Days 18 and 19 - Embracing December: The Holistic Challenge

Embracing December: The Holistic Challenge for Mind, Body, and Soul

(I'm okay if I need to blog two or three challenges at once. The challenge itself is more important than writing it all down each day like clockwork.)

Challenge Day: 18 of 31

Action Added: Stretch It Out

Benefit Type: Physical

___________

Each day I will engage in a gentle physical stretching session.

I will hold a stretch for 30 seconds and avoid bouncing, which can cause injury.

Engaging in a gentle stretching session each day will offer me numerous physical benefits. Here are some of the key benefits I hope to notice:

1. Increased Flexibility: Regular stretching will help increase my flexibility, which is crucial for my overall health. Improved flexibility will help me perform everyday activities with relative ease and will also help delay the reduced mobility that can come with aging.

2. Improved Range of Motion: Being able to move a joint through its full range of motion will give me more freedom of movement. Regular stretching will help increase my range of motion.

3. Muscle Health: Stretching will keep my muscles flexible, strong, and healthy. Without it, muscles can shorten and become tight, which can put me at risk for joint pain, strains, and muscle damage.

4. Improved Posture: Regular stretching will help improve my posture.

5. Increased Blood Flow to Muscles: Stretching will increase blood flow to my muscles, which can help deliver nutrients to my body and my muscles.

6. Injury Prevention: By increasing flexibility, I will reduce the risk of muscle imbalances, which can lead to poor posture and injuries.

7. Reduced Muscle Soreness: Stretching after a workout will also help reduce muscle soreness.

8. Relaxation and Mental Wellbeing: Stretching will provide me with relaxation and relief, which is beneficial not only physically, but mentally as well.

Challenge Day: 19 of 31

Action Added: Find My Calm

Benefit Type: All-Around

___________

Each day I will access my Calm app and spend 10-15 minutes feeling calm and relaxed. 

Using an app like Calm in the future will offer me numerous benefits. Here are some of the key benefits I hope to experience:

1. Ease of Use: The Calm app is user-friendly and visually impressive, making it easy for me to navigate and use.

2. Mindfulness and Meditation: The app will provide me with hundreds of meditation practices and sleep stories, helping me to find inner peace and navigate life's stressors. It will also offer me a variety of wellness goals, such as sleeping better, reducing anxiety, and building self-esteem.

3. Improved Sleep: The app will offer sleep stories and relaxing music that will help me fall asleep faster.

4. Reduced Anxiety and Stress: The app will offer mindful guided meditation that can decrease my anxious state, allowing me to function more productively. It will also provide me with tools to manage stress and anxiety.

5. Increased Focus and Self-Improvement: The app will offer sessions on how to train my mind to focus, which will be beneficial for my overall mental health and productivity.

6. Variety of Content: The app will provide a wide range of content suitable for adults and children, from guided meditations to bedtime stories and soundscapes.

___________

Previous Challenge Dropped: Stop drinking diet soda.

Reason Dropped: Because I am not feeling any benefits from it, even after two weeks. I don't need to drink as many per day as I used to, but diet soda with lunch or dinner is perfectly fine.

and

Previous Challenge Dropped: Spend 5 mins silent and without any tech.

Reason Dropped: After ten days, I can honestly say that I am not ready for anything like. With so much going on right now, spending even five minutes completely inert is torture. Nope, no thanks.

Here is the link to the full spreadsheet with more details, updated daily.