My Possible self: The well-being app for SCC employees

Surrey County Council’s wellbeing app for employees is provided by 'My Possible Self' and Care First (our Employee Assistance Provider). With the app, our employees can gain access to lots of wellbeing resources tailored to their own wellbeing goals, by taking a short lifestyles questionnaire.

Catherine Edwards, an Employee Experience Consultant for SCC, shares her insights on using the ‘My Possible Self’ app in a blog below.

The App

I have spent a month using our wellbeing app. The app itself is by a company called My Possible Self. It is a free app anyone can sign up to. However, you get the full content when you sign up as a Surrey County Council employee (Thanks to ‘Care First’ our Employee Assistance Provider!)

I completed my lifestyle questionnaire and my home page popped up with my personalised content. Thumbs up so far.

What is it?

I have found it to be a simple and engaging way to track my progress and get advice and ideas on my wellbeing goals. I found the app in my app store and was welcomed by a cheerful blue face and lots of calming pastel tones. I completed the short lifestyle quiz and it came up with resources to help me drink more water, get more sleep and manage my stress. These aren't claiming to fix everything for me, just to give me quick access to advice and resources making it easier for me to achieve these things. There are simple and aesthetically pleasing tracker pages to log what I am doing and the whole site is intuitive and simple to use. I have also had a rummage in the recipes section to find interesting and healthy breakfasts too.

I chose to monitor my mood at various times during the day, the mood tracker runs along the top of the home screen, and I can add to it whenever I like. I added where I was, what I was doing and who I was with for extra detail. Along-side these wellbeing goals I have more trackers, videos, more quizzes, recipes, exercises, relaxation resources plus access to a whole library of podcasts and other content. Because there is so much, I am finding it helpful to focus on my goals rather than tackle the content randomly.

Did I like it?

I decided to give it a month of daily use to before making any judgements. Immediately I found it insightful and easy to use. I never knew these would be my wellbeing goals but now, more than anything else, I find myself thinking about drinking water, quality sleep and reducing stress as part of my daily routine. I did really like the trackers, but they are not something I will be looking at every day. As the app doesn't pester me or tell me off for not completing them, I am very happy to do them when I feel like it. Since giving it a go, I find myself opening it up and looking at the resources when I'm feeling like I need a little direction. I am very glad I have it within reach.

Update: I have also used the relaxation and mindfulness talk-throughs as a team activity. They last for as little as 3 minutes with a range of calming animated scenes to watch if you want

Why use the Care First app?

There is so much content, but because it focuses on your wellbeing goals it isn't overwhelming. It prompts you to keep it updated but I never felt bossed about by it. There is no telling you off if you need a break. I can share it with my family, especially the relaxation resources before bed. AND am I drinking more water?? Yes, I am!! (I am not getting more sleep but that is down to 2 young children waking in the night still) Update: 6 months later one of them is sleeping through!

I think everyone should at least give it a go. Its free and it has a couple of features you can't get from other apps:

1. You have all the Care First contact information on your phone or tablet. So, if you or a family member need them, you don't need to log onto a work device to find the information or contact details you need.

2. If you found yourself using the Care First counselling service you could give them permission to access your app content. If you have been monitoring various wellbeing goals your counsellor can use this to help you. No more remembering all those details.

Surrey County Council employees can find out more about the well-being app and how to sign up, via the Well-being SharePoint page on our internal site.?