NOVA Walk Week Starts Sept. 25! Let’s Get Ready to Walk!

September 22, 2023 / Get Well

This Monday, Let’s Level Up Our Physical Wellness Efforts!

  • How? This is how…
    Next week is NOVA Walk Week (Monday, September 25th through Friday, September 29th). The week is dedicated to encouraging movement and engagement for our NOVA community of employees, students, Alumni and Friends Network, and retirees. A community is a powerful thing that can be an especially motivating force for individuals and groups looking to establish or recommit to healthy habits. Sure, misery loves company, but happy people love company, too, which is why you may find extra motivation to tackle things like healthy eating and exercise as a group.

We look forward to our community coming together and participating during Walk Week.

  • Why walking? Well…
    Adopting a consistent walking routine is an essential step toward an overall healthier lifestyle. It can help reduce chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, but even an activity as straightforward as walking requires a little bit of planning and encouragement.

What do you need to do? Glad you asked.

  • Register your intention to participate in NOVA Walk Week. You will receive additional guidance and a list of NOVA Wellness Champions to whom you can reach out for support and encouragement. 
  • Plan to participate in NOVA Walk Week walking events on your campus. The Wellness Champions have agreed to serve as NOVA Walk Week Push Pals. Some will even be leading campus walks for you to join. 
  • Encourage others (colleagues, students, family and/or friends) to walk.
  • Share or like us on the NOVA Engage App.
  • Reach out to your personal PUSH Pal/ accountability partner and discuss your plan to be ready-ready!
  • Who? You, that’s Who… and Me… Us… Community!
    Nighthawks Unite. Join your colleagues. Encourage your students. Take some time to get active. Embrace the beauty of our campus grounds. Walk one of the mapped trails and/or just take a stroll around your campus! Also, let’s take NOVA WALK Week into our communities throughout the DMV. Our family and friends will undoubtedly benefit and say, “Thanks.”

Feeling inspired… 
Start or continue your preparation now to safely engage in the available movement experiences. 

  • With any physical fitness routine, going at your own pace and aiming for steady incremental progress is important. If it has been a while, check in with your medical provider.
  • Be prepared and set a daily or weekly walking goal. Read this tip sheet for more details on goal setting and proper footwear. 
    • Here is an additional link to a more comprehensive list of tips for getting started.

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

  • Action Items.
    • Make plans now to prioritize your self-care.  
    • Consider using The Monday Campaign: 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, Monday Campaign participants are invited to use the weekly check-ins. Use the check-in to help you:
    • Develop and recommit to your wellness goals;
    • Reflect on your progress; and  
    • Consider how you will work with a Push Pal to remain motivated and to get the most effective results from your wellness experiences.

Prioritize a self-care strategy this week. Move in a manner that contributes to your health and wellbeing. 

Walk Week "flyer." Bright green background. Save the date. 25 to 29 September NOVA Walk Week. Fall 2023. Illustrations of people walking. block below the green block. Grey background. Mission: to enhance the lives of our college community by providing activities that promote wellness and fitness, social engagement, personal growth and healthy lifestyles. Objective: to create and implement an annual activity that encourages movement and engagement amongst all campuses, while also helping build community. Goals. Bulleted list: Display unity across all campuses. Further help build community through activity. encourage movement and engagement. enhance collective engagement in healthful activities. Questions: email employeewellbeing at nvcc dot edu.

Submitted by:
Dahlia Henry-Tett, Chief Wellness Officer (CWO), employeewellbeing@nvcc.edu