Briefly introduce yourself and share a bit about your background.
I am the Director for First Year Experience at The University of Alabama where my career focuses on transition programming for first-year college students through leadership development, community building, and discovering passion areas. I have worked for FYE for the past 8 years in various roles and I am a 2 time graduate of The University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in international relations and master’s degree in higher education administration. When not working my job that I absolutely love, I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter going on adventures in the outdoors, baking sweet treats, and travelling.
Can you describe the starting point of your journey and the factors that led to this decision?
My wellness journey started after attending my first WellBAMA Screening where I was able to identify goals for my health and understand the current status of my health. As a full-time working employee with a young child at home, I was inspired to be in the best health as possible to increase energy and be fully present in all aspects of my life.
How has your wellness journey influenced your daily life, including work, relationships, and overall well-being?
Time is a consistent challenge encountered during my wellness journey as it feels like there is never enough time in a day to fulfill all tasks needed including exercise. I try to overcome the challenge of time by pre-scheduling times for a walk each week then when the timing does not work out for a full exercise plan, I find alternatives to exercise such as taking the stairs or mini-breaks for short distance walks that add up over time.
What wellness practices or habits have you incorporated into your routine?
A few wellness practices that have made their appearance into my routine include outdoor walks for physical movement, desk meditation for stress management, and meal plans for including a variety of nutritious options in my daily meals. I started walking more a few years ago after completing the Crimson Couch to 5K Training sessions when I incorporated walking into my daily routine to meet the goals of that program then continued with the training. I have attended many of Dr. Abby Horton’s wellness webinars and utilize the practices shared to manage stress and find a sense of calm during times when tasks may feel overwhelming. More recently, I have started creating meal plans and utilizing the recipe ideas in the monthly newsletter to try new ways for eating healthier foods.
What specific wellness program has had a positive impact on you?
The Crimson Couch to 5K training program has had a positive impact through being a wellness opportunity that incorporates more than just me into the process. I encouraged our office staff to participate together through the training process and we incorporated a 30-minute walk around the Quad once a week together as part of our training. Over 2 years later, we still make a lap around the Quad once a week together and it has become a time that we all look forward to each week!
What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their wellness journey?
My best advice is advice that was given to me – just start your wellness journey. There will likely not be a perfect day or time or life circumstance that will line up to start your wellness journey. Instead, start with something that you feel comfortable incorporating into your day such as a 10-minute walk during lunch or adding more fruits and vegetables to your meals then you can add to your wellness journey as time progresses. Once you start to notice changes in your well-being, it becomes easy to be inspired to add additional wellness benefits.
Read more inspiring wellness stories, tips for maintaining a healthy routine, and meet all the UA Spotlight on Wellness employees from this year.