PGC 2025 Day 18: Wellness – Project Green Challenge

Caring for yourself is one of the most powerful ways to care for the planet. Wellness isn’t a luxury; it’s what allows you to keep showing up for the causes you believe in. When you nourish your body, rest deeply, and protect your spirit, you build the strength to create lasting change.

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The present moment is the substance with which the future is made. Therefore, the best way to take care of the future is to take care of the present moment.“

— Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Master, global spiritual leader, poet and peace activist

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Wellness grows from small, intentional choices that shape how you move through each day. The food you eat, the ways you move, the moments you pause to breathe, and the time you spend with others all influence your energy and outlook. Wellness looks different for everyone, but every act of self-care sends positive ripples far beyond you.

Nourishing your body with colorful, whole foods fuels your energy and supports farmers and food systems that care for the Earth. Moving regularly eases stress and strengthens your connection to your body. Protecting time for rest restores balance, while unplugging from screens makes space for deeper sleep and peace of mind. Building relationships — sharing a meal, calling a friend, joining a community — creates happiness, belonging, and resilience.

Joy, gratitude, and presence deepen this foundation. Doing what you love lifts your mood and renews your energy. Pausing to breathe or practicing mindfulness helps calm stress and sharpen focus. Time in nature — feeling the sun on your skin, listening to birds, or walking beneath trees — lowers stress, sparks creativity, and reminds you why this work matters.

What you put in and on your body matters too. Many everyday products contain harmful chemicals that can affect both human and environmental health. MADE SAFE, a nonprofit certification program, helps cut through greenwashing by verifying products made with safe, non-toxic ingredients, empowering you to make cleaner, more conscious choices. Naturepedic extends this care to where you spend a third of your life by creating certified organic mattresses and bedding free from flame retardants, polyurethane foam, and other toxic chemicals.

When you align your routines with your values — how you eat, move, rest, connect, and choose what surrounds you — you create balance between your own health and the planet’s. Caring for yourself becomes an act of caring for the world, reminding us that personal and planetary health are deeply connected. Wellness isn’t separate from activism; it’s what sustains your courage, resilience, and joy for the long journey ahead.

PARTNERS

RESOURCES

CHALLENGE

Green

20 POINTS

THINK

Healthy habits take time to grow. PGC is a month-long journey because real, lasting change doesn’t happen overnight: it develops through intention, care, and practice. Each small action builds toward greater balance and well-being.

CHALLENGE

Start by exploring today’s article about wellness practices from around the world.
Find a cozy spot, silence your phone, and grab a notebook or some scrap paper. Take a deep breath and imagine the habits that help you feel your best.
In your own words, reflect on what wellness means to you. Write down three practices that already support your well-being, and three habits you’d like to shift or release to feel healthier in body and mind.
Bring your vision to life through creativity — a doodle, collage, poem, or digital art, whatever inspires you. Show the positive habits that support your wellness journey.
Post your creation on Instagram with a short caption about what wellness means to you.
Tag @TurningGreenOrg, @MadeSafehq and @Naturepedic in both the image and caption, and use #PGC2025.

SUBMIT YOUR WORK

Create a PDF: Combine your responses into a single PDF.
Include: Your name (or team name), username, and school on the PDF.
File Naming: firstname_lastname_day18_green_2025.pdf or teamname_day18_green_2025
Example: kasie_jones_day18_green_2025.pdf or GreenTeam_day18_green_2025.pdf
Avoid Symbols: (including #) or spaces in the file name.
File Size: Must be under 5 MB.
Submit: Upload your PDF. If you do not see the upload button, you need to login. A green confirmation message will appear if your submission is successful. If you don’t see this, please try again.
Points: If your total points don’t update, your submission may not have uploaded correctly—please retry.
Check Score: Go to Edit Profile on the bottom navigation bar; your score appears at the top of the page.
Questions: Email info@turninggreen.org.
Social Media: Tag @TurningGreenOrg on Instagram and use #PGC2025.

The deadline for entering this challenge has passed.

Greener

40 POINTS

THINK

Gratitude is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to lift your mood and strengthen connections — yet it often slips through our busy days. Think of the person who always makes you laugh, supports you, or inspires you. Gratitude is simple, contagious, and it feels good to share.

CHALLENGE

Watch An Experiment in Gratitude: The Science of Happiness.
After reflecting on the video, choose someone you’re grateful for and write them a heartfelt letter.
Share at least five ways, big or small, that they’ve made a positive difference in your life. Be specific, kind, and sincere.
Read your letter aloud to them — in person, over the phone, or on a video call — and notice how it feels for both of you.
Upload your letter with a short reflection about the experience. If you’d rather keep it private, that’s okay — just let us know.
(Optional) If you feel comfortable, post your letter or a short excerpt on Instagram to inspire others. Tag @TurningGreenOrg and use #PGC2025.

SUBMIT YOUR WORK

1. Create a PDF: Combine your responses into a single PDF.
2. Include: Your name (or team name), username, and school on the PDF.
3. File Naming: firstname_lastname_day18_greener_2025.pdf or teamname_day18_greener_2025
4. Example: kasie_jones_day18_greener_2025.pdf or GreenTeam_day18_greener_2025.pdf
5. Avoid Symbols: (including #) or spaces in the file name.
6. File Size: Must be under 5 MB.
7. Submit: Upload your PDF. If you do not see the upload button, you need to login. A green confirmation message will appear if your submission is successful. If you don’t see this, please try again.
8. Points: If your total points don’t update, your submission may not have uploaded correctly—please retry.
9. Check Score: Go to Edit Profile on the bottom navigation bar; your score appears at the top of the page.
10. Questions: Email info@turninggreen.org.
11. Social Media: Tag @TurningGreenOrg on Instagram and use #PGC2025.

The deadline for entering this challenge has passed.

Greenest

60 POINTS

THINK

Mindfulness is about slowing down and making space — to breathe, to notice, and to connect with yourself, others, and the world around you. Creating a peaceful spot, no matter how small, can help you pause, recharge, and feel grounded.

CHALLENGE

Explore the 7 Principles of Mindfulness to deepen your awareness and guide you toward calm, connection, and purposeful action.
Then, find or create a mindful space that feels peaceful and meaningful to you. Use what you already have — a plant, a splash of sunlight, a favorite object from nature, a piece of art, or a cozy chair. What do you want to add to this space that will make it a special place for you? Keep it simple, welcoming, and sustainable.
Spend time there today — meditate, journal, stretch, or simply sit quietly. For inspiration, watch today’s video, meditation practice.
Notice how it feels to be in this space you created. Write a reflection of your experience. Did your energy shift? Did you feel more grounded and ready to act for yourself, your community, and the planet?
(Optional) If you’d like, share a photo or video of your mindful space on Instagram with a caption about why mindfulness and self-care matter. Tag @TurningGreenOrg, @MadeSafehq and @Naturepedic in both the image and caption, and use #PGC2025.

SUBMIT YOUR WORK

1. Create a PDF: Combine your responses into a single PDF including any links.
2. Include: Your name (or team name), username, and school on the PDF.
3. File Naming: firstname_lastname_day18_greenest_2025.pdf or teamname_day18_greenest_2025
4. Example: kasie_jones_day18_greenest_2025.pdf or GreenTeam_day18_greenest_2025.pdf
5. Avoid Symbols: (including #) or spaces in the file name.
6. File Size: Must be under 5 MB.
7. Submit: Upload your PDF. If you do not see the upload button, you need to login. A green confirmation message will appear if your submission is successful. If you don’t see this, please try again.
8. Points: If your total points don’t update, your submission may not have uploaded correctly—please retry.
9. Check Score: Go to Edit Profile on the bottom navigation bar; your score appears at the top of the page.
10. Questions: Email info@turninggreen.org.
11. Social Media: Tag @TurningGreenOrg on Instagram and use #PGC2025.

The deadline for entering this challenge has passed.

PRIZES

Up to 10 Greener and 10 Greenest outstanding submissions will be selected as winners.

Each Greener Winner will receive:

Acure Revived Radiance Overnight Mask and The Essentials Moroccan Argan Oil, a nourishing duo that hydrates, restores, and brightens skin with clean, plant-based ingredients. Acure creates vegan, cruelty-free skincare powered by superfoods and science, promoting accessible wellness through safe, effective, and sustainable products.
Gratitude One Line a Day Journal: a five-year mindfulness journal designed to help you record moments of gratitude, growth, and reflection in just a few lines each day. Chronicle Books publishes thoughtfully crafted books and gifts that inspire creativity, mindfulness, and meaningful living.

Each Greenest Winner will receive:

Naturepedic Organic Pillow + Organic Cotton Pillowcase: a luxuriously soft, chemical-free sleep set crafted from certified organic cotton for comfort and clean rest. Naturepedic designs organic, non-toxic sleep essentials that prioritize health, sustainability, and ethical craftsmanship.
A soothing, natural sleep balm from Badger Balm made with organic essential oils to promote calm and restful sleep. Badger is a Certified B Corp dedicated to worker well-being, regenerative agriculture, and creating body care that’s safe for people and the planet.