Every Wednesday our Benefits Administrator, Stacy Collins, sends a company-wide email with the subject: Wellness Wednesday. It is one of the ways Lewis shares a wide variety of wellness topics that employees can take advantage of, especially during this year’s pandemic. Topics range from nutrition, exercise, and mental health. It’s a nice way to share beneficial information to assist Lewis employees and their families in achieving their overall health and wellness goals.
A recent Wellness Wednesday email highlighted the benefits of running. According to new research, a few minutes of moderate-to high-intensity aerobic activity—like running or biking–can boost adult memory and concentration for up to two hours. The subject hit home for Andrew Rodriguez, an Information Center Representative who works onsite at The Resort one of the latest master-planned community projects for Lewis. “My job is customer experience,” Andrew said. “We want the customer to see the lifestyle and the story of what it means to live in the Resort because there really isn’t anything like this in the Inland Empire. It’s something cool you might find in Los Angeles and once people see it; they love it.”
Andrew should know a little about what’s cool. He has a background in music, marketing and photography/video production. “I like all things creative; I go hiking and camping a lot—which helps me speak genuinely to people who are moving to The Resort,” adding, “It’s a cool, unique neighborhood and it’s not even finished. It’s going to be exciting to see it grow and grow with even more people and a strong sense of community.” Which brings us back to wellness.
Andrew started running in high school. He was on the Football team, Wrestling and Track. Part of his cardio training for these sports was running three miles every day, along with one mile in sprints. “That was really the first time I started doing distance running and what clicked when I saw the Wellness Wednesday email was how running can help with focus and attention.” Andrew shared that he has ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), a common affliction affecting many children and adults. Andrew stated that one of the formulas that helped him was running: “For me, what works is getting home from work, getting ready and running three miles five times a week. It helps me focus and manage my ADHD.” He added that ADHD is “one of those things that people really don’t understand, but I connect it to the nervous system, your physical harmony and how it all operates. Your brain just works too fast. It’s like having a Ferrari with bicycle brakes.”
Andrew was happy to share his recipe of running and help educate, even a little, about what ADHD is and what it means. “Running helps with mindfulness and I run for the sake of it, the health of it. It feels good and I believe the wellness of the individual translates into how well they do their job and how they enjoy working.”
Well said, Andrew. With that in mind, my running shoes are laced up and I’m ready for the next Wellness Wednesday. I hope you give me a head start.
For more information on running and other activities, check out the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans here. For more information on ADHD, visit Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), the nation’s leading nonprofit organization serving people affected by ADHD.
David Draper is the Director of Talent Acquisition for Lewis. David is proud to be a part of a successful, stable, and winning team dedicated to its projects, its people and its community. Follow David on Twitter @LewisRecruits.