Treat Life Like One Big Wellness Darty

Sep 23

When anyone brings up college, your brain probably jumps to a few things: beer, sports, lifelong friendships, and hopefully your education. But that picture is changing. Gen Z is throwing "Wellness Darties," AKA Wellness Day Parties. I graduated college three years ago, and I can tell you there was no such thing as a Wellness Darty at West Virginia University.

The data backs up the shift. Alcohol abstinence among college students climbed from 20% in 2002 to 28% in 2018, and the share of U.S. adults under 35 who drink at all has dropped from 72% in the early 2000s to 62% two decades later. On paper, that's a win for our health. But what I want to dig into is whether it's actually the win we think it is, or whether we're just trading one extreme for another.

THE BALANCE

Working in the health and wellness industry, even when the job is literally "adding more fitness to your life," has taught me that we still need rest days. Restriction is the root of all evil. The more we tell ourselves we can't have something, the more we want it.

That's not just a feeling - it's backed by research. A study on dietary restraint found that people who restrict more heavily are actually more likely to overeat or binge when their self-control dips, with the effect showing up specifically in situations that strain a person's ability to self-regulate. In other words: the tighter the leash, the harder the snap-back.

I still have dessert to celebrate. I still go out with friends for a drink. But I also work out five days a week, hit my protein, and get enough sleep. It's about adding to your life, not subtracting from it. A Wellness Darty is my dream scenario, because I believe we should get to do both, which is exactly why more bachelorette weekends are starting to build fitness into the itinerary alongside the wine tastings.

THE POWER OF BOTH

This past weekend, I taught a private Sculpt Pilates class for a bachelorette party the morning after their night out. The feedback was amazing, despite being tired from the antics the night before, they said they felt awake - like their blood was actually moving. Did that stop them from going out again that night? Absolutely not.

That checks out scientifically, too: research on recovering from a bad night's sleep found that even a short, moderate-intensity workout improved cognitive performance regardless of how sleep-deprived someone was, as long as it stayed short and moderate rather than pushing into an intense grind. A brisk 20 minutes can do more for how you feel than another hour on the couch.

A lot of us operate from an "all or nothing" mentality. One day off routine tanks our mood completely, or we don't start at all if we can't do it perfectly. That's not the point. You work out regularly so you can enjoy the vacation. You eat enough protein so you can enjoy the dessert. You prioritize sleep so one late night doesn't undo your progress.

FOCUS ON ADDITION

When you're working with a personal trainer or health coach, which, full disclosure, is my job, the goal should be adding, not subtracting. Want the Oreo? Have the Oreo, and take a walk. Want the cocktail? Have the cocktail, and think about what sets you up to feel good the next morning instead of dehydrated and wrecked. None of this happens overnight, and it all takes a little intention and consistency.

Let this be your friendly reminder: treat life like one big Wellness Darty. Whoever told you that you can't do it all wasn't telling the truth - you can. You can get movement in and enjoy the simple pleasures. Group fitness keeps you accountable, building a fitness activity into your bachelor or bachelorette weekend gets you the best of both worlds, and hitting your protein goal while still having an ice cream cone with your family is what this is all about.

So grab your friends and family and enjoy the workout or the whole journey together. We take this stuff too seriously sometimes. Results don't come overnight, but they come if you keep showing up.

If you're looking to work together, check out your local training studio, Preston Personal Training, or reach out to me directly to book a private Sculpt Pilates session for your next bachelorette or bachelor weekend. Email buildwithbrynn@gmail.com or find me on Instagram and Facebook at @buildwithbrynn.

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Brynn Ackerman is a certified group fitness instructor and Preston Personal Trainer at Preston Personal Training located in both Olean and Ellicottville, NY. Brynn’s passion for health and wellness took her to Sweden where she studied one of the healthiest counties in the world to bring their lifestyle back home. For more information about her, visit her Instagram (@buildwithbrynn) or search her on Facebook.