The challenge begins on Saturday morning, February 8th. Exercise, Me Time, ‘Am I Hungry’? ~ Snacks, and Healthy Habit Focus, done before Saturday, DO NOT COUNT!!!


POST THIS ONLY ON COMMUNITY TEAM PAGE:
😀This posting is for information only. PLEASE POST YOUR RESULTS ON YOUR CHALLENGE TEAM PAGE. Each team has a similar ‘set-up,’ yet each has its own ‘look & feel.’ Your team’s leaders will answer all questions. Another good source of information will be from your fellow teammates on your team’s discussion board.


Exercise to ‘break the ribbon’ before the end of the week as your team crosses the finish line. One minute of exercise = one minute closer to the goal. 120 minutes maximum per challenger per day will be counted toward your team's goal)

As we continue our New Year **2025** journey to bring you ‘Visions of a Bright, Shiny New YOU.,’ we are now trying to highlight the ‘self-care’ aspect. Please take a moment to re-read the above: ‘Self-Care is a priority and necessity - not a luxury - in the work that we do.

We are trying to highlight the changes/adjustments that you can make in your daily life to help you BECOME THE BEST YOU that you can be. Not all of our 2025 Winter 5% Challengers are in the same place: some are interested in leading a healthier lifestyle; others are focused on losing (at least) 5% of their starting weight; others still have an eagle eye on ‘starting over’ because they have stumbled along the way. Finally, there are our friends who are in a ‘good place’ and need these challenges to be a constant reminder of where they came from and how grateful they are to be where they are today. Whatever level of success or struggles you have faced ~ we hope that you will find your way as you travel along your road to your successful, healthy lifestyle!

Thus far, we have explored the healthy habits of:
~ Taking our measurements (this was done in Week #1 and will be done again in Week #8)
~ Meeting our cheerleaders
~ Journaling
~ Water
~ Sleep
~ ‘Am I Hungry’? ~ Snacks

Self care is an important component in any Healthy Lifestyle Journey ~ and what could be better for self care than a little ‘Me Time’?


Q: Query for Google: What are the benefits of 'Me Time' in a healthy lifestyle?
A: Google’s first answer: "Me Time" in a healthy lifestyle offers several benefits including reduced stress, improved mental well-being, increased self-awareness, better focus and productivity, stronger relationships, and a greater ability to manage emotions by providing a space to recharge and engage in activities that nourish your mind and body.


**Key benefits of "Me Time":
**Stress Reduction:
Taking time for yourself can significantly decrease stress levels by allowing for relaxation and mental detachment from daily pressures.
**Improved Mental Health:
"Me Time" can help manage anxiety and depression by providing space to process emotions and reflect on your thoughts.
**Enhanced Self-Awareness:
Spending time alone can lead to a deeper understanding of your needs, values, and goals.
**Increased Productivity:
When you prioritize self-care, you tend to have better focus and energy to tackle tasks more effectively.
**Better Relationships:
By taking care of your own emotional needs, you are better equipped to be present and supportive in your relationships with others.
**Creativity Boost:
Unstructured time can spark creativity and encourage new ideas.
**Physical Health Benefits:
"Me Time" can be used to engage in activities like exercise, healthy eating, or relaxation techniques that contribute to physical well-being.
**Burnout Prevention:
Regular self-care can help prevent burnout by providing a necessary break from constant demands.

**Important points to remember about “Me Time”:
**Quality over Quantity: Even short periods of dedicated "Me Time" can be beneficial.
**Intentional Activities: Choose activities that truly nourish you, whether it's reading, listening to music, spending time in nature, or simply relaxing.
**Set Boundaries: Inform others when you need "Me Time" to avoid interruptions and ensure you can fully benefit from the experience.

I came across a blog by Claire Buck, a Life Coach who wrote about:
7 Benefits of “Me” Time
Here is the link: https://clairebuck.com/benefits-of-me-time/
If you look up articles on the benefits of ‘Me Time’, you will be surprised at the amount of information that is right at your fingertips.

Q: Another Query for Google: Using your Smartwatch to create ‘Me Time’
A: Google’s first answer: A smartwatch can help create "me time" by providing reminders for dedicated self-care activities like meditation, breathing exercises, short workouts, guided relaxation, tracking sleep patterns, setting dedicated "Do Not Disturb" times, and even playing calming music directly on your wrist, allowing you to easily incorporate small moments of self-care throughout your day.
**Please note: Since many of us use SmartWatches and there are many of them on the market, please consult your manufacturer's instructions to see if this is supported on your device or not.**



NOTE: The 2025 Winter 5% Challenge is designed to focus on a healthy lifestyle that is a compliment to whatever exercise/movement program that you are doing. The challenge begins on Saturday morning. Me Time & ‘Am I Hungry?’ snack pack done before SATURDAY DOES NOT COUNT!!!!


You must exercise to get to 6,000 minutes to help your team ‘Break The Ribbon.’
> > 1 minute of exercise = 1 minute toward the team’s 6,000-minute goal.
DAILY MAXIMUM 120 exercise minutes per team member < <


✔️To score points this week
1. Incorporate 🛀 ME TIME ⌛ into your daily routine. Plan for a MINIMUM of 10 minutes of ‘Me Time’; 15 minutes is even better. If you took 10-15 minutes for yourself, please give yourself 10 points. If you did not take time for yourself, you won’t earn points. For this exercise it is 10 points ~ you earn all or nothing.
2. “Am I Hungry”? Snack Pack: Remember the points are for determining if you are physically or emotionally hungry, then choosing a pre-prepared snack. 10 points, all or nothing.


Exercise Summary: Each minute you exercise moves your team closer to “Break The Ribbon” and reaching your team’s goal of 6,000 minutes! Remember, it’s 120 minutes max to count. You may choose to do more exercise, but what is counted for the challenge is maxed at 120 minutes.

Healthy Habits Summary:
Your post should look something like this:
Saturday (Please always note the day/days you are posting for)
Exercise: 120
Me Time: 10 points; all or nothing
‘Am I Hungry’ Snack Pack: 10 points; all or nothing
Healthy Habit Focus: 10 points all or nothing (Please note your focus).
Important Notice: If your 8-week focus happens to be the same as a weekly habit, you get to claim points in both places!

NOTE: Do the best that you can. We are inclusive of all but realize that not everyone can participate fully in everything because of health/dietary restrictions and/or physical restrictions. If there is an exceptional circumstance, let your team leader know. They can reach out to the OAL team, and perhaps together, we can come up with **suggestions** for an alternative.