Anne Mackereth, MA, Public Services Librarian and Assistant Professor
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness is a balance of a combination of things like physical health – which includes eating properly and resting as you should – mental health, and spiritual health. It’s not something you always have, but if you deviate, it’s important to come back and try again. It’s about progress.
What do you do to stay well?
Walking is a big factor for me. No matter what else falls by the wayside, I always walk. Someone said if you stop moving, you’re dead. I really believe that. Another is setting boundaries with work, outside interests, classes, and friends. Being outside in nature is also really important to me. It connects me with the spiritual.
How do you work wellness into your day?
I used to take a walk everyday during work, but since I got my dog, Rufus, who needs a lot of exercise, I walk every morning and evening with him. I also take yoga and Pilates when it’s offered here. I do weights at home in the evening a couple nights a week. I also plan what I eat and bring it with me.
What are your biggest struggles for maintaining wellness?
The pressure of our culture can be a struggle for maintaining wellness, especially the way we celebrate with sweets and cake and mass quantities of food. The servings at restaurants in this country are so enormous. Also, I’m a vegetarian and my husband comes from a large family of non-vegetarians. When we get together, they think the food I bring is so weird. Trying to do what is right for you despite pressures from others is really hard. My own feelings can be a struggle, too, when I start feeling deprived instead of feeling like what I’m doing is a choice.
How do you find time to workout?
I think people make time for what is important to them. It helps that some of the activities I do, like Pilates and yoga, are here on campus. I’m not a gym person, so I want to be able to exercise at home or at the work place. It really doesn’t take that much time. The dog needs walking. We walked almost everyday in the winter. It also helps that my husband is active too.
Why is being well important to you?
It’s important for my mental health, because I can tell when I don’t do it. Since there’s a long history of cardiovascular and heart disease in my family, it’s important for me to find balance in my life so my stress level, cholesterol, and blood pressure stay within a healthy range. I want to have a good quality of life and feel good as long as possible.
Do you have any recommended resources for wellness?
I use the HealthyU Web site. Friends can also be a resource in that they help you incorporate wellness into your life. Instead of sitting and talking with a friend, you can go for a walk and then get coffee. The library is also a good source of wellness resources. If you plug in the term wellness into the library catalog you get hundreds of choices.
