Wellness Challenge Ideas: Which One Is Right For You?

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Editor’s Note: In “Hey, Health Coach,” Sarah Hays Coomer answers reader questions about the intersection of health and overall well-being. Have a question? Send her a message (and don’t forget to use a sleuthy pseudonym!).

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Hey, Health Coach,

I tried to do a 30-day yoga challenge at the start of the new year, but it felt tedious almost immediately—so I quit. Last year, the same thing happened with the Whole 30 diet. I feel like everyone around me is always doing challenges, and I get swept up in the enthusiasm but end up restless and annoyed with myself. I’m not generally a quitter! What am I missing? Should I try harder to stick with wellness challenges?

— Not Up For The Challenge

Dear Not Up For The Challenge,

It sounds like you’re game for new experiences. You get “swept up in the enthusiasm,” so I’m guessing you enjoy connecting with like-minded people, too. If that’s the case, I can see why losing interest in these challenges so quickly might be confusing—and annoying!

In my previous Hey, Health Coach column, “Tired Of Failing” asked, “How can I stay on track with my New Year’s goals?” My answer included specific, research-based practices that can make sticking with new routines a lot easier. There’s a science to it, and the research is quite useful if you’re pursuing a new habit that’s important to you.

But I wonder if the issue you’re having isn’t so much about sticking with a habit as it is about choosing the right one in the first place. After all, staying on track with something that bores you isn’t bound to be very satisfying.

Autonomy

A challenge can capture our attention like a disco ball in a packed nightclub. Life is chaotic and stressful—and that 30-day yoga challenge might be just the thing to make everything else feel better. It’s a beacon of hope, but is it your beacon? Thirty days of yoga could feel amazing, but only if the daily practice contributes to your quality of life along the way.

The purpose of a “challenge”—especially extended ones like the 30-day challenges you mentioned—is to lock yourself into a plan and force yourself to comply until it’s over. If you’re successful, it means that on Jan. 30, you’re still aligned with rules you set on New Year’s Eve. Thirty days (or three days, for that matter) is a huge commitment.

This is a question of autonomy.

How do you feel about being locked in? Some people thrive within strict limits. Others don’t like being told what to do (even if opting in was their choice), but even people who love the structure of a solid plan need to connect with the cause they’re pursuing to make it worthwhile.

When commiting to a challenge, ask yourself: Does this feel like security or prison?

If you’re not sure, check with your body. It’s the difference between being a little kid on a bike who’s determined to get to the top of a hill so you can fly back down the other side and being forced up the hill by a nagging adult. Either way, pedaling takes effort. It’s not about whether the activity is easy or difficult—it’s about personal choice.

As an adult, you maintain the right to decide whether climbing any particular hill is the best use of your time and energy. We all have natural inclinations and ways we’re curious to grow. If the challenges you’ve chosen so far aren’t for you, on to the next!

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You’re Not a Quitter—You’re Self-Aware

You mentioned these challenges have made you restless. That’s a significant word. It’s very physical. You’re itching to move on to something else, and that desire to break free is valuable information, not a weakness.

In this case, it sounds like “quitting” has freed you from a plan that didn’t fit and created space for you to discover what you’re restless for! Now you can figure out what feels interesting and engaging rather than wasting time worrying about a prescribed challenge that felt “tedious.”

Give Yourself Options

You know what doesn’t work for you, but what does? If not 30 days of yoga, what else? What hills are you curious to climb, or is this moment better spent resting, learning a new skill or taking stock?

Variety can keep you from getting bored and (bonus!) prevent your body from adapting to a particular workout. For instance, research points to huge benefits of combining strength training, aerobic activity and balance and flexibility work[1] . Any and all new ways you safely activate your body can enhance your fitness and well-being.

To start, brainstorm a long, free-associated list of physical activities that you enjoy currently, you used to enjoy or you have been curious to try. Some things on the list may be traditional forms of exercise—others may be more unconventional like gardening, volunteering in a physical capacity or cleaning out the garage. You might even find yoga has a place if you were genuinely drawn to it before.

Once you have your list, try things! Play around until you find a few you enjoy that are easy to access. Mix and match however you like. Rope in your friends if they enjoy the same activities. You can even create a patchwork challenge of your own if you get inspired. No need to settle for something boring—there are too many great options.

Dictionary.com defines health as “vigor” and “vitality.” Health isn’t about obeying the rules. It’s about bringing your body to life.

Do It Your Way

If you’re fired up to conquer a literal or theoretical mountain—and craving structure to propel you forward—a challenge might be exactly what you need. Or you might strain against the confines of a challenge no matter what it is. Some people just don’t like being hemmed in.

Everyone’s body is different, but when diet and exercise trends sweep through popular culture, suddenly we’re all supposed to jump aboard the same train… and ride it all the way to spin class with a bottle of kombucha and an acai bowl in hand.

Your pleasure, pain and interests can guide the way to lifestyle choices you’ll fight for forever because they’re meaningful, satisfying and uniquely yours. Then you can use the research I mentioned above to reinforce whatever you’ve chosen, but none of it is worth doing if it doesn’t feel like you.

“Hey, Health Coach” is for informational purposes only and should not substitute for professional psychological or medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions about your personal situation, health or medical condition.

By submitting your letter to heyhealthcoach@forbesadvisor.com, you agree to let Forbes Health use it in part or in whole, and we may edit the letter for length and clarity. All submissions remain anonymous.

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