Working well: How my firm’s wellness coordinator helped me work better
By Wendy Travis, AICP, Garver Planning and Environmental Team Leader
The Ports-to-Plains Feasibility Study was a massive study undertaken for the Texas Department of Transportation. One of the largest in the state’s history, it was a study that normally would have taken the better part of two years. We did it in half that time. But while I’m proud of the team for making such a Herculean effort, that’s not why I’m writing this article. I’m writing because of how that project brought me to a crossroads – and the path I chose to take in its wake.
Toward the end of the year, as our work was coming to a close, I made myself a promise: In the coming year, I’d be a better me. Even when it was toughest. Especially when it was toughest. In order to do so, I approached Garver’s Wellness Coordinator, Whitney. I explained that I’d been travelling for much of the past year and had struggled to maintain healthy habits.
I also told her that my travel schedule wasn’t likely to change anytime soon. So, together we made a plan.
And now, nearly eight months later, when I look at our company-wide leaderboard that charts wellness activities, I see my name in the No. 3 spot – in an 850-person company.
Today, I’d like to share how I did that.
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1. Accountability
When I came to Garver in 2017, it was at least in part because of their GarverWellness program. It had been nearly 20 years since I’d worked for a company that prioritized wellness of its employees – and even then, my past employer’s wellness program had been limited to lunchtime workouts at the company gym. This was great, but there wasn’t anyone by my side giving me health tips or saying, “Hey, did you get that workout in today? How are you eating?”
It’s true that so much of what I’ve done these past few months has been self-motivated – but I’ve had plenty of guidance, too. From my quarterly meetings with Whitney to the ongoing friendly competition that I have with my co-worker, Stephen (whom, I should note, is currently sitting at No. 2 on the leaderboard), there’s an incredible feeling of support from all sides.
It’s also far different than any other experience I’ve had over the course of my career.
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2. Scheduling
I’d be the first to admit that I’m not a “strict schedule person.” But I’ve found that when I force myself to stick to one, I have an easier time balancing everything that I need to balance. What’s more, if I’m able to make something a part of my routine, it tends to stick. That’s the reason why, probably 90 percent of the time, I do my workouts in the morning. There’s something about starting the day with good physical activity that gives me a boost.
When it came to scheduling, one of my biggest hurdles was a demanding travel schedule – particularly when it came to nutrition and exercise on the road. To remedy that, Whitney told me that it was of the utmost importance to plan ahead. To prep lunches and dinners when I knew that I wasn’t going to have access to a kitchen where I could cook. To pack healthy snacks like fruit and nuts to avoid having to pick up food at a gas station. To make workout equipment an integral part of my travel bag. (One of my best purchases was a workout mat that I can spread out on a hotel room floor – and not have to worry about lying down on the carpet.)
More than anything, planning ahead gave me the luxury of knowing everything was done.
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3. The importance of selfcare – for yourself and others
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever gotten came from a guy I worked for early in my career. He said, “It’s really important for your mind, your body, and your soul to be equally nourished. When you have that, you’re the best you can be.”
Over the course of the past year, that advice has taken on new meaning in my life. I’ve realized when I’m eating healthy and working out, when I’m taking care of my mental health, I’m less stressed and my thoughts are more composed. In effect: I’m my best me. What’s surprising is how something so simple often gets overlooked – and how it’s so often the first thing we lose sight of when work gets really busy.
This is the reason why I approach my work as a manager in the way that I do. Because as a project manager, I know that I set the tone for my team. This is the case not only for workplace culture and the atmosphere of the projects I lead, but also for things like health and wellness. I know that if my team sees me making my physical and mental health a priority – finding the right balance in my work and family commitments and personal wellbeing – they’ll be more inclined to do the same.
Details
October 14, 2021
Garver
Name: Anita C. Smith
Phone: 5018230204
Email: acsmith@garverusa.com