Daily Challenges!

It’s been a hot minute (actually, less than hot as of the last couple of weeks weather-wise!) since I last blogged about ways to live a happy and meaningful life. And, I’ve already promised myself, and the listeners to The Smiles Show , that I was going to do another blog. So this will be at least one personal challenge fulfilled!

In any case , I wanted to jot down some thoughts on ways that we can challenge ourselves, in terms of both ways to find more happiness and good health in our lives, but also ways to spread that happiness as well. Some of these challenges are a little bit more lighthearted, and likely easier to accomplish, while others might be more of a struggle, and that’s OK. I wanted to include a variety of challenges, and encourage you to pick those that resonate with you and try them on for size. Fortunately, you can always return the ones you don’t want, and try others!

1. Pick up at least one piece of litter each day. It can be an aluminum can, a cigarette butt, a gum wrapper, anything and everything counts. If each of us just picked up even one additional piece of litter, imagine how much cleaner the world would be!

   
   

2. Walk at least 10 mins more than you currently do. If you’re only walking five minutes a day, maybe just increase it by a couple of minutes. But, the goal is to incorporate more walking into your life wherever possible, and that can include parking further away from the entrance to the store, or your office, or even seeing if you can do more things without the use of a car. If you’re getting bored with your walking routine, mix it up! The other day I was feeling a little uninspired by my regular walking route, so I walked down a different street...even walking just one block over made a big difference! Keep things from getting stale.

   
   

3. Drink at least two more glasses of water a day. This is one I’m really working on, too. I’m trying to drink a couple of glasses of water after I drink my morning coffee. For whatever reason, that time of day seems to work well for me for indulging in some water. And, putting slices of lemon, lime, or cucumber can elevate water to a whole new level. There are apps for encouraging and monitoring water intake too!

   
   

4. Check out a different news source. It’s easy to become accustomed to only listening to news from one source, but in order to get a balanced perspective, and to know what others are thinking, it’s a good idea to challenge your preconceived notions, and listen to news from perspectives that maybe you don’t share. This will give you an opportunity to see issues from multiple sides, and can help give you a more balanced, and nuanced, view of the world. If you aren’t occasionally yelling at the computer, radio, or TV, that means it’s time to find some different news sources that challenge your beliefs, and then follow some of the other suggestions below to help deal with any blood pressure increases!

   
   

5. Start a pen pal correspondence. Find a new pen pal, or write to a relative that doesn’t use social media. I have a pen pal that I just started recently writing to, and it’s such a fun process. Especially putting pen to paper, and then putting that paper in an envelope, putting a stamp on the envelope, and then slipping it in a mailbox. Some of us grew up doing that, but many of you likely did not! Writing a letter is a really fun activity, trust me, and receiving a written letter, is practically magical! Check it out, and you might just find that writing a pen pal becomes your new favorite activity.

   
   

6. Go barefoot in the grass. I go barefoot everywhere, since I love the tactile experience, the various temperatures, and sensations, and the freedom and flexibility, but if you are new to this whole barefoot thing, just spending more time barefoot in the grass can be a great gateway activity to the barefoot lifestyle. Many people worry that barefoot walking will hurt, but in many cases, you will find increased foot function, flexibility, and fun by expanding your barefoot terrain. As always, let your body be your guide. Don’t try to do too much too soon, and allow yourself a day off or recovery day as needed.

   
   

7. Pet a cat or dog and chatter with a squirrel! This can be a fun activity to get you more motivated to get out walking, too. I often will count the number of squirrels I see during a walk, and take photos of the ones that seem like they are so camera ready.

   
   

8. Listen to at least 30 minutes of music a day. You can do this while walking if your headphone volume isn’t too high, as it can fun to walk and sing along the way! I switch up my music routine every day; sometimes I will listen to all early 1970s funk, the next day might be '80s power ballads, and the day after that might be early '90s hip-hop. Mixing up the music can keep your listening fresh, and keep you exploring, discovering and rediscovering, great music along the way!

   
   

9. Read at least 30 minutes every day. This can be an activity for which it feels hard to schedule time, but once you get into the routine, and/or find a book that engages you, it will be hard to keep the reading to a certain amount of time! You’ll want to schedule even more time to read. And, there are so many benefits to reading, including increased focus and reduced stress. Win win!

   
   

10. Reduce social media and online time by at least 30 mins a day and use that time for connecting with people in real life (IRL). Whether it’s talking to someone new at work, talking to a stranger at the store or coffee shop, or just talking to your friends more in person, fulfilling this challenge can make you feel more connected. For us introverts, this one can be a bit of a challenge, and I can definitely attest to that! I just got back from the annual National Eczema Association Expo, and that’s an opportunity for me to learn more about the condition I have, become more empowered on new knowledge and research, and most importantly, connect with others in real time. Whether it’s the caregivers, the patients, or the healthcare providers, everyone at the expo is there to learn, share ideas, and most importantly, connect! It’s a four-day conference, with a lot of social activities, so it can be a lot to process for someone who’s an introvert. But there are many there who also fall into the introvert category, and most importantly, we all give ourselves time to socialize and be with one another, but also time to decompress, process, and be totally cool with that. Socializing is important, but downtime and alone time is too. Balance is key!

I hope that one or more of these challenges are helpful to you. You may not be able to apply them all every day, and that’s just fine. I look at them more as ongoing goals to work towards, not an absolute rule book to follow. It’s OK to break the rules once in a while, especially if one of those rules isn’t serving you or your community in a positive and meaningful way.

Keep doing the great things, and of course, keep on smiling!