Briefly introduce yourself and share a bit about your background.
My name is McKenzie Parham, and I have been working with the University for 3 years. I am currently a Facilities Associate III with the Elevator Maintenance department. I graduated from UA in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. When not at work, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Dillon, our son, Flynn, and our black lab, Boone. We enjoy spending our time at Sokol Park on the weekends!
Can you describe the starting point of your journey and the factors that led to this decision?
In 2022, I became pregnant with my son, Flynn. Before pregnancy, my health was never something that concerned me. I quickly learned throughout my pregnancy that my body would never be the same and that I needed to lead a healthier lifestyle for myself and my growing family. After having my son around Christmas of 2022, I realized I needed an outlet for my emotional and physical imbalances, which included postpartum depression, sciatica, and a broken tailbone. Making time for my well-being truly became a necessity for me in my postpartum journey.
What wellness practices or habits have you incorporated into your routine?
I have really enjoyed using my break times throughout the day to walk laps around the building. It is a great way to get yourself moving throughout the workday when you have a sedentary job. I also enjoy taking our dog on a walk in the evenings or walking on our treadmill at home. Walking is simple, yet effective. Water intake has also been a focus of mine, as of late. Completing WellBAMA’s Strive for Five challenge allowed me to develop a new and healthy habit. I now try to focus on drinking multiple 35oz cups of water each day. Overall, increasing my water intake has made me feel better physically.
How has your wellness journey influenced your daily life. Including work, relationships, and overall well-being?
Throughout the course of my wellness journey, I have become significantly happier. Becoming an overall happier person has led to positive reception at work and at home. At work, I like to lead by example, which I believe starts with a positive and “can do” attitude. At home, I try to stay positive and happy for my son and my husband. I believe that children tend to be happier when they have happier parents. My wellness journey has also affected my daily life by giving me more motivation and energy on a day-to-day basis.
How do you plan to sustain your well-being and continue growing in the future?
Having a child at home can make consistency challenging, but I plan to use the resources that are available to me and to ask for help when I need it. Sometimes it takes a village to sustain your well-being. I also plan to always stay open-minded when it comes to my wellness journey. I want to try new foods, exercises, and hobbies to try and keep wellness fun for myself!