The first feature in a new wellness series from ALG Vacations’ health and wellness coach, David Pritchard
It's wild to think that I have been in the health and wellness industry now for over 20 years. During that time, I have seen and been a part of so many great programs. I have worked with thousands of people, from professional athletes to people in wheelchairs and tons in between.
With these great encounters came lessons from each and every person.
I always say my experiences and relationships have been my greatest teachers for what I do. They helped shape my beliefs and what I know to be true today. As I think back and reflect on every person I worked with, it was their mindset to empower themselves to take responsibility for their health and life that made the greatest difference.
Getting healthy and taking charge of your health can be one of the hardest things you ever do. The health industry doesn’t help either, from so-called gurus telling you what to drink and eat and how to exercise to celebrities promoting some supplement. I can tell you that the people I worked with who achieved lasting results did ordinary little things every day—nothing earth-shattering or ground-breaking, just consistent work on themselves.
Some days, it was that they took the stairs instead of the elevator. Other days, they drank half the usual amount of soda, went to bed and got up earlier, or cut back on sugar. Wherever you decide to start, remember it’s the daily disciplines compounding that deliver the results and impact your life.
The greatest thing about owning your day is that these things become non-negotiable. This prioritization of self-care is one of the biggest reasons for success, not only when it comes to our health, but to our personal lives as well. As you start to own your wellness journey, you’ll find—as those I’ve worked with found—that it isn’t always easy. Sometimes, you fail. But that’s when it gets interesting! That’s when you find out who you really are, and how strong your “why” is.
All of us have the unique ability to be resilient. What do I mean by that? I mean that we each have the capacity to recover from difficulties—to spring back, learn from the past, and change course when we need to. Resiliency is what allows us to grow and develop, to live better lives than we did before started down our paths to wellness.
January has traditionally been a time for making resolutions and setting new goals in the new year. In 2024, don’t settle. Give yourself the best gift you can and get on a plan. Instead of making lofty or hard goals for yourself this year, learn about what works for you and keep applying it to your life. Find out what habits you need to establish to have your day—and your lifestyle—go exactly the way you want it to. That’s the way to achieve true results, and lasting wellness.
About David Pritchard
David Pritchard is a nationally certified health and performance coach with over 20 years of experience. He holds degrees in both exercise science and nutrition and has had the privilege to work with Fortune 500 companies, executives, and professional athletes from the NBA, NFL, MLB, and the Olympics. The work he is proudest of, however, is his tenure with ALG Vacations®, advocating for health and wellness in the travel industry and motivating staff and travel advisors alike to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Pritchard focuses on all facets of wellness to best assist his clients in their self-care journeys; his passion is helping people live their best lives.
