National Wellness Month in the Athletic Center: Steal These 5 Healthy Habits
August is National Wellness Month, the perfect to time to push “pause” and consider approachable, realistic ways to establish healthier habits – especially before the chaos of a busy fall begins.
We asked five tenured Athletic Center staff members for a little inspiration, and each shared their never-miss practices that keep them on a steady path to wellness. For all, motivation is not a factor, as discipline cannot rely on motivation alone. Consistency – like brushing teeth daily, as one trainer put it – is crucial. With time, a new healthy habit is formed, which can lead to improvements in longevity for the future, and better overall wellbeing right now.
Avoid alcohol during the week - Chad Hara, Personal Trainer
“Over the last three years I've implemented a non-negotiable deal with myself to not consume any libations Monday through Thursday. The only time I will even consider it is for a special event or occasion. Establishing the habit was simple. It was an agreement with myself understanding that I had the option to have a few drinks on either Friday or Saturday, if I felt like it. I had noticed my sleep patterns were being altered. It would also take longer to have full cognitive awareness in the mornings. But I also realized how well my system responded when I did all the right things. I realized that when I treat my body with respect, the return on investment is more than worth it. It allows me to train, be active, and really enjoy life at this age.”
Move daily - Lauren Robinson, Performance + Longevity Wellness Manager
“My non-negotiable is daily movement. While exercise is the habit, the bigger lesson is the discipline behind it. I don't rely on motivation because motivation comes and goes. Instead, I've made movement a part of my daily routine, just like brushing my teeth or going to work. But consistency doesn't have to mean perfection – some days I have an hour to train and other days I only have 15 minutes. Both count. Showing up, even in a small way, reinforces the habit and keeps the momentum going. When I move consistently, I tend to make better food choices, sleep better, manage stress more effectively, and have more energy throughout the day. It's one habit that positively influences many others.”
Stay properly hydrated - Billy Eason, Personal Trainer
“One of the biggest healthy habits I have is drinking 80 to 120 ounces of water a day. But not just water – I use hydration electrolyte packets in the morning and drink pickle juice at home at night. The pickle juice is a game changer during this heat and keeps me from cramping up at night.”
Get at least 7 hours of sleep - Ashli Davenport, Director of Performance + Longevity
“Sleep has always been important to me, and I can definitely tell when I don’t get enough. It affects everything the next day, from my workout and food choices to my energy and mood. I usually wake up early, so I really try to go to bed early and protect that time as much as possible. I also love a good evening routine. I wear blue-light blocking glasses in the evening, try to avoid screens before bed, and I like listening to my BrainTap meditation headset to help me wind down. When I’m getting enough sleep, all of my other healthy habits seem to fall into place a lot easier.”
Perform high intensity intervals with friends twice a week - Celestina Blok, Pilates & Group Fitness Instructor
“Twice a week at lunch, I step away from teaching equipment Pilates and my freelance writing assignments and break a sweat with girlfriends during a high intensity interval training class. I teach the class and have for more than 20 years, but as I age, I don’t want to stop this type of training. It’s hard, my legs burn, my heartrate goes up, it’s difficult to talk; but the benefits are amazing for me. It feels like a toxin flush every time, and I feel renewed and ready to get back to daily tasks with more clarity and energy. Doing this type of workout with friends and fun music makes it more than just tolerable – I genuinely crave it and feel sluggish and boring without it.”
