{wellness challenge:: may} tidy your nest

We spent last month cleansing our bodies by experimenting with  increasing our water intake. This month we are going to move outside ourselves and clean up our space.

A big decluttering before summer hits seems like a noble and brave idea. I don't know about you, but I want to spend my summer drinking cold drinks, reading good books and finding places with adequate air conditioning.

So, roll up your sleeves, get ready to purge and clear your space of everything that is unnecessary.

You can join the free FB group here. The group is secret so if this link does not work, just drop me a note at Mama Scout and I will get you in.

I am thinking daily mini-challenges and lots of checking in to keep ourselves accountable.

What can you unload in just one month?

{Wellness Challenge} drink more water

Hello! Did you know I run a free Facebook Wellness Tribe?

Each month we work on a wellness challenge and use a secret group to share, hold ourselves accountable and support each other. It is one of the happiest and most positive spaces online!

This month we are going to work on drinking more water. We did this last year and the results were pretty amazing. Just by upping your water intake you might loose weight, cure headaches, sleep better, think better, get rid of aches and pains.... It is really simple and much easier to work on with a group.

So, set your goal and hop over to the group where we will be sharing recipes, articles, gear and more!

Joining is a 2 step process since this group is "secret."

First, "like" Mama Scout here.

Then, drop me a message that you would like to join and I will add you in!

That's it!

I can not wait to drink myself well this month!

{march wellness challenge} i am so lucky...

The March wellness challenge is UP! In honor of Saint Patrick's Day and 4 leaf clovers, the daily prompt is

I am so lucky.....

Each day, head to the FB group and declare what good in your life is just plain lucky!

This is similar to our gratitude challenge a few months ago, but I feel like by using the word "luck" there is a different vibe. We are not just being reverential and humble in our gratitude, but acknowledging the pure luck of the draw. Sometimes, things are really great because we work hard and manifest our dreams. But sometimes, we are just lucky. You might even scratch your head and wonder how you ended up in a sparkly rainbow. Luck my friend!

Luck is playful and silly. It is like God winking and throwing you a dandelion to blow and whispering,  "make a wish!"

You might even find yourself trying to pass on some good luck to others.... leaving the front row parking space open for someone else, putting a quarter in the gum machine slot, you get the idea...

The FB group is always free! You can join here.

{january wellness challenge} I dream...

The January Mama Scout Wellness Challenge is....

A daily check in with our dreams.

I finished up the Dream Lab a few months ago and the next one has been planned here.

The big takeaway from the last dream lab? By simply voicing our dreams and crazy notions - we often put the ball in motion.

Daring to utter the words...I dream of.... can kick start the magic like nothing else. And to do so in a group of positive co-dreamers magnifies the power, the connection and the possibilities.

Let's get small. The tiniest dreams deserve a bit of attention....what are yours? I would like to drink my coffee when it is still warm and maybe have the floors cleared of animal hair.

And, let's get audacious. Big, unruly dreams that are scary to say out loud. Shout them to this group of strangers and friends from around the world.

Give them voice.

Set them free.

Cast them like seeds into the minds of other dreamers.

If nothing else, you can state your one sticky dream every.single.day.of.the.month. We don't care and will join the chorus and sing your words with you.

Remember, this whole project takes place on Facebook. The group is here and it is all free.

(and i have to say, this group has grown into a very safe, uplifting place. we only offer each other encouragement, kind words and any relevant resources. if you could use a dose of that sort of connection - join us.)

You are invited to dream with us!

{{Wellness Challenge}} :: write everyday

A new month, a new challenge!

This month, I am challenging you to grab a notebook and write everyday. In the past decade, I have come to value journalling above all other forms of self exploration and discovery. Regular writing can heal, transform and inspire you. It is simple, cheap and profound.

This is not about being a great writer or trying to publish your work - although this practice can help you along that path too. This is just about getting out your ideas, angsts and the bits and bobs of your day.

How it works:

Get a journal and something to write with. The cheaper the better. See the middle composition book in the photo above? I buy those by the case for about 50 cents each. We want to be messy and need something non precious to write in. You might even decide to burn it when we are done! (I took a class with daily writing work and at the end we had to destroy everything!)

You need to join the Facebook group here. Everyday for the month of October, there will be a writing prompt. I will also pass along journalling inspiration to keep you on the path. And we can discuss and share all we want too!

That is it!

xxoo,
Amy

Mama Scout Wellness Challenges are free programs that are run monthly on FB. When we work together and have fun - significant changes can happen.

There are a few days left to join the Dream Lab. Read about it here. 

{Wellness Challenge} :: Learn Something New Everyday

I really loved last month's gratitude challenge! I think the group participants did too. We not only benefited from feeling and sharing the things we were thankful each day BUT we also got to reap joy from the other shares. It was a month full of noticing the littlest things and celebrating some really big things (death, cancer, near misses). We will do this again as a group, I am certain.

But, this month, we will change gears a bit. We will still being looking close at our lives and environment. This time for what we learn each day. As an un/homeschooling mama, I am very aware that we are all learning all the time. I journal these things, take photos, discuss nonstop, and pose and answer questions all day. Even on days when it seems like not much is happening, if I stop and think for just a bit, I am usually blown away at what we have learned. It ranges from academic knowledge to how to do something to peeks into our own self knowledge.

I challenge you to post with us each day at least one thing you have learned. It can be quirky or poignant. Frivolous or frightening.

Anything goes!

Learned a new word? a hack? a bit of history? Share it with us!

And encourage your kids to participate too. This could be the dinner topic each night or a journalling prompt. Keep the juices flowing and and be attentive to all that you are learning.

And please do post, it is so much more fun that way.

You can join the free Facebook group here. (That is where everything happens).

august wellness challenge :: gratitude

I am easing back into normal life and this space. Slowly, slowly.

To get back in the swing of things, I am hosting a powerful wellness challenge. Join me, every day in August, sharing one thing, big or small, that you are thankful for.

I think of August in the south as people up north must think of February. It is my least favorite month. Hot and humid, summer is winding down but all of our fun classes and co-ops have not started back up. It is the sticky liminal space between seasons for me.

So, my best antidote is to focus on the good and to be thankful for what is.

This is simple and free and can be life changing.

You can join the group right here. I hope you will.


Amy

{wellness challenge} breathe

This month we are going back to basics. We are going to focus on breathe and slowing down our internal engines.

In the Facebook group I will be sending daily reminders to breathe, breathing techniques and some mediation resources that I really like.

That is it!

I hope you will join us in slowing down and filling your lungs with restorative oxygen!

*Do not forget, you have to be a part of the Facebook group to participate. Everything is done over there.  And feel free to invite anyone who might be interested. 

10 rules of the happy people

I am a people watcher. Not just random people strolling around town, but people I am acquainted with too.  I feel like I can learn something from everyone I meet and have recently been interested in what makes happy, upbeat, positive people tick. Here is what I have come up with:


1. Happy people laugh a lot. At themselves, at their troubles, at daily situations. Approaching the day with humor is the way to go.

2. They always have something to look forward to. A trip, a class, a dinner, or a big project - anticipation of something interesting keeps life vital and fun.

3. Energetic people have a connection to nature. They like to hike, garden, look out of their windows, go to the beach and just walk around outside.

4. People are happier when they have pets or at least like and respect animals.

5. They like and eat good food. Healthy, decadent, special, weird food is all great for happy people.

6. Happy people are confident in their life choices. They take responsibility and are willing to make changes if something is not working. Victim mentality never equals happy camper.

7. They have strong relationships but are non-attached to particular roles for others to fulfill. Meaning, they love deeply, but a happy person's joy is not dependent on another person making it for them.

8. Happy people keep their minds active and agile by thinking new ideas. They are non-dogmatic in their thinking. New concepts are invigorating, not scary to them.

9. Some sort of physical activity keeps the happy juice flowing. A sedentary lifestyle usually is not going to get you there (literally or figuratively).

10. A happy person always has something interesting to share. They read cool books, listen to a variety of music and go to interesting plays and films.

I loved coming up with this list and thinking about the things I do (and can do) to keep myself happy.

So, what are some of the tenets from the happy people in your life? Please share in the comments!

{wellness challenge} :: clutter control

I had so much fun with last month's wellness challenge, I wanted to try another this month. The mission  for February, if you are brave, it to do some serious clutter control.

Excess stuff dominates and steals energy like nothing else, so let's clean it out. And let's make it fun and do it together!

As much as I am seduced by extreme minimalism, tiny houses, and getting down to only 100 items - that is not where my family is right now. We are 5 people who are home many days, have many interests and projects happening at all times. But, we certainly can do a sweep through the house to clear out the things we do not need anymore.

How it works::

This challenge runs in a Facebook Group. You can ask to join here. I will post a mini challenge each day this month. Ideally, these little jobs can be done in 15 minutes tops. You choose to do them or not, of course, but the real fun is when people (that is you) share your progress. Before and after photos of your space and project are completely welcome!

We can all share inspirational links, books,  and resources too. And if you are getting rid of something, you might even find a new home through our group.

So, are you in? Let's see how much stuff we can get out of our homes in the shortest month of the year!

{wellness challenge} water :: let's connect

Well, I certainly did not expect that. The water challenge I posted yesterday had so many page views and comments (on the blog and in different FB groups). I am crazy excited that so many people want to up their water take this month. I am four days in and already feel better.

The biggest thing I have noticed is that I am not hungry at all. I have heard this is a possible side effect - and am surprised at how true it is. After a day or two of filling up, I feel sated for much of the day!

Let's keep up the momentum so we can encourage and support each other. I have created a Facebook group here. If you do not want to join up there, feel free to use the comments here to share.

Woo!

How are you doing? Have you been able to get more water? Anyone close to 80oz?

{wellness challenge} drink your H2O!

How about a fun challenge to kick off the new year?

Did you know I am a certified heath coach? I studied with Institute for Integrative Nutrition  for a year and even attended a conference to hear some big names talk about health and wellness. Nutrition and food can be a pretty overwhelming topic to study. It seems like there is conflicting information and new ideas out each week.

But, one easy thing you can do to feel amazing is drink more water. I am working with the Apothecary Circle for an entire year to up my skills in the healing arts (herbs, nutrition, natural cures).

So far, I am super excited by the women who are involved and the breath of information we are going to cover. (if you are interested in any of Laura Emily's programs, I have an affiliate discount code for 15% off ::  HERBS506)

Our first challenge is to rehydrate. It is a simple cleanse to start the new year. If you want to join with me, I would love to support you and work together. To join, just leave a message in the comments. I will post here every week this month with an update and you can check in. Easy.

Here are some guidelines:

+Try to drink a big glass of water every morning before you eat. I can do 24 oz with some lemon and it helps clear your system and gently wake you up. You could even fill up a water bottle to have next to your bed so you can drink it as you are getting dressed.

+Aim for 80-100 oz a day, but not all at once. Sip all day long. Yes, you will have to pee more, but some of the benefits can be better digestion, decrease in headaches and body ache, better sleep, better skin and more vibrancy in general.

Many health experts believe that most people are chronically dehydrated and that many, many health concerns can be cleared up with just drinking more water. It is certainly worth giving it a go!

+If you drink caffeinated or alcoholic drinks, add more water, as both of those are dehydrating. You do not have to give anything up - just add more to balance out the affects.

+Figure out how you will keep track. I like to drink from a 12 oz. Mason jar and I mark my ounces on the chalkboard each time I fill it up. You can also fill a pitcher of your goal amount each morning. And there are even apps that can help you keep track. However you do it - make sure it makes sense to you and your lifestyle. This is meant to be easy and take literally no more than 5 extra minutes a day.

+Feel free to add citrus, fruit and herbs to flavor your water. My personal favorite is lemon and rosemary. The aromatherapy benefits are powerful too. What about a splash of rose water? Or mint? Tarragon?

That is it!

I will post more later with some of my favorite ideas and hope you will share too. If this goes well, I have a whole year of monthly wellness challenges planned. Remember, my word for the year is FLY? Well, I am extending the metaphor into flock building. You know how birds fly together with one leading and making the air resistance less for the others? We can do that too. If we fly together we can ease the journey for each other. Are you in?

Healthy, vibrant mamas make healthy vibrant families!