July 2025 Wellness Challenge

Try a New Hobby — 30 Minutes a Day for 7 Days

Reclaim Your Time. Rebuild Your Mind.

Let’s get real. For some of us, the mission ended when the uniform came off — but the battles didn’t. You might be fighting through PTSD, chronic pain, anxiety, sleepless nights, or just that slow, creeping numbness that makes it hard to give a damn.

This July, we’re throwing down a new kind of challenge. No rank. No gear. No BS.

Just you, 30 minutes a day, and one new hobby. For 7 days straight.

This isn’t about killing time.

It’s about reclaiming it.

Why This Challenge?

Because for a lot of Veterans, life after service can feel aimless. You’re not being pushed anymore. You don’t have a team watching your six. And that lack of structure — that quiet — can start to feel like quicksand.

You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. Your brain just needs a new mission.

Trying a new hobby might sound too simple. But behind that small act is a major reset — for your brain, your nervous system, and your sense of purpose.

What’s the Point? (And Why It Works)

• You Rewire Your Brain. Trauma gets your brain stuck in survival mode — constantly scanning, reacting, and bracing for the worst. Learning something new activates different regions in your brain. It builds new pathways, creates focus, and increases neuroplasticity — that’s your brain’s ability to heal.
• You Calm the Chaos. When you’re working with your hands, listening to music, tending to a garden, or learning to cook, your body shifts into “rest and digest” mode. Your heart rate lowers. Stress hormones drop. And for 30 solid minutes, your nervous system remembers what peace feels like.
• You Shift from Consuming to Creating. TV, scrolling, alcohol, junk food — it’s all consumption. Hobbies flip the switch. You become a creator again. Whether it’s a meal, a wood project, or a photo, you made something out of nothing. That matters more than most people think.
• You Build Purpose (Even in Small Doses). Purpose doesn’t have to be some grand mission. Sometimes it’s just waking up and saying, “I’m going to work on that thing again today.” That sense of direction is a lifeline.
• You Connect — Even If You’re Alone. New hobbies open the door to new conversations, online communities, classes, or even family bonding. Try grilling a new recipe with your kids. Show off your project to a buddy. You’re not as alone as you think.

What Counts as a Hobby?

Anything that gets you out of your head and into the moment.

• Photography – Use your phone. Go on a mission to find beauty in the everyday.
• Gardening – Dirt, sun, sweat, and growth. Plant something and see what happens.
• Cooking or Grilling – Learn a new recipe. Feed yourself well. Maybe even impress someone.
• Woodworking or Building – Nothing says “I’m still useful” like crafting something with your hands.
• Drawing, Writing, or Journaling – Let it out. On paper, on canvas, in a notebook. You’ve got stories to tell.
• Fishing, Hiking, Archery, or DIY Projects – Anything that brings you into the present, keeps your hands busy, and gets your mind clear.

How to Start

1. Pick one hobby. Don’t overthink it. You can switch next week if you want. Just commit for 7 days.
2. Schedule it. Set aside 30 minutes. Put it in your calendar like you would a mission briefing.
3. Track it. Take a photo. Journal. Record a voice memo. Build a habit by watching your own progress.
4. Don’t quit. Doesn’t matter if you suck at it on Day 1. That’s not the point. The point is you’re doing something for you.

The Bottom Line

You’ve trained harder. You’ve fought through worse. You’ve been there for your team when it mattered most.

Now it’s time to be there for yourself.

This challenge isn’t about finding a cute little hobby. It’s about rewiring your mind. It’s about making yourself harder to kill — mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

You don’t need permission. You just need to start.

Share your progress, your photos, or your thoughts in the comments. You never know who you’ll motivate to stop surviving and start living again.

#VeteranStrong | #ORWFWellnessChallenge | #MissionMindset | #TrySomethingNew