September Wellness Ambassador of the Month | Roderick Munoz
Quick Summary
- Wellness means longevity. Being healthy enough to enjoy life and to move easily through daily activities.
How long have you worked at UC Davis?
What does Wellness mean to you?
Wellness means longevity. Being healthy enough to enjoy life and to move easily through daily activities.
Why did you become a wellness ambassador?
I wanted to share what I’ve learned and motivate my colleagues to be more active.
How long have you been a wellness ambassador?
I have been a wellness ambassador for over a year.
What has been the most rewarding or positive part about your experience thus far?
The most rewarding part has been seeing our colleagues stay consistent with walking since our previous ambassadors started it. I’ve enjoyed working out with them, connecting virtually through challenges and in-person through races like marathons and Spartan races. It has built great camaraderie.
What are some challenges you face as a wellness ambassador?
We haven’t had major challenges. Some colleagues had occasional trouble with the walking challenge app connectivity, and not everyone is active in the group chat when sharing workouts and progress. Overall, most members have stayed active, and one member even lost significant weight, from 210 lbs to 162 lbs., by making lifestyle changes.
What is one piece of advice you would like to share with new wellness ambassadors?
Start your workout at the beginning of the day. If things get busy later, you’ve already finished your exercise. Be consistent, you don’t need a perfect plan. Just show up and be active daily. Consistency builds habit, and small daily wins add up to big results.
Employee Well-being aims to build an environment that makes the healthier choice the easier one, while providing staff and faculty with the required support to make UC Davis the healthiest community. How do you feel you have contributed to our mission?
By staying connected with my colleagues around health, I feel I’ve contributed in a small way. It gives me purpose, not just to focus on my own health, but to help build a community that chooses healthier options together.
What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
I enjoy watching new movies in theaters with my family.