things that we would do differently. Dwelling on our struggles keeps us feeling defeated. To move forward, we need to reframe our perspective. Through being curious about what went wrong, we identify what matters to us. Errors are part of the human experience and are needed for us to evaluate and make better choices.

How can we turn our regrets into motivation?

-Release our old narratives of how things could have been
-Forgive others so their past actions don’t have a current impact
-Forgive ourselves for not knowing all of the answers
-Show ourselves compassion for our hard times
-Find the lesson we learned from our mistakes
-Acknowledge the strengths we have gained through our trials
-Reframe our perspective to gratitude

It is important that we look at our past as a stepping stone in our lives. When we realize what didn’t go as we had hoped, we can make intentional choices from the knowledge we have gained. By acknowledging our growth, we can see how we have become stronger. Letting go of our regrets and seeing how they can help us is powerful. Being grateful for what we have learned through our mistakes can change the trajectory of our lives.

This 3-minute video shows the value of releasing regrets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_krBVRTxxA