Wellness is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

August is National Wellness Month, which reminds us of the importance of focusing on self-care, healthy habits, and activities that nourish our well-being. Wellness can take various forms for different people, but for most of us, wellness is about finding harmony and balance of the mind in a healthy body.

Although we live in a world that craves quick fixes and instant gratification, I believe the essence of wellness stems from a journey that requires constant adjustments that compound slowly over time, allowing us to achieve greater health and balance. Identifying our unhealthy habits and replacing them with more positive activities requires effort and discipline that only pays out over time. Finding harmony and balance of the mind in a healthy body involves physical activity, a healthy diet and a sense of achievement.

I’ve been running for more than 20 years, a habit I developed early in my career as it was the only physical activity I could do during a particularly strenuous weekly travel schedule. I find running helps me clear my mind and stay fit. I took on the challenge of my first marathon after a setback at work, probably as a way to assuage my disappointment. Then, long runs became part of my routine that I now share with my two sons, Alaric and Louis. I feel proud not just that they are running faster than me now (despite all my efforts) but that they integrate physical activities in their own routines. Setting these habits early in life can yield years of healthy living.

Healthy eating has always been central for my wife, Diane, who strongly believes that what nourishes our bodies nourishes our minds and promotes longevity. Coming from Toulouse, in the south of France, the country of foie gras, cassoulet and duck confit, I found it a torture to curtail these gastronomic indulgences when we first met. But of course, true love can overcome any craving and, over time, I had to admit that decreasing meat consumption, alcohol and eliminating junk food helped me to remain more alert, both physically and mentally.

For most of us, our greatest fulfillment comes from our achievements – whether we meet a physical challenge like running a marathon, an intellectual goal like reading Anna Karenina, or a career achievement like Lantheus’ acquisition of Progenics. All of these experiences and accomplishments have been important sources of wellness for me.

I would like to share a few thoughts about wellness at work. Our behaviors and company culture have a significant impact on the wellness of our colleagues at work. I feel it’s so important to be cognizant and proactive about it by driving a culture that is supportive. At Lantheus, we want an awesome culture, where everyone gets a sense of appreciation and achievement. Acceptance and empathy is great but not sufficient. I want my colleagues to accept me the way I am – even when I speak French to our CEO, Mary Anne, without realizing it – but also, I want them to care enough to push me constructively to become better at what I’m doing and achieve greater outcomes. It requires a safe environment that fosters opportunities for personal growth and learning.

I have noted during my career how people often seek a sense of achievement elsewhere when they are unhappy at work, in developing new skills like cooking, golf or bird watching – or running, as I did. These activities contribute greatly to wellness, but considering the amount of time we spend at work, I think it’s incredibly important to promote a work environment that fulfills these aspirations. When you think that as humans, we have an infinite capacity to learn and adapt, wellness at work can unlock so much potential for employees and companies. It confounds me when someone tells me they are not happy at work and only hanging around to get a paycheck. It’s a missed opportunity for the employer and terrible for the employee. At Lantheus, we continue to focus on creating a community that strives to offer everyone the opportunity to fulfill their aspirations and exercise their true potential at work, while encouraging work life balance.

My son Louis (15) and I won free ballots for London’s Royal Park half-marathon in October; we are so excited to get back to London, where we lived for 11 years, and to share this challenge. I feel blessed by the perspective to be at Louis’ side as he crosses the finish line first, and the opportunity to feel the joy of movement and health and accomplishment. If I can impart any wisdom to both of my sons it is that wellness is not a sprint, but a marathon, a journey that is much more rewarding with family, friends and colleagues.

I would love to read your thoughts on how you manage your wellness?

#NationalWellnessMonth #GoFurther #BeTheirBest #OneLantheus #healthandwellness