EAP/Professional Standards Committee

Using Apps to Support New Year Wellness Goals

January 9, 2026 13:00 Leave a Comment

The start of a new year often brings renewed goals around improved physical and mental well-being. Many people use apps to help with these goals. Here are some popular free wellness apps to try this year that can support your health, sleep, and daily routines. Most have strong free features, and some offer additional options for those who want to upgrade. If you use an app that helps you, consider sharing it with your flying partners. Our AFA EAP/Professional Standards Committee is also here to support your wellness. Call (949) 470-0493.

Mental Health & Mindfulness

Insight Timer – A completely free meditation app with one of the largest libraries of guided meditations, music tracks, and talks to help with stress, sleep, and focus.
Calm (Free Version) – Offers guided meditations, breathing exercises, nature soundscapes, and short mindfulness content for stress and relaxation. (Free basic content, optional subscription available.)
Finch – A gamified self-care app where you complete wellness activities (like mood check-ins and journaling) that help grow a virtual pet, making habit building more fun.

Fitness & Physical Activity

Nike Training Club – Free workouts for all fitness levels, from strength and mobility to yoga and conditioning, with tips and structured routines you can customize.
Samsung Health – A holistic health tracker that syncs steps, workouts, sleep, heart rate, and more, helping you monitor overall well-being on your phone or wearable.

Sleep & Relaxation

BetterSleep (Free Mode) – Helps you relax and fall asleep with soundscapes, bedtime stories, and breathing exercises (with optional premium content).

Mood & Habit Tracking

DailyBean: Simplest Journal – A simple mood journal and tracker that lets you log your daily emotions and sleep alongside life notes.

Staying Balanced During The Holidays

December 10, 2025 13:00

Let joy, not pressure, lead the way.

The holiday season is a special time for joy, connection, and celebration. But let’s be honest—it can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming, even for the most grounded among us. With family gatherings, work commitments, and financial worries, finding balance isn’t always easy. Here are some practical tips to help you stay centered and truly savor this season.

1. Protect Your Time

Give yourself permission to say “no” when you need to. Not every invitation or request needs your “yes.” It’s okay to protect your time and energy—you deserve it!

2. Keep Healthy Routines

Try to stick with your usual sleep, nutrition, and movement routines as much as possible. Even a short walk or ten minutes of stretching can lift your spirits. Remember, skipping meals or sacrificing rest to “fit everything in” can make things harder—so give yourself permission to pause and recharge.

3. Manage Expectations

Let go of the idea of a “perfect” holiday. Plans may change and things might not always go as expected—and that’s okay! Focus on creating little moments of connection, laughter, and meaning, rather than chasing perfection.

4. Budget with Intention

Financial stress is a common holiday challenge. Setting a spending limit ahead of time can help you relax and focus on what matters most. Thoughtful gestures or shared experiences often mean more than costly gifts—and the memories last longer, too!

5. Build in Quiet Moments

Balance your social activities with moments of stillness. Even a few quiet minutes can help you reset and recharge. Remember to show yourself the same kindness and care that you so generously give to others.

6. Reach Out for Support

If this season brings up feelings of sadness, loneliness, or anxiety, please know you’re not alone. Reach out to a friend or someone you trust—it’s always okay to ask for support. Our AFA EAP Committee is here for you with confidential help whenever you need it at (949) 470-0493. You can also connect with your Local EAP Committee Members at afaalaska.org/eap.

Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairpersons

December 9, 2025 13:05

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

We’re excited to introduce the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons for the upcoming MEC Officer term. They’ll begin transitioning into their roles over the next few weeks and officially start their terms on January 1, 2026. Below, you’ll find brief biographies that highlight their backgrounds and experiences as they prepare to support our Flight Attendant group.

Dianna Ripley, MEC Benefits Committee Chairperson

Dianna Ripley has been a Flight Attendant since 2014. Prior to joining the airline industry, she gained extensive leadership and customer service experience, serving as an Optical Manager for Costco Wholesale and managing Alaska’s first Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa.

Following an on-the-job injury in 2022, Dianna became actively involved with the Council 30 (ANC) Benefits Committee, focusing on Workers’ Compensation. Motivated by her own experience navigating complex processes, she is dedicated to making benefit information clear, accurate, and accessible for all Flight Attendants. In her current role, she works to improve communication around FMLA, medical and maternity leave, Workers’ Compensation, and annual benefits enrollment.

Outside of work, Dianna enjoys spending time outdoors—hiking, walking, and appreciating nature. She has been married to her husband, Mike, since 1995, and they will celebrate their 31st wedding anniversary in January. They have two daughters, a son-in-law, and their family dog, Deshka. Dianna and her family enjoy fishing, camping, riding side-by-sides/ATVs, and gathering around a backyard fire with friends and family year-round.

Melanie Buker, MEC Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee Chairperson

Melanie began her aviation career with Horizon Air in 1986, based in Boise, Idaho. During her tenure, she joined the Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP), an experience that later guided her transition into the AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP) when she joined Alaska Airlines in 2002.

She was elected AFA Council 30 Anchorage President in January 2011 and currently serves her fourth term as Vice President of AFA Council 15 San Diego, where she has also held the role of Local EAP/Professional Standards Committee Chairperson. With more than 23 years of dedicated EAP service, Melanie remains committed to strengthening the program and enhancing support resources for Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants—and, in the future, Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants as the merger progresses.

Melanie resides in Boise, Idaho, where she enjoys the natural beauty of her home state, spending time with her longtime friends, reading, and cherishing time with her two grandsons.

Elizabeth Dillon, MEC Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee Vice Chairperson

Elizabeth Dillon has been a LAX-based Flight Attendant with Alaska Airlines for 35 years and has been involved with the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee (including CIRP Critical Incident Response) since 1996. She holds three certificates related to drug and alcohol abuse: NCAC-I (National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level 1), LAP-C (Labor Assistance Professional), and SAP (Substance Abuse Professional). Elizabeth conducts assessments, organizes inpatient treatment for addicted Flight Attendants, and monitors incoming EAP, Critical Incident, and Professional Standards cases for Flight Attendants at Alaska Airlines.

Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her family, especially the grandkids, traveling, and scrapbooking.

Deb Wallstrom, MEC Retirement Committee Chairperson

Deb Wallstrom has held several Union roles since she joined Alaska Airlines in 1998. Based in Anchorage, Deb currently also serves on both the Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) and the Benefits Committee. She is dedicated to assisting and guiding Flight Attendants through retirement options and information. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, hiking, and curling up with a good survival book.

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

December 3, 2025 13:05

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairperson positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected:

MEC Benefits Committee Chairperson: Dianna Ripley
MEC Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee Chairperson: Melanie Buker
MEC Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee Vice Chairperson: Elizabeth Dillon
MEC Retirement Committee Chairperson: Deb Wallstrom

These newly elected MEC Committee Chairpersons will carry out their respective roles specific to our six pre-merger Alaska Local Councils as we continue to navigate the merger process. They’ll begin the transition into their roles over the next few weeks, with their official term beginning on January 1, 2026. They will serve for the upcoming MEC Officer election cycle from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028.

If you have any questions about the pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairperson elections, please reach out to your LEC President.

Apps To Help You Save Money On Food

November 6, 2025 17:00

Our AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee recognizes that Flight Attendants may be facing increasing challenges when it comes to accessing affordable food, whether on the road or at home. We want you to know that you are not alone. In response to these difficulties, we have compiled a list of apps to help you save money on food and find practical solutions during these uncertain times. Your well-being matters to us, and we are here to help.

Note: Find these apps using the search function on your device’s app store. Not all apps are available on all devices or operating systems.

Flashfood helps users save up to 50% on supermarket staples, including milk, bread, butter, eggs, and more. The app features items marked down because they are nearing their “use by” date. Instead of sending food to a landfill, Flashfood partners with grocery stores across North America to sell these items at a deep discount. All items are still fresh and safe to eat. Users can browse deals from local chains, including Stop & Shop, Giant Eagle, Meijer, and Tops.

Too Good To Go partners with local grocery stores, restaurants, bakeries, and cafés to offer special “surprise bags” filled with unsold food at a significant discount. Instead of discarding unsold items, businesses make them available through the app. Users can browse deals, reserve a bag, pay through the app, and pick up their order during a designated time frame.

Basket is a crowdsourced grocery shopping app designed to help users compare prices at stores within a 5-mile radius. After creating a shopping list, the app compares prices across stores and provides real-time pricing updates, including available coupons and discounts. Users report saving both time and up to $100 a month using Basket.

Food On the Table helps users create personalized shopping lists and offers recipe suggestions. The app identifies required ingredients and locates the most affordable sources nearby. Users can add their own recipes, and the app identifies the most affordable stores for those ingredients. Additional features include recipe emailing and organized shopping categories, helping users save both money and time.

Ibotta enables users to earn cash by adding offers, shopping, and uploading a photo of their receipt. By linking a store loyalty card, users can skip uploading photos. The app supports a variety of retailers. Users can withdraw cash from their Ibotta account once they reach $20, with three withdrawal options: bank transfer, PayPal, or digital gift cards (with a minimum of $25 for gift cards).

Using Apps to Support New Year Wellness Goals