It was collectively decided back in mid-January that given February is the shortest month of the year the 4c Executive and 7twenty Professional Search teams would undertake a 28-day challenge. The intention of the challenges were to raise charity funds and as a healthy by-product, improve our physical health and wellbeing.

Ideas for challenges included sea swimming, running, walking and various other torturous activities, and in playing to our strengths, we branched off and picked a challenge most aligned to our individual lifestyles, abilities (and desires).

Claire Reid, the challenge instigator, decided on 28 days of yoga. Richard Greenwood picked a cool two miles per day running challenge. For Pedro Torres it was a 10,000 daily steps challenge, Gareth Hanna also chose yoga which transpired to be ‘stretching’ and Gordon Carson, Victoria Withington and I (Rachel Buchanan) braved a ferocious 100 squats a day.

At the two-week point all seemed well. Richard had banked five miles against his targeted 14, Gordon was squatting while brushing his teeth and Gareth’s challenge had evolved into a hefty 12,500 steps per day. We (I) were sore, we were tired, but we persevered and by the 28th of February all gladly declared we had met our challenge quota.

The resulting effects have seen an increase in our mental wellbeing along with a healthy injection of competition in the team. Claire has graduated as a Pro Yogi and I have gained an inch on each of my thighs, most notably some extremely worthy charities have reaped the benefits of our humble challenge donations. Win Win.

It’s certainly quite and accomplishment to stick to something for 28 days, and I speak for the team when I say we would do it again. Although, maybe we can pick a 30-day month next time, 31 days seems excessive.

Rachel Buchanan, Business Development Exec and squat pro.