Can you spare 5 minutes a day for peace of mind?
Mindfulness is slowing down and being present in the moment. It could be practicing yoga, or just closing your eyes and focusing on your breathing. It can reduce stress and help you experience life on a deeper level. In this individual challenge, you’ll set your own goal, starting at 5 minutes a day (35 minutes a week). Once the challenge begins, start tracking. And check your progress!
You can practice mindfulness anywhere—in your kitchen, when you’re outdoors, even at work– whenever you have a few minutes.
Registration opens October 26.
There are so many different ways to incorporate mindfulness into your life! Anything from yoga, meditation and breathing exercises to hiking, journaling, coloring, lifestyle coaching, and more can be counted toward your challenge goal. During the challenge, you’ll receive daily tips on how to practice mindfulness and weekly reminders to log your mindful minutes.
How to join the challenge
Log in to your Aetna Virgin Pulse account between October 26 and November 9, and then click on the Challenges icon (it looks like a trophy). If you don’t already have an account, visit tinyurl.com/ArcWCjoin or check out our Aetna Virgin Pulse page to find out more. Need help? Call Virgin Pulse: 1-833-525-5786 (8am-9pm EST) or email support@virginpulse.com.
When you join the challenge, you’ll first be asked about your current mindfulness habits. This will give you a good baseline from which to create a meaningful challenge goal. You’ll then be asked to set a weekly goal for the number of mindfulness minutes you want to accomplish during the challenge – starting with at least 35 minutes a week. That’s only five minutes a day! Once the challenge begins, track any mindfulness activities you do. Check in daily to see how you are progressing toward your goal!
If you wish, you can use your favorite mindfulness, breathing, or yoga app to help you track your mindfulness minutes. Free apps to help you with this challenge are available on Apple’s App Store and on Google Play:
- Aura
- Breathe
- Calm
- Here & Now
- and many others!
If you already use an app and would like to recommend it to others, please leave a comment here on in the challenge chat on Virgin Pulse once the challenge starts.
The challenge is FREE and open to every employee of The Arc of Washington County at any fitness level. You don’t need to be enrolled with Aetna to participate!
Dates
- Registration starts October 26, 2020.
- The challenge starts on November 9 and ends on December 20, 2020.
- The last day to upload your steps is December 22. Tracking daily is more fun!
- To be in the prize drawings you must record mindful minutes every week and reach your overall challenge goal.
Scores
- This challenge is really about attaining your weekly and total challenge goals and experiencing the benefits of a mindfulness practice.
- When you achieve your challenge goal, you’ll enter the winner’s circle!
- There are prizes! Keep reading.
Participation Prize
Everyone who signs up and participates will receive a free Comfort Clay™ Round Hot/Cold Pack, while supplies last.
Individual Prizes
Prizes will be awarded at the end of the challenge via random drawing. All we ask is that you participate for all six weeks
of the challenge, and achieve your overall challenge goal to be eligible for a prize. Prizes include:
- RETHiNK Card Deck Mindful Conversation Starters: 56 Questions to Encourage Compassion, Shift Perspective & Build
Connections (up to 10 winners!) - Yoga mat and carrying case (up to 10 winners!)
- Mindfulness Cards: Simple Practices for Everyday Life (up to 10 winners!)
- $10 in Arc Bucks (up to 10 winners!)
Winner’s Circle Prizes
These prizes will be awarded at the end of the challenge via random drawing. All we ask is that you participate for all six weeks of the challenge, reach the Winner’s Circle by achieving your overall challenge goal, and join in the challenge chat (share tips/your experience, ask questions, encourage other participants) on Virgin Pulse at least weekly throughout the challenge to be eligible for a prize. Prizes include:
- Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Pencils Adult Coloring Book Kit with Blender, Illustration Marker, Eraser, Sharpener and Coloring Booklet
- Masdio Zenbox Portable White Noise Machine with Wireless Charger Bluetooth Speaker, 9 Sounds
- Weighted Blanket — Heavy 100% Oeko-Tex Certified Cotton with Premium Glass Beads (Dark Grey, 20lbs), for Queen/King Bed