ANA Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation® Spotlight: Chelsea Holly, BSN, RN
Published
Nurse finds a creative way to stay fit at work — and inspires others to do the same
Nursing is a physically demanding job. Nurses who provide direct care to patients spend long periods of time on their feet. Hospital nurses in particular walk more than 8,000 steps during a 12-hour shift, on average.
For #healthynurse Chelsea Holly, this was certainly the case. When she became a nurse in 2014, she worked in an ICU unit. Physical activity was part of the job. “It could be exhausting, but also very rewarding,” she says.
As a nurse, Chelsea says she tried to follow the same healthy lifestyle habits she encouraged for her patients. She focused on staying active and eating well. Yet, she took for granted how much working in a busy ICU positively impacted her physical and mental health — until she changed jobs.
A New Role Brings Changes — and Unexpected Challenges
In 2021, Chelsea began a new role that required her to sit at a desk and work on a computer for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. It wasn’t long before Chelsea felt the impact of sitting instead of moving around a hospital floor.
“It was a night-and-day difference,” she says. “I couldn’t believe how mentally and physically exhausted I was at the end of a workday after sitting all day. It was completely different from the kind of tired I felt after a shift in the ICU.”
Chelsea knew this level of fatigue wasn’t healthy. Studies have shown that sitting 8 or more hours per day causes the same health risks as obesity and smoking. But Chelsea, a single mom to 2 busy boys, didn’t have time to hit the gym after work. “I told myself there had to be something I could do during my workday to improve my health.”
A Small Investment Leads to Big Improvements
To ensure she stayed active at work, Chelsea invested in a standing desk and an under-desk walking pad.
“That was life-changing for me,” she says. “I started walking every day. I was easily walking 20,000 steps while working. And I don’t walk at a crazy speed. I type and talk while I’m walking. But a few hour-long sessions in an 8-hour day add up fast.”
Chelsea says she noticed her stress levels went down while her energy levels went up after she started using the walking pad. “I felt so much better,” she says. “I had more energy for my kids, and I was happier overall. I knew this was something I could share with my coworkers to help them feel better, too.”
Inspiring Others to Improve Their Health
Shortly after beginning her new walking habit, Chelsea switched to a new position. She was placed on a team that had regular virtual meetings, and her team members noticed she walked during the meetings.
“A few of the nurses messaged me that they always saw me walking, and they went and bought walking pads, too,” she says. “I always encouraged people to join me and walk during work, and I was pleasantly surprised when they did!”
Chelsea also posted humorous and encouraging memes and quotes on her team chat. “Even a funny GIF of someone on a treadmill keeps us all engaged and motivated to keep walking or exercising,” she says. “I’ve heard from nearly every member of my team at one point or another that those little posts keep them going,” she says.
Staying Healthy for Herself and Her Family
For Chelsea, staying active and healthy is an important part of her role as a mom. “I have a 15-year-old and a 4-year-old,” she says. “Spending quality time with them is such a source of joy for me. I love planning trips, activities, and adventures for us to do together. I know time passes quickly and they won’t be these ages for long. I need to take care of myself so I can make precious memories while there’s time.”
Chelsea Holly is a registered nurse for Humana.
Have you found creative ways to stay active at work? Tell us your #healthynurse tips in the comments!
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Blog #healthynurse Spotlight
04/24/2025 8:42am 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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After reading this blog, I ordered a walking pad for my standing desk as well.