This is a question I am so happy to answer because it means RiseVT is making its way across our communities helping everyone to take a step closer in making healthy choices. So here is how it works. We have made it easy by going to www.RiseVT.com., to tap into RiseVT, our community’s campaign to embrace healthier lifestyles, to fill out a personal scorecard online. It fits for any age and every family!

The scorecard is quick and easy to complete. It even calculates your results all by itself! After you have clicked into the online scorecard, it will ask you a series of multiple choice questions about a variety of habits that have an impact on your health, including: eating, using tobacco, physical activity, sleep, socializing and relaxing, and access to primary care. It takes about five minutes to complete and then, based on your responses, it gives you a score out of 100. Think of this number as a mile marker of where you are right now with these healthy habits. As you answer the questions, I’m sure you will begin to get ideas of what improvements you could make to live a little bit healthier. The scorecard also gives you a link to connect to free coaching with RiseVT Health Coach Brian Clukey (who many of you may remember from the early morning “show up” events last summer and fall). Brian can help you understand your results and share ideas for improvement and information about community resources. He provides support and encouragement for many who are doing what they can to embrace a healthier lifestyle. Plus, each month that you complete a scorecard, you are entered to win a drawing for a $50 Hannaford gift card!

The overall results from the scorecard give some insights into how we are doing as a community. In December, 119 individuals completed a RiseVT scorecard. The average score was a 72, which shows most people have a number of positive habits in place and still have some areas where they can make a change to improve their health. Maybe you have quit tobacco or have a robust amount of fruits and vegetables, but you are short changing yourself on sleep and relaxation time? Maybe it has been a while since you were physically active on a regular basis, but you are taking the time for a healthy breakfast? Maybe it has been years since your last “annual” physical with your primary care physician or advanced practice provider? Knowing this, and knowing what steps to take next, is key to making progress, gaining energy, feeling better, reducing illness, and ultimately lowering personal healthcare costs.

This is a great time to join in the fun of RiseVT, as we are running a “Healthy New You Daily Giveaway” from now until January 31. Every day, RiseVT posts a new health tip, quote or fact along with a daily giveaway prize on Facebook at www.facebook.com/risevt! If you “Like”, comment or share the post you will be entered to win the daily prize and be entered to win the grand prize of a $250 gift card to Hannaford. You can enter every day and the more you play, the more chances you have to win! And if you are not on Facebook, you can still view the RiseVT post on our Facebook page and send us an email at [email protected] saying you saw the post for your daily entry (please include your name and the best way to contact you).

It is wonderful to see so much excitement around RiseVT and so many efforts towards better health happening in our community. There are now more than 5,130 people (coming from every town in our region) involved in RiseVT – along with 38 businesses, 12 schools, and 5 communities. That’s amazing, considering the campaign launched just seven months ago in June! Northwestern Vermont is on the rise. I can feel energy! People want to feel better and live healthier. I am proud of the work of the RiseVT team and the Community Committee on Healthy Lifestyles who are helping all of us on our journeys to better health. You will find great support and resources within RiseVT and I think you will really enjoy participating. Visit RiseVT.com today and join in!

— Jill Berry Bowen, NMC’s Chief Executive Officer