The Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-being is hosting a new wellness challenge focused on leaving 2020 in the past and working toward a better 2021. Normally the challenges hosted by the Bowers Center work on physical fitness alone, but this new year challenge is unique because it encourages all around health.
Bowers Center Director Whitney Crull describes the unique advantages that follow this type of challenge: “What we liked about this challenge was that it didn’t just encompass physical activity. Usually when we write a challenge it is all about working out or doing things physical, but we wanted to encompass all areas of wellbeing.”
The goal of the challenge is simple: complete a variety of activities on your own to add up to a total of 2,021 minutes. This allows both those on- and off- campus to participate however they want as often as they want using a personal Activity Log that they can get by emailing recwell@etown.edu. The activity log is automatically linked to a master sheet controlled by the Bowers Center, which allows them to keep track of how each participant is doing and what milestones they have earned.
The inspiration for this challenge was clear, as throughout the previous year many people ended up missing out on activities that helped keep them healthy. Furthermore, the stress caused by events both at home and abroad have helped further reduce overall well being for everyone. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of the year, this challenge aims to help students and faculty cultivate and improve their overall state of wellness through a variety of fun activities that can be unique.
The posters showing off this challenge do have a list of activities, but that list is by no means exclusive. There are a range of options, from relaxing exercises such as reading or making art, to strenuous and difficult physical activity such as High Intensity Interval Training. In a sense, almost everything is on the table, as the activities are meant to lead participants into a “healthier and happier 2021” instead of focusing simply on making them physically stronger. What this means can vary greatly, and already more than fifty participants have racked up 27,187 minutes as of Feb.12 from doing diverse activities such as sewing, hiking, playing with younger family members and even meditating.
With how popular this challenge is, there is a distinct possibility it will become a yearly tradition, although Crull notes that, “maybe there’s a name change in the future where it’s not leaving that year behind you and going towards a new year, but the general idea of the challenge is something that we can continue for years to come.”
Crull also reflected on the fact that people face challenges every year, and so a tradition of starting the new year right by investing in personal well being is a smart idea. The milestones as well are impressive and help inspire participants to do their best. At 500 minutes participants are eligible for a foam phone pocket, 1,000 minutes nets a Bowers Center water bottle, 1,500 a massage ball kit and 2,000 minutes a resistance band kit. The grand prize, earned at 2,021 minutes, is a drawing into a raffle for an Apple watch.
Participants can go above 2,021 minutes, however at that point the only reward is the satisfaction of doing the things they enjoy. As may be obvious from the design of this challenge, this is a fun idea to help release the stress and negative emotions experienced during the previous year while helping participants achieve their personal wellness goals.
