Whole 30, 75 Hard, Dry January, Sober October….this might feel like the NY Times Connections puzzle! What do all of these have in common? They are all structured around a challenge. And, when it comes to participating in a challenge, mindset and intention are key.
Challenge:
noun: A call to take part in a contest or competition, especially a duel
verb :Invite (someone) to engage in a contest
The idea of a contest involves a clear objective with a finish line. For example, 75 Hard has rules in order to complete the challenge. In this case, if you don’t abide by all the rules or ‘break’ one of the rules, you are on your honor to start over. There are athletic contests that are set up as a challenge; a marathon, a tough mudder. The idea of a challenge for these types of events might make sense. We don’t finish a marathon and then keep running everywhere! But, does the idea of a ‘challenge’ really work when it comes to changing our relationship with alcohol or food?
Just around the corner is ‘Dry July’, an opportunity to take 30 days off from drinking. I also have friends who are starting a Whole 30 next week, using the fresh summer produce as an incentive. While these types of challenges can help us get started, the really challenging part comes at the end of the month, or the 30 days. Often the result is to binge-eat or drink on day 31, celebrating the ‘end of the challenge’. We can end up sabotaging our hard work because of the mindset that our challenge is over. What if we did things differently?
Here are some ideas I share on the podcast
- Take the word challenge and change it to an experiment.
- Start at a random time, not the 1st of the month
- Set clear intentions at the beginning
- Check in every day, either with yourself through journaling or with a group about your thoughts, emotions and actions (TEA)
- Start with the end in mind
While there is no ‘wrong way’ to take a break from alcohol, consider what will serve you best. If your intention is to create a new relationship with alcohol, consider not having an ‘end date’.
If you are considering a Dry July, here are two unique offers from my colleagues:
Sally Magee from Magee Coaching (link to our podcast episode together here) is offering a Dry July support group. I love that she offers a Clifton Strengths report as part of the support tools! Her program offers daily 10-minute videos and weekly coaching calls. Find out more HERE.
My colleague Elly Young (she’s coming soon to the podcast!) is offering her Balance Challenge that starts July 1st. A 28-day course to reclaim your health by balancing your hormones. Learn the arts of cycle syncing and biohacking tailored specifically for peri and menopausal women. You can connect with Elly HERE
