EDGE Learning & Wellness, a transitional living community for young adult students attending college, vocational programs, certificate programs, and other post-secondary solutions, kicks off the holiday season this winter with “Fitness for the Holidays.” This multifaceted and personalized programming plan will support students’ mental, social, emotional, and physical fitness while higher education programs are closed for the holiday break.

Having seen students struggle with maintaining routines while school is out, EDGE’s fitness and nutrition coach, Conor Klump, expressed the necessity of having a plan for both students who travel home for the holidays, as well as students who stay at EDGE’s Chicago residence. With TrueCoach, a mobile fitness app, students who travel can communicate 1-on-1 with Klump and receive personalized fitness routines. “You feel like you have a trainer with you, even when you’re at home,” Klump emphasized the importance of consistent communication and check-ins for maintaining fitness goals during a change in routine. Students who stay in Chicago will be invited to healthy and holiday-themed community meals and receive more 1-on-1 training sessions than they would normally receive while school was in session. Klump also commended the students’ FitBit group, where students share their daily step counts with each other, citing that the competition allows students to stay in touch and stay motivated over the holiday season.

In addition to staying physically fit, “Fitness for the Holidays” also features programming to help students stay mentally fit. Program Director Brittany Tolar, LCSW, shared that EDGE has an “expanded view of what it means to be healthy,” to ensure all elements of wellness are being addressed while building a student’s wellness plan. Tolar also cited that EDGE’s programming is always “adapting in real-time for the students who are here,” meaning that programming and special topics are feature-based on their relevance to students’ current, individual needs. Activities focused on helping students use their break to reduce their stress levels and explore their personal interests will occur regularly during the holiday season. For example, this month students who plan to travel for the holidays will visit their departing destination airport and familiarize themselves with the layout and procedures of the location to reduce anticipatory anxiety and ensure less stress on the day of their flight. Whether students are traveling or choosing to stay at EDGE’s Chicago residence, they’ll learn all about building and navigating family relationships during the holidays as well.

With a multidimensional and personalized approach to the holiday break season, EDGE hopes to encourage students to stay physically and mentally fit, feel comfortable with their new independence, and prepare for their upcoming semester by making informed decisions using their grades and feedback from their previous semester.     

About EDGE Learning and Wellness Collegiate Community

EDGE Learning and Wellness Collegiate Community is an accredited transitional living program located in Chicago, IL. EDGE offers therapeutically supported residential and non-residential options for post-treatment young adults. The participants, ages 18 -24, are striving to excel academically while creating a life of balance, joy, and wellness.