2026 Inside SCL Issue 17 | Page 10

INSIDE SCL

Monarch Wellness

Building Health- Promoting Habits Through Systems: A Path for Our Campus Community

Gabby Dickey, Director of Health Promotion

In this article: Learn small changes that make healthy choices easier at work and beyond.

The start of a new year— or a new semester— often inspires us to set goals for our health and well-being. Yet many resolutions fade quickly, not because we lack intention, but because we rely on motivation alone.

What if we built systems, our environments, routines, and habits that make healthpromoting choices easier and more sustainable? As we work toward a thriving Monarch community, this shift matters not only personally, but institutionally.

Why Systems Matter

Goals set direction; systems create the path. Our environments shape our choices more than willpower alone. When healthy choices are the default, wellbeing becomes part of everyday life rather than another task.

Five Simple Systems to Try This Week: 

1. Design Your Environment

Make wellness easy: keep water nearby, add movement reminders, and remove distractions that drain energy.
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