It's been more than two years since the first lockdown was announced and the pandemic changed the way we live, forcing us to adapt to a new lifestyle, especially for those who had to stay indoors. No more schools, no more cinemas and plays, no more commute, no more office work... During the COVID-19 crisis, a lot of people took the opportunity to focus on personal life, change their routines, spend more time outside, do more exercise, open their mind to new projects and prioritise their own health.

While it might have been a very good experience for some, at least initially, it became quickly obvious that the pandemic created difficult situations for a lot of us. With lockdowns and restrictions constantly changing in response to the rising Covid-19 infection rates, the impossibilities to travel and repatriate, financial uncertainty and difficulties to interact have caused a lot of stress on expats.

Health refers to our state of physical, mental and social wellbeing. where disease is absent. Positive wellbeing means not only experiencing good health but also enjoying feeling of wellness, often associated with comfort, security, happiness and content. The World Health Organisation links health explicitly with wellbeing and states:

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. [...] Well-being exists in two dimensions, subjective and objective. It comprises an individual's experience of their life as well as a comparison of life circumstances with social norms and values."

• Read our article: Healthy habits that we got during the pandemic and we should keep

Improving wellbeing can take many different ways. Exercise has a huge impact on health, and there is a proven link between physical and mental wellbeing. Managing stress and learning how to maintain a good work-life balance is also critical. Sleep, positive thinking, lead to more productivity in every aspect of our life.

Global Wellbeing Solutions

Health insurer Cigna works with many large multi-national organizations to improve individual health and wellbeing and enhance organizational performance.

They offer a full suite of global corporate wellness solutions, such as health assessments and wellbeing promotion programs, to promote positive health choices and drive lifestyle change. The goal is to provide measurable results that support long-lasting improvement for people and organizations where they work.

International Health & Wellbeing optional module

This optional module provides you with the tools to manage your overall health and wellbeing.

• Health and wellbeing assessment: Health assessments are available in over 35 languages, encompass a holistic approach to health and focus on key lifestyle areas that may be controllable and affect wellbeing. When completed, each participant receives a personal report that highlights areas of strength and areas in need of improvement. The report includes an overall score as well as scores for each section, along with easy-to-understand next steps for health improvement. Based on this report, Cigna also offer targeted assessments in sleep, stress, nutrition, physical activity and back and joint health to help provide a more in-depth view.
• Preventative cancer screenings: Cigna focus on wellbeing awareness, early detection and diagnosis. They provide members with a cash amount towards cancer checks to help detect early signs and symptoms. This helps encourage earlier diagnosis and treatment intervention for cancers such as cervical, prostate, bowel or mammograms for breast screenings.
• Dietician consultations: Nutritional Therapists are qualified to provide information about food and healthy eating. According to initial information that you will provide, they can create a specialised plan for your lifestyle so that you can achieve your nutritional goals.
• Telephonic Wellness Coaching: Your health coaching service is a personal wellness service for lasting lifestyle changes, mindfulness coaching, online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and much more. The program provides a series of one-to-one coaching sessions, which take place over several months. Your coach will get to know you and help you identify unhealthy behaviours that may be holding you back. Together, you will develop an action plan and set appropriate goals to move forward.

In order to benefit from an extensive international health insurance, with all the benefits of the Wellbeing module, click on the button to access the online tool and get a quote in 2 minutes.

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