WAT! Adult - College Edition WALK Newsletter #2 – March 14th, 2022

W – WOW: College Edition Update

Great to “see” everyone again! And, “welcome” to those of you who recently joined us. Did you know that the Walk Across Texas! program started in 1996? Yes! You are part of an elite group with a rich tradition. Back in those days, miles were turned in on paper and calculated by hand. But since then, WAT! has had over 650,000 participants and has contributed to an estimated economic impact of over $2.25 billion dollars!  

Often when we start a new project, we are super excited to begin. The first few weeks are new and different, but then as time passes other things take priority and we get distracted or discouraged. While this is our second newsletter, we are now into our Week 5 of the program! Reflecting on your path so far can be helpful. Here are some questions to contemplate regarding your current WAT! experience…

Maybe think about these questions the next time that you are walking: 

• What are some of the benefits you have noticed?
• What are some of the obstacles you have encountered? How have you addressed those?
• As you look back at your daily WAT! entries, what patterns are you noticing? 

Over the next couple of weeks, you will experience a myriad of feelings, everywhere from “this doesn’t make any sense” to “this is the best thing ever!” Either way, you can be confident that WAT! is scientifically based, and research shows that it works! But, like any health-related program, your outcomes are related to your input. Even small steps can add up to make a significant difference. 

Be sure to check out our socials for daily content and giveaways: 

A – Action

Here are upcoming selected events during Week 5 – March 12^th – 18^th: 

The Local @ Lake Walk – In-Person – Tuesday (03/15) from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Click the link for more info

FREE Amp It Up! Event @ TruFit – In-Person – Wednesday (3/16) at 5:30 PM (Zumba or Cycling); 6:00 PM (Combo 6 HIIT Boxing Circuit); 6:30 PM (Yoga) – Click the link to register for any of the FOUR options

The 12th Can Campus Food Drive – In-Person – Available until March 23^rd – Click the link to learn more

Books That Health Out: National Nutrition Month Book & Resource Display – In-Person – Available until March 31^st – Click the link to learn more

L – Leaderboard

Speaking of input and adding up, for the 2022 TAMU College Edition league, we have 178 participants on 45 teams and a whopping 8,014.05 miles collectively! Here is a look at all the teams with submitted mileage in the 2022 TAMU College Edition League: 

*Mileage as of Monday, March 14^th at 1:30 PM

K – Knowledge – Being Connected

College can be an exciting, fun time in life. It can also present new challenges as you navigate the transition into adulthood. One way to help you overcome these challenges is by being connected. Having a strong social network has been shown to strengthen your immune system, help you recover from disease faster, and may even lengthen your life! Research shows that lack of strong relationships increases the risk of premature death from all causes by 50% — an effect on mortality risk roughly comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and greater than obesity and physical inactivity! Forging connections with others are vital to your health, and college is a great time to expand your social circle and meet new people!

Some ways you can begin to strengthen the connection you have with those around you include: Inviting a friend to grab a coffee or bite to eat with you, or writing someone a handwritten letter or card. Even just giving a friend a quick phone call or text to check in on them can go a long way in strengthening that connection. 

Some people struggle with forming connections with new people and expanding their social circle. Some ways you can meet new people include joining an organization on campus, talking to the people who sit around you in class, and chatting with someone in the MSC or elsewhere on campus. The key to becoming great at forming connections is communication. Creating open channels of communication with your friends, family, and acquaintances allows for connections to remain strong!  

Check out the resources below for more tips on being connected!

The health benefits of strong relationships – Harvard Health Publishing

Connectedness & Health: The Science of Social Connection – Stanford Medicine 

Social connections important to well-being – Illinois State University