At uncertain times, a bit of structure and some camaraderie can feel really comforting – and that is what I hope to provide with this Whole Life Journey.
This Journey is the Whole Life Challenge modified for this massive curveball that life has thrown us with COVID-19.
For many of us, our routine has been turned upside down and our plans for the immediate future put on hold. This can be unsettling for sure.
As more and more of us adopt some form of lockdown and social distancing, the days can start to blend into one and the feeling of not having something to hold on to, something to anchor your day, can start to get really overwhelming and add to the stress of the uncertainty.
It is my hope that joining the Worldwide Warriors team on the Journey will help combat that feeling of helplessness and restlessness.
Here are the basics:
- Joining our team means joining a safe, non-judgmental space made up of people from all around the world.
- Through the team, you get a chance to establish a focus point (or several focus points) for yourself to provide an anchor to your day. What you want to focus on is entirely up to you and it can change each day. Here are some examples: (a) I want to try and get in 15 minutes of movement 4 times a week. (b) I want to do something to relieve my stress each day such as meditate for 5 minutes, do some coloring, write in a journal. (c) I want to feel more connected, so every other day I will make a point to phone or email a friend. [etc. etc.]
- You get to decide what makes you feel happier, healthier, better. We are here to encourage you and support you through your decisions.
- What the platform provides: a place to log in each day and reflect on how your day went + a chance to interact with others on the team.
- What do you actually do?
- Log in and check in whenever you can/feel like it.
- Join one of our supportive sub-teams for more focused support and encouragement related to what your particular focus is.
- Reflect on your day and set intentions for what you want to accomplish in the days to come.
Although the platform to check in will be accessible from April 11th, you can take your time deciding when to join. You have until May 23rd to join us, so between now and then, when you’re ready, we will be here.
For those of you who are familiar with the Whole Life Challenge, you can still ‘do the challenge’ as per the original rules if you choose to do so. If you want to learn more about how the original challenge was structured, you can read about it here.
Here are the daily habits:
- Nutrition: Before starting, set a plan of how you’d like your nutrition to look like. Please keep in mind, this is not a diet. This is about developing mindful eating practices that support our overall well-being. This looks different for each person, so decide how it looks like for you. If you’re unsure of how to decide, you can choose one of the levels the challenge has already set drawn up. You can find their lists/levels here. Otherwise, you can feel free to set guidelines of your own. For example: (a) When I eat, I will be mindful of what I’m eating and how I’m eating. OR (b) I will watch my portion sizes. OR (c) I will have dessert only 3x a week. OR (d) I will have at least 2 raw fruits a day. Get the picture? You set a guidelines for yourself and try to hit it each day.
- Exercise: Try to move with intention each day, ideally for at least 10 minutes. This could look different on different days – go for a walk, do some bodyweight circuit training, do yoga. You decide and try to get it done.
- Mobility: Aim to stretch each day for at least 10 minutes. There are loads of free yoga videos and mobility apps that can help you hit this goal.
- Hydration: Aim to drink at least 1/3 ounces for every pound of bodyweight (or 22 ml/kg) each day.
- Sleep: You can either set yourself a daily sleep goal or just try to make an improvement to your overall sleep routine; this could mean setting certain rules for yourself such as no social media after 9 p.m. See what you can do to get a better night of sleep. Naps are great too!
- Well-being: Do a specific well-being practice each day. Again, this can vary from day to day. Some favorites: meditation; reach out to a friend; random act of kindness; intentionally limiting social media use; de-clutter; listen to music that makes you feel good. You choose and aim to do one practice each day for at least 10 minutes.
- Reflection: Each evening, log in to the team’s page, enter your ‘score’, and reflect on your day. You can write any form of reflection – share how your day went; set an intention for the next day; share an inspiring quote. It’s up to you.
Still unsure about what this all is? Please feel free to get in touch! You can email me at plumpetalsfit@gmail.com and I will do my best to answer any questions you might have.
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Me & the Challenge
I first started doing the Whole Life Challenge in 2012. Having completed several challenges so far – and now being an ambassador for the challenge and a captain for one of the official teams – I can vouch for what an incredible life-changing experience it can be. While it is not a weight loss challenge, many people lose weight while participating mainly because it forces us to take a closer look at our habits on a daily basis. More important than weight loss, though, is the adoption of overall healthy habits such as sleeping more/better, drinking more water, being mindful of your movement. Being held accountable each day for the choices we make definitely makes you more conscious of how you spend your time and how you fuel your body.
When I first signed up for the WLC, I thought it was going to be something that I would try once. However, here I am, 8 years and 18+ challenges later still doing the challenge. Not only am I participant, but I am also an Ambassador for the challenge and have been running their Official team for several years now. What does an official team do? Well, as a member of my team you get to take advantage of my years of practice on the challenge, my preparation tips, and the knowledge that I’ve gained, which can be particularly helpful if you ever start to feel unmotivated or experience a stall in your efforts towards your goals. The truth is, the challenge is easier and more fun when you’re on a team, so join mine!
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