Let’s Revisit Our Healthy Refresh Plan. Step 2: Pick an Action.

February 6, 2024 / Get Well

It’s our day to refresh! What’s today’s plan for increasing your likelihood of success? NOVA’s Office of Employee Wellness and Wellbeing (OEWW) invites you to take steps to improve, maintain or alter your chosen wellness habits.  

Create your roadmap to success with the Healthy Monday Refresh, Steps 1–3. 

  1. Set/reset your intention.
  2. Pick an action.
  3. Make it happen.

Let’s break down Step 2: Pick an action.

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you want to become.” — Atomic Habits by James Clear

Choosing a focus for your goals involves identifying specific areas of your life and personal development that you want to prioritize. What’s one small thing you could do differently to save time, boost your happiness or be of some other benefit? Maybe it’s a tiny tweak, such as making your lunch or walking before work. Or maybe you’ve been meaning to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Take little steps now to form new habits or discard those that aren’t working for you. After all, the Monday Campaigns remind us that small changes can add up to BIG successes! 

“To choose not to choose is still to act.” — Jean-Paul Sartre

This week, take a few minutes to close your eyes, set or reset your intentions, and choose an action step:

  • Envision what you want to achieve. Remind yourself why you’re pursuing your goal, and imagine how it will feel when you reach it!
  • Think about small, manageable actions you can take this week to make progress. You may find it helpful to write the steps down so you can revisit them later.
  • Take the step. Put a system of accountability in place to help encourage yourself to make that move.
  • Celebrate. It’s important to acknowledge even small wins as real successes. For more on this, read why “Celebrating Is Good for Your Brain.”
  • Level up. Dive into this scientific guide on goal setting from James Clear. Also, consider listening to “How to Stick to Your Resolutions in 2024” from the Greater Good Science Center.

If you slip up during the week, accept it as part of the process of change; simply reset your intention and get back on track!

Change is within your reach. Join us next week as we share Healthy Monday Refresh Step 3 (Make It Happen). And remember, use the Monday Check-In to help bolster your wellness efforts. Each week, take what you need and leave what you don’t!

Square white graphic with the following header text in blue: "This Monday, place your goals within reach — and your stress far away." Subheader text (smaller): "Re-imagine your future by focusing on simple, doable steps to make progress." Three images on circular backgrounds "floating" in white space of larger graphic. Top two images are (1) cartoon drawings of black heart-rate monitor, blue tennis shoe, and clipboard with items checked off in red and (2) cartoon drawings of smoothie or protein shaker surrounded by fruits including oranges, kiwis, blueberries, and watermelon. Bottom image is cartoon drawings of two textbooks, on top of which sits a black graduation cap. In front of the books is a diploma scroll. At bottom, from left to right: "DeStress Monday" logo in blue. DeStressMonday dot org. Hashtag DeStressMonday

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