Here’s To A Healthy Summer! Time To Hit Refresh

In our academic environment, early May is the unofficial start to summer. It is now OK to plod around the house in flip flops: cook all your meals on the grill; start again on that list of good reads; and make plans to visit ALL of your favorite spots ( or future favorite spots). 

It also signifies the midway point of the year, providing an excellent opportunity to check in on those wellness goals that you set all the way back in January. Whether you’re still on track or need to course correct, there’s always another chance to find your footing and keep moving forward.

To celebrate summer, we’re offering a few healthful ideas that can make recommitting to healthy habits every Monday as pleasant as a warm summer breeze.

Here’s to a healthy summer!  Consider the following:

• Make it the Summer of Healthy Mondays. Thanks again for your interest in the Monday Campaigns. They will resume in August. Feel free to search the Daily Flyer for previous articles and continue to make use of the information and the many resources shared.
• Make Healthy Eating a Priority.
  • Continue to visit NOVA’s Healthy Nutrition Padlet for lots of healthy recipes. Throughout the summer, take a recipe and/or leave a recipe that you and your family enjoyed. 
  • Enjoy the best of what DMV offers in fresh foods and good neighbors! Visit a local farmers market or two or three.
• Keep Moving Your Way.
  • Outdoor Adventure- Revisit Spring 2023 NOVA Walk Week Was a Hit! for many ideas on enjoying “green exercise.” Continue to explore the collection of state and national parks throughout our area.  Share your images.
  • At NOVA: Look here for maps to a selection of trails on our beautiful campuses.
  • Moving outdoors is for everyone- accessible opportunities. Boardwalk Hikes in Northern Virginia– Explore 7 beautiful boardwalk hikes in Northern Virginia on trails close to nature and unique wetland habitats near Washington, DC. All of these boardwalk trails are level and easy, and many are stroller and wheelchair accessible. Share your images.
  • Take advantage of the many no-cost fitness and wellness virtual offerings and more from AARP. 
• Enjoy All the DMV Has to Offer.
  • Visit Millennium Stage | Kennedy Center (kennedy-center.org) face to face or virtually. See the upcoming events and watch recently filmed videos from their free series. And delve into full-length encore performances from over 20 years of Millennium Stage.
  • Fall in love with Virginia again. Join other Virginians and build your collection of photos with the Loveworks signs throughout the state. Check out the LOVEworks Google map for directions and to find the closest LOVEwork to you right now and as you travel the state this summer.  Share your images. While you’re at it, order your 2023 copy of the state’s official travel guide. 
  • Employee Discounts. Sam’s Club, vacation packages, flowers and much more are listed under the “Limited Time Offers” section! Be sure to check back often for updates on discounts for you and your family. Check out the State Employee Discounts webpage for more discounts!

Don’t forget to help us build our Move It Outdoors Celebration Wall this summer.  Share your images. Looking forward to seeing the myriad of fun ways you recommit to your healthy habits.

Remember to harness the power of checking in to enhance the success of your wellness plan.

Use the Monday Campaigns: Weekly Check-Ins

Mindful awareness, accountability, goal setting and tracking progress are evidence-based techniques that enhance the success of a wellness plan. Each week, the Monday Campaigns participants are invited to use the weekly check- Ins (Weekly Check In– Summer 2023) to help you:

• Remain motivated;
• Reflect on your progress;  
• Consider how you will work with your Push Pal to get the most effective results from your wellness experiences; and
• Recommit to your weekly goals.

Turn intentions into actions.

Submitted by:
Dahlia Henry-Tett, HR-Chief Wellness Officer, EmployeeWellness@nvcc.edu