Between a marathon and a sprint – On health at work

This episode is my summary of a conversation about mental health and the new Health Nation platform, which has just been launched at Capgemini Poland. You're listening to Let's talk about wellbeing, a podcast by Capgemini Poland, where we explore how to take care of ourselves in a world full of constant change and uncertainty. Hosted by Katarzyna Smuda. My guest was Radosław Kruczek, a wellbeing strategist with many years of experience, who has worked both in Poland and in the USA. He is a trainer, speaker and a practitioner of healthy living and his knowledge and personal story gave this conversation real authenticity.

Radosław również przyznał, że dzisiaj idzie do terapii na prewencję. Nie jestem teraz depresjowany, ale idę na sesje, żeby oczekiwać na siebie. To oczekiwanie na powrót do szpitala z złej rady lub zbyt wielu zadaniów. Terapia nie jest tylko dla ludzi w kryzysie. To jest dla kogoś, kto chce bezpośrednio zajmować się zdrowiem mentalnym. Wierzę także w prewencję, ślub, aktywność, zdrowe relacje i umiejętność powstrzymywania i przesunięcia. To są podstawy rezygnacji. At Capgemini we launched the Health Nation platform. It is a mental health helpline and a burnout helpline available to all employees.

It is run by people with real business and personal experience. People who truly understand what we go through every day. As Radosław explained, this is just our starting point. We begin with the helpline, but soon more tools and initiatives will follow. On również podkreślał, że wybór ekspertów na pomieszczeniu nie był wyjątkowym. Chcieliśmy ludzi, którzy są autentyczni, którzy wiedzą o społecznej życiu i którzy przeżywają trudności sami. To daje im przekonanie i zaufanie. Health Nation is designed not only to help in crisis, but to build a culture of health across the company. So, who do we have on our helpline?

Thanks to that, people feel truly understood, Radosław explained. With such experts, the Health Nation Helpline is not just another anonymous service. It becomes real human support. Because traditional EAP programs are global but often rarely used. Health Nation focuses on local perspective, stronger engagement and easy access. Radosław wyjaśnił, że typyczne EAP-y są jak gwarancja. Pracują, ale tylko 2-5% pracowników w rzeczywistości ich używa. Chcemy, aby to liczba była o wiele wyższa. Health Nation został zaprojektowany, by ciągle przypomnieć ludzi o ich zdrowiu. Nie jest to narzędzie na zimny dzień.

To coś, co buduje kulturę wellbeingu codziennie. Challenges, online meetings, support groups, all this keeps people connected to the topic, he added. This makes Health Nation not just an emergency tool, but a part of everyday life. The app also offers challenges, gamification and wellbeing TV. We can build small healthy habits, drinking more water, saving money, exercising regularly. These little steps create big change. Community and shared goals make it easier to keep going. As Radosław said, it's not about big revolutions, but about everyday micro-changes. In the long run, they make biggest difference.

He also pointed out that gamification works because it brings fun and a bit of competition. When we see others working on their goals too, it's easier to stay motivated. We feel part of something bigger. Wellbeing TV and challenges create a space that educates, but also engages. This way the app is not just another icon on your phone, but a real support for building healthy routines. But a question comes up. Doesn't an app create more digital overload? The key is balance. The app is a tool. You can use it on your own terms. Use it, but don't get trapped by notifications.

Is mental and physical health in your top three priorities? If yes, you have a chance for a calmer, happier life. If not, maybe today is the moment to change that. Jak Radosław powiedział, wszyscy mamy listę naszych ważnych rzeczy. Pracę, rodzinę, pieniądze. Ale jeśli nie zrobimy miejsca dla zdrowia, wszystko jeszcze w końcu się rozpadnie. Dodatkowo powiedział, że nie musisz zmienić całej twojej życia na razie. Zrób tylko jedną małą decyzję. Idź na walkę, zapytaj specjalistę, wyłącz telefon na jedną godzinę. I tak zaczyna się prawdziwa zmiana. This is the closing message of the whole episode.

Don't wait until you feel 100% ready. The perfect moment will never come. The first step can be taken today and it's that step that starts the journey to better wellbeing. Health Nation is not just an app. It's an invitation to take care of yourself, to talk, to take small steps, to consciously protect your health. As Radosław said, we want every employee to feel that their health matters, that they are not alone with their problems. For me, the most important thing is to have the courage to take that first step. Whether it's a call, a talk or ten minutes of silence just for yourself.

Each of these is an investment in a better life. So I leave you with one question. What will you do for your health today? Don't put it off until tomorrow. The first step can be taken right now. To make sure you don't miss any future episodes, subscribe to Let's talk about wellbeing in your favorite podcast app. If you enjoy this episode, share it with your colleagues. They might find it helpful too. You'll find all the links and resources mentioned in the episodes in the show notes.