Five to Thrive
A Compilation of Ideas, Products and Services Supporting Wellness of People and Planet
In this edition: Less Lawn, More Life Challenge final update, a healthy breakfast cookie idea, reflecting on personal growth in 2025 thus far, taking on a 30 day workout challenge, and tips on managing an environmental stressor.
#1 Life Balance
Less Lawn, More Life Challenge update…
Week 8 - Add a Water Feature - Still working on this one. Open to ideas for a water feature that withstands hurricane force winds?!
Week 9 - Close the Loop - “Everything your property produces should stay on your property.” I have a banana circle that feeds the banana plants from a big central pile of trimmings and clippings that would otherwise be considered “yard waste.” It’s a little rough looking, but it works really well!
Week 10 - Turn off the Outdoor Lights at Night - This is a tricky one since I live in the suburbs and am surrounded by street lights. A future project is to plant some taller shrubs to provide more shade at night.
Week 11 - Signal Your Intention - I am working on wide and accessible paths so that neighbors might feel welcome to walk through the yard and view the different flower beds.
Week 12 - Get Your Results - My yard’s Wildr Score has gone up from 63% to 71%. The main areas of improvement are the amount of wildlife I am now seeing (like this gorgeous Two-striped forceptail dragonfly), and the estimated amount of yard that is no longer lawn.
Nationwide, over 10,000 people in 49 states participated in Less Lawn, More Life Challenge 2025. Here is a before and after picture from my yard for Challenge #3 - Plant Some Natives!
Before…(June 1. 2025)
After! (August 1, 2025)
#2 Nutrition
Here is a simple cookie recipe that is great with breakfast or as a mid day snack. It’s basic and easy to customize. Add your favorite spices like cinnamon and allspice, some seeds like sunflower and flax, some sliced almonds, raisins and and cacao chips and you have one very healthy and delicious cookie! Enjoy!
#3 Self-Growth
We are more than half way through 2025. Time to review your year thus far.
If you made a New Year’s resolution, how is it going? Is it full steam ahead?
If the proverbial train has not yet left the station, is it time to set a new goal?
What might you be glad you did with the rest of 2025 when you reflect back in 2026?
#4 Movement
This month I have decided to try a 30-day workout challenge that I found on YouTube. The workouts are short but seem appropriately challenging for me, the host is upbeat, and best of all, I have a plan in place for the entire month of August. Anybody want to join?
Thirty Day Challenge - Quarantine Edition
#5 Stress Management
Managing our exposure to environmental toxins can feel stressful. Here is a concise video describing some of the latest findings on how to avoid consuming microplastics as well as studies suggesting the potential for natural ways to remove them from our bodies. This is presented by one of my favorite resources: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Thanks for reading my Substack. I am a certified Wellness Coach who offers personal coaching sessions. If you would like some support on your wellness journey, contact me at kridge2014@gmail.com.