Day 13

Wellness

SPONSORED BY NATRACARE

OVERVIEW

“When we walk like we’re rushing, we print anxiety and sorrow on the earth. We have to walk in a way that we only print peace and serenity on the earth…Be aware of the contact between your feet and the earth. Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet.”

— Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Master

It’s 2 a.m. and you’re cramming for an exam. You’ve been up for 24 hours straight, and you’re running on nothing but coffee and gummy bears. You’re dying to get some much needed shut-eye, but your final waits for no one. And so you stay up and study, making the choice to sacrifice your health and wellbeing in order to pass the test.

Now, consider this radical alternative: you put yourself first. What would that look like?

During PGC, we’ve asked you to think about the big environmental picture: your ecological footprint, the waste you generate, the food you eat, your energy consumption, and more. Given all of this information, it can be easy to forget to care for yourself and your body. But, YOU are a key piece of that big picture.

To take care of the planet, you must take care of yourself.

Making wellness a part of your lifestyle helps to guarantee that you have the energy and stamina to be an effective and enduring changemaker. In moments of high stress, wellness can feel like your lowest priority. But with a toolbox of techniques and a commitment to prioritizing your health, you will find that you can accomplish more in all parts of your life.

Today, we invite you to sustain yourself. Take some time to celebrate what you have accomplished the past couple weeks. Take a deep breath, clear your mind, and, as Thich Nhat Hanh suggests, feel your feet on the earth. With that, let’s get started on your daily dose of wellness.

Here are 6 easy ways you can start taking care of your health:

Eat well. You are what you eat, and eating healthy, FLOSN Fresh, Local, Organic, Seasonal, Non-GMO foods not only takes care of your body, but the planet too. It’s a win-win!
Get your zzzzz’s. You know you need your sleep, but sometime an all-nighter seems like the easier option. Instead, prioritize a good night’s sleep. It helps you retain information and perform better, plus sleep helps your muscles grow, repairs tissues, and synthesizes hormones. Sleep. It is one of the best things you can do for your health.
Explore holistic alternatives. Holistic medicine works to help people regain balance in their lives by considering the whole person — body, mind, spirit, and emotions. Before you reach for traditional medications that often have side-effects consider natural remedies and preventive self-care
Study smart. There are plenty of things to distract you when you are studying. Instead, try to turn off your phone and internet when you are hitting the books. Those wasted hours on Snapchat are put to much better use hanging out with your friends in person or sleeping! Try the Pomodoro method as a way for time management.
Follow your bliss. Have some fun! Carve out some time in your schedule to do something that brings you joy and helps you to relax. Whether that’s going for a run, practicing yoga, meditation, painting, or playing frisbee in the quad take some time to do something that you love..
Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is being fully present and aware of the world around you. It has been proven to help manage stress, increase memory and attention, fight depression and anxiety, and even boost the immune system! Where to start? Try starting a simple meditation practice.

CHALLENGE

Green

20 POINTS

Think

Think about what you think about. Gratitude and positive intentions can help you notice and appreciate life’s little pleasures. “Each decision we make, each action we take, is born out of an intention” -Sharon Salzberg, meditation teacher and NY Times Author. WIth a regular practice you may experience greater joy, love, and enthusiasm for life.

Challenge

Watch the video of the day here, a beautiful film created by Louie Schwartzberg.
Inspired by what you’re grateful for, set an intention for the day and write it on your mirror or a sticky note.
Let this intention guide your day.
Share the following in a short paragraph:
- What is your intention?
- What inspired you to write it?
- How did it change your day?
Post a picture of your written intention on Instagram. Write a caption that will inspire your friends to follow your lead. Tag @TurningGreenOrg and use the hashtag #PGC2017.

Deliverables

Upload a PDF Document with your responses and a screenshot of your social media post. Please include your name (or team name), username, email, and school.

Submission Guidelines

Please submit all entries as PDFs – no word or pages docs.
Please save filenames using the following format: firstname_lastname_challengeday_challengelevel.pdf (ex: kasie_shils_day1_green.pdf)
Do not include # or spaces in filenames
Please be sure to include all content for your submission in one doc
Do not upload a file bigger than 5 MB
You will get a confirmation on screen that your submission uploaded correctly (green) or that it failed (red) and to try again.
If your total points do not change, your submission did not load correctly and you will have to try again. You can see your point total by opening the Edit Profile tab on the bottom nav bar. Your point total will be at the top of the page.
Send any questions you have to info@turninggreen.org
Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #PGC2017.

The deadline for entering this challenge has past.

Greener

40 POINTS

Think

When you joined PGC, you didn’t just join a challenge, you became part of a vibrant, supportive global community of like-minded peers. This community is made up of people aspiring to lead a more conscious lifestyle who are facing the same struggles of balance between school, extracurriculars, and leisure. Now, we want to invite you to connect to one another, in hopes that you can support each other on your wellness journeys.

Challenge

Find a PGC participant to connect with on the PGC 2017 Facebook page or from Instagram (search the #PGC2017 hashtag). There are only two rules: they can’t be from the same school and you can’t already know them.
Start a chat on Facebook or Instagram. It is okay to connect with more than one person so that everyone has someone to chat with!
Ask that person about their approach to wellness. What do they do when they’re stressed out? What techniques have they found helpful? Did you learn any tips you want to put in your toolbox? Compare notes, and report back!

Deliverables

Upload a PDF Document with a summary of your conversation. Did you learn any new wellness tips you want to try? Include their name and any information you learned. Please include your name (or team name), username, email, and school.

Submission Guidelines

Please submit all entries as PDFs – no word or pages docs.
Please save filenames using the following format: firstname_lastname_challengeday_challengelevel.pdf (ex: kasie_shils_day1_greener.pdf)
Do not include # or spaces in filenames
Please be sure to include all content for your submission in one doc
Do not upload a file bigger than 5 MB
You will get a confirmation on screen that your submission uploaded correctly (green) or that it failed (red) and to try again.
If your total points do not change, your submission did not load correctly and you will have to try again. You can see your point total by opening the Edit Profile tab on the bottom nav bar. Your point total will be at the top of the page.
Send any questions you have to info@turninggreen.org
Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #PGC2017.

The deadline for entering this challenge has past.

Greenest

60 POINTS

Think

Throughout the challenge you’ve learned a lot about what we can do for the planet, but our planet also does so much for us! By taking some time to get outside and experience all that mother nature has to offer, we can better appreciate the interconnectedness between us and our incredible planet.

Challenge

Go to an outdoor space that makes you happy. It may be as simple as the sunny spot right outside your dorm, house or apartment building or something that requires more effort like the hiking trail that leads you to a look out.
Tell us how it feels to spend time in this space.
What is it like? Tell us how it looks, what it smells like, and what you hear.
Share a memory that this place evokes.
Take a photo that captures the essence of your place and share it on the social media platform of your choice. Write a caption that depicts your gratitude for nature, or find a quote that relates and include that. Be sure to tag @turninggreenorg and hashtag #PGC2017

Deliverables

Upload a PDF Document with your responses and a screenshot of your social media post. Please include your name (or team name), username, email, and school.

Submission Guidelines

Please submit all entries as PDFs – no word or pages docs.
Please save filenames using the following format: firstname_lastname_challengeday_challengelevel.pdf (ex: kasie_shils_day1_greener.pdf)
Do not include # or spaces in filenames
Please be sure to include all content for your submission in one doc
Do not upload a file bigger than 5 MB
You will get a confirmation on screen that your submission uploaded correctly (green) or that it failed (red) and to try again.
If your total points do not change, your submission did not load correctly and you will have to try again. You can see your point total by opening the Edit Profile tab on the bottom nav bar. Your point total will be at the top of the page.
Send any questions you have to info@turninggreen.org
Don’t forget to post about the challenge and your learnings/doings on social media and tag us on Facebook @TurningGreen, on Twitter @TurningGreenOrg, and on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg and use #PGC2017.

The deadline for entering this challenge has past.

TODAY’S PRIZES

up to 10 winners from the greener challenge will receive:

Girls:

Natracare Organic Cotton Make-up Removal Wipes
Natracare Organic Cotton Tampons w/out applicator
Natracare Organic Cotton Ultra Pads

Boys:

Guayaki Yerba Mate Organic Cotton T-Shirt

Everyone:

Guayaki Yerba Mate Organic Enlightenmint
Everyone Body Oil
Wish Garden Herbs The Weekender Pocket Remedy Trio
Host Defense Organic MycoShield Cinnamon Spray
Just Jump It Jump Rope

up to 10 winners from the greenest challenge will receive:

Girls:

Natracare Organic Cotton Tote Bag
Natracare Organic Cotton Tampons
Natracare Organic Cotton Ultra Pads Extra
Natracare Organic Cotton Panty Liners

Boys:

Guayaki Yerba Mate Organic Cotton T-Shirt
Guayaki Yerba Mate Organic Energy Shots

Everyone:

Numi Organic Tea Gratitude Tea
Everyone Balance Essential Oil
Loo Hoo Peacefelt Ring
Host Defense Organic MycoShield Peppermint Spray
Gaia Herbs Throat Shield Lozenges
Gaia Herbs Mushroom and Herbs
Little Brown The Secret Life of the Mind