Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ - #healthynurse Spotlight Series - Amy Madsen, BSN, RN, CCM
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Nurse’s daily run streak hits 1,258 days — and counting. Amy Madsen, BSN, RN, CCM, is the Associate Director of Market Development and Market Clinical Strategies for Clinical and Pharmacy Solutions at Humana.
It can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days for a person to form a new habit. Studies show that after 66 days, that habit can become automatic.
Running is certainly a daily habit for Amy Madsen, BSN, RN, CCM, Associate Director of Market Development and Market Clinical Strategies at Humana. She has run at least one mile every day for the past 1,258 days (at the time of writing this article).
It all started more than 3 years ago when Amy decided she wanted to do something for herself. The nurse, wife, and mom of 2 was constantly giving her time and talents to others, but she needed to take back her own mental and physical health. She decided to run at least one mile every day, and set out to beat an initial goal of 80 days in a row.
“I was initially doing low miles, maybe 1 or 2 miles per day and a 5-miler on the weekend,” said Amy. “Doing something to take care of me helped me feel good, lose some weight, and gain mental clarity. I thought, I wonder if I can do this for an entire year?”
So, Amy set her sights on a new goal: running for 365 days straight.
She reached the major milestone, and by that time the healthy activity had become a part of her routine. She didn’t want to stop something that made her feel healthier, so she kept going.
A Healthy Outlet During a Worldwide Pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Amy used running as an outlet to get rid of nervous energy, anxiety, and cabin fever.
“For a while, running was the only time I got out of the house during COVID,” said Amy. “It gave me life.”
Today, Amy treats running the same as brushing her teeth or combing her hair — it’s an absent-minded everyday task. On average, Amy runs 6 miles a day, and if she doesn’t get out for a run by evening, she starts feeling uncomfortable.
“It’s almost like an itch,” Amy said. “My body knows when I haven’t had a run, and I don’t know if I could stop even if I wanted to.”
Daily running has also brought Amy new friendships and opportunities for social interaction. She runs with different people on different days of the week, including a group of fellow moms ranging from beginner to advanced runners. She has a handful of favorite running trails in town, and she tries new routes regularly.
When it comes to competition, Amy is familiar with race distances of all lengths. She has completed a 100k (63 miles), 50-miler, and 3 marathons.
Building Healthy Habits All Around
Outside of running, Amy focuses on a nutritious diet. When she first began her run streak, she wanted to reduce her risk for preventable diseases that had affected her parents. She also wanted to fuel her body for her daily runs. Amy cut back on simple sugars, focused more on healthier proteins, fruits, and vegetables — and now drinks 80 to 100 ounces of water each day.
“It’s amazing once you give your body the right fuel, and that’s how I like to think of food — as fuel,” said Amy. “This change has given me more energy to keep pushing forward and not feel so run down.”
Amy’s Advice
Forming healthy habits comes with challenges, but it’s important for nurses to prioritize themselves every day, just like Amy does. She suggests:
- Be proactive: If you don’t make time for your wellness now, you’ll end up sick and then you’ll have no choice. Don’t wait until you’re unwell to take care of yourself.
- Find what works for you: Your healthy habit doesn’t have to be running — it can be walking, yoga, meditation, or anything that makes you feel good.
- Schedule it: The only way to make a healthy activity part of your routine is to literally put it there. Make it as important as picking up your kids from school or making dinner. It shouldn’t be something that’s OK to miss.
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#healthynurse Spotlight
11/01/2021 10:52am CDT
The #healthynurse Spotlight is a shout out to nurses who are making changes in their lives to improve their health and wellness. You can too! Read their stories for inspiration here.
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