Posted: May 1, 2025
by Grace Dillon '25
Lehigh University's BeWell platform is designed to support employees in their journey towards holistic wellness, encompassing physical, mental, and emotional health. Two Lehigh employees, Jessica Brandt and Devin Jayetileke, share their experiences with the program, highlighting its benefits and impact on their daily lives.
Jessica Brandt (right), Teaching Associate Professor of Spanish, said she was drawn to BeWell by its focus on accountability.
"I really like having accountability for living a good lifestyle," Jessica said. "Having someone to check in with is a great motivation to make better decisions."
What she appreciates most about the program is its comprehensive approach.
"I like the variety," Jessica said. "I like the fact that it's, make good eating choices, make good exercise choices, but also, don't forget to connect with the people you love, and don't forget to be part of your community."
BeWell has helped Jessica create a framework for healthy living. The program's monthly challenges, such as a squat challenge, provide accountability and inspiration. Brandt also appreciates the focus on gratitude, which led her family to start a gratitude jar.
"The little inspiration to look at things differently, or put a more healthy framework on things, that's awesome." Jessica said.
Brandt said she is also exploring the one-on-one coaching offered by the program.
"I'm taking advantage of, for the first time, one-on-one coaching, " Brandt said. “So, I'll have a phone call with a coach.”
Jessica highly recommends BeWell to her colleagues.
"It's like a no-brainer," Brandt said. "There's no downside to joining."
She highlights the annual blood work, the monthly wellness credit in her paycheck, and the Amazon gift card rewards as key benefits.
"There's no risk, all reward,” Jessica said. “I feel like that's great.”
Jessica's biggest challenge lies in prioritizing her own well-being. She acknowledges the difficulty of placing her health above the needs of her family and students, as well as the pressures of deadlines. The struggle, she admits, is in consistently choosing herself.
Devin Jayetileke (right), a Computing Consultant, initially joined BeWell for the wellness credit. He said that he began using the program after hearing about the incentive. However, he soon discovered its value in maintaining his health, as it led to the discovery and treatment of his high cholesterol.
For Devin, BeWell provides a daily check-in on his overall health.
He prioritizes the BeWell platform, making it a daily ritual. Upon arriving at work, he opens the program as one of his first tasks, logging in to assess his mood and reflect on gratitude, which he finds provides a positive start to his day.
He emphasizes the importance of staying up-to-date with his physical and mental health.
"Staying up to date with health and my health, mental health, all that is included in there,” Devin said.
He encourages his colleagues to join the program.
"Definitely do it," Devin said "I don't see any negatives to it, because you do it at your own pace."
Balancing wellness with a busy work life can be challenging, but Devin finds Be Well helpful.
"It's tough sometimes, because life's difficult and things come up," Devin said. "I try to stay in shape. I try to go to the gym, but sometimes you can't.”
BeWell assists him in monitoring his progress and maintaining awareness of his activity levels. He explains that the program offers various features, such as tracking steps, which revealed his surprisingly high daily activity. He finds that BeWell effectively consolidates his health data, providing a comprehensive overview.
Both Jessica’s and Devin’s experiences demonstrate the value of Lehigh’s BeWell platform in fostering a culture of wellness among its employees. The program's holistic approach, flexibility, and incentives make it a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their overall well-being.
It’s not too late to get into BeWell. Just go to lehigh.edu/wellness and start your journey.