Laura Henshaw: How I get the most from AIA Vitality (and why you should, too)

AIA Vitality Ambassador Laura Henshaw explains how she gets more insight into her health and wellbeing.

Health and wellbeing are so important in my life – it’s what I do every single day for my business, Keep It Cleaner. I live and breathe it. If I eat well, move every day and look after my sleep and mental health, I’m the best version of myself. I have energy to work, my mind is clear and I feel good.

That being said – just like with all good habits – a little extra motivation helps, which is where AIA Vitality comes in. AIA Vitality is a health and wellbeing program that helps you make healthier choices – whether that’s about exercise, nutrition, mental health or sleep. It also offers some great incentives to keep you making the right decisions.

A lot of the time, we take our health for granted – but we shouldn’t. It’s so important to have something like AIA Vitality to remind you to always be mindful of your health (in all its different facets).

For example, I particularly like that it prompts me for both physical and mental health check-ups I wouldn’t normally do myself. These are great reminders to check in with our wellbeing. Sometimes, we might think we’re healthier than we really are.

These check-ups mean I can earn AIA Vitality Points, which in turn lead to regular rewards. These can range from gift cards, vouchers, or even cash if you have a Commonwealth Bank account (although my favourite reward is discounted e-Gift cards from endota spa).

While the rewards are a nice incentive, it’s the health prompts that mean the most to me. It’s a constant reminder to take care of myself (and I get rewarded in the process). I can get points if I get an eye check or go to the dentist. All these little things add up toward a better, healthier lifestyle.

It’s all about taking small, sustainable steps to change your life for the better. That’s the most important thing when it comes to health. There’s no point in changing something for a week and then going back to where you started. It's all about the journey – though that might also mean that you take a few steps back on your way forward. It’s so important that we look at health holistically.

When I exercise, my activity syncs with AIA Vitality – so I earn points whenever I work out. I’ve been exercising in the morning for a long time now, it’s like brushing my teeth. Even on the days when I don’t wake up feeling motivated, it doesn’t matter – it’s a routine.

Apart from that, I also make sure I get my daily steps in. AIA Vitality sets daily activity targets that are a great little nudge on those days where I might be falling a bit short.

The different levels of incentives within the program are geared towards keeping you going. There are smaller weekly goals, and larger long-term ones. It keeps you motivated, and more importantly, it keeps you accountable (plus the rewards don’t hurt either). 

Remember, you get out what you put in. The more time I spent using AIA Vitality, the more I understood my physical and mental health. This helped me learn how to better integrate health and wellbeing into my daily life. Being able to redeem a variety of rewards to treat yourself is just the cherry on top.

All AIA Health policies include membership to AIA Vitality, the science-backed health and wellbeing program that rewards you for making healthier choices. 

Article 1: Laura Henshaw: How i organise my life
Article 2: Laura Henshaw: Why improving your physical health can beneft your mental health
Article 3: 5 Expert tips to achieve work-life balance

Laura Henshaw is a student, entrepreneur and model with a keen focus on mental and physical wellbeing. She co-founded Keep It Cleaner, an online health and fitness program, and will soon publish a book designed to encourage young women to live their best lives. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.