February 2026 with DCNS: My wellness journey

The start of a new year is always a wonderful opportunity to set meaningful goals, reflect on personal growth, and focus on maintaining health and balance. This month, I want to share the tools and resources I rely on to support my wellness journey across three key areas: organization, self-care, and physical health.

Wellness Tools and Resources:

• Schedules and Calendars:

  To set achievable wellness goals, I turn to my trusted calendar and day planner, beautifully designed by my favorite artist. Each day, I aim to accomplish three specific tasks. If I fall short, I take a moment to reflect on the obstacles and break the goal into smaller, more manageable steps. After all, as the saying goes, "A goal without a plan is just a wish!"

  
  

  I also, create daily tasks lists or schedules and post them in high-traffic areas (the kitchen, dining room wall, or in our cell phone hub that I can review the important appointments of the day before walking out the door and realizing too late that I've forgotten an upcoming Zoom meeting or a deadline for submitting a committee report.

  
  

  Finally, one of my most important tasks every day is to check emails and phone messages at regular intervals throughout the day (at least 3 times daily). This way, I can respond to urgent committee requests, changes in meeting schedules, and confirm receipt of documents or mentorship meetings with students.

  
  

• Self-care Apps and Relaxation Tools:

  Self-care is a cornerstone of my wellness routine. I use a self-care app provided by my healthcare system to support my mental and emotional well-being. My mornings begin with prayer, setting a positive tone for the day. In the evenings, I unwind with the app’s sleepcasts, meditation sessions, or mindfulness exercises. As I drift off to sleep, I create a gratitude list, reflecting on the blessings of the day.

  
  

• Exercise Activities & Resources:

  Staying active and exercising is not only essential for maintaining health, but it is also a good way to de-stress. I use a race roster to locate local race walks and to keep track of my walking times and fitness level. Participating in walks gives me the motivation to train during the week and to not slack off even when it's tempting. Walking is also an enjoyable way to stay active, meet new people, and to enjoy the outdoors. This year, I aim to schedule at least 6 race-walks and to try and improve my completion time toward my fitness goals for this year.

  
  

• Food & Nutrition:

  A balanced diet is extremely important in my wellness maintenance plan. As a dietitian and certified chef, I am always aware of the need to plan meals that are satisfying, and that provide the USDA suggested daily nutrition intake.

  I also work closely with my doctor to tailor my nutrition and hydration to my activity level, age, and medical needs.

  
  

  One of the most important means of ensuring that I eat enough fruits and vegetables is to consume what I grow in my community garden plot, and I belong to a CSA (community sustained Agriculture) program which delivers fresh fruits and produce weekly for a fee. The CSA box provides variety in my fruit and vegetable selection, and it supports local and sustainable agriculture in my community.

  
  

  Also, planting my own vegetables and sharing them with others is a rewarding way to enjoy what I've grown and to share it with others. It is also a way to ensure variety in my diet, by planning foods that I can harvest as the seasons change.

I hope that by sharing my wellness resources, you'll get an idea of ways to make your own goals and to seek resources that fit your needs in maintaining wellness. in all areas of your life.

Updates from the Garden:

This month, I’m excited to share updates from our community garden, offering ideas for planting, harvesting, and managing seasonal changes.

Winter is a time for letting the soil rest. Right now, about half of our garden plot is covered in straw to protect the ground, and we water occasionally to prevent impaction.

With unpredictable weather patterns, we adjust our spring planting schedule based on bi-weekly forecasts for our region (Zone 9).

At the end of February, and at the beginning of March, we're going to plant tomatoes, cabbage, bunching onions, radishes, carrots, kale, Spinach, and we over-wintered our bell peppers. Currently, we’re harvesting lettuce, green onions, celery, and carrots, which grow year-round.

We’ve also begun harvesting daikon radishes. To minimize plant waste, we find creative ways to use the entire plant—leaves, roots, and all—whether by cooking, pickling, or incorporating them into recipes and vegetable stock. Anything that isn't edible is becomes compost that we add to our garden soil. This month’s featured recipe - Korean Style Vegetable Pancakes, uses our recent garden harvest of carrots, green onions, white onions, and cabbage (from our produce box).

Share Your Journey

I hope the wellness resources and tools in this month's blog inspire you to set your own goals and explore tools that fit your unique needs. Whether it’s through organization, self-care, or physical activity, there are countless ways to nurture your well-being.

Also, please let us know what’s happening in your garden this month. How are you enjoying your harvest? I’d love to hear your tips and ideas!