As I always think of ways to grow and improve myself, my life and my situation, a thought popped in my head. I recently was listening to some former Navy Seals talk about the experience of “Hell Week”, which is the most difficult week of Navy Seals training (BUD/S) and a week where very few emerge victorious. Every time I hear about Hell Week it always makes me wonder what I am actually capable of. Obviously most of the world’s population could not handle the Navy Seal’s Hell Week but wondered what my own personal hell week would be to help me grow as a person.
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I wanted an experience to really test myself mentally and psychologically by reducing most of our modern day advancements and technologies. I wanted to be bored and uncomfortable as much as possible so I would be alone with my thoughts forced to self examine and self audit my life. To live a week where it wouldn’t be much different than living 200 years ago. To live a week to really be thankful and appreciate all the modern amenities we take for granted. To live a week with very few fleeting dopamine spikes from a normal world of constant stimulation. A week where I would upend my daily routines and become consciously aware of all my normally mundane actions. A week that would be very hard on the body, mind and soul. At the same time I could learn more about myself and grow like never before in the shortest time possible. (What is Personal Hell Week?)
So what should the week look like? I want to feel like I’m trapped. So no going to work or leaving my property. I want to lose things which I take for granted like hot water, comfortable beds and padded chairs. I want to limit my food intake and all flavorful beverages. I want to remove all electronic external stimuli such as phones, television, internet, computers, music, audiobooks, radio etc. There must be some things I can actually do like read books, write, meditate, visualize and exercise. I can eat once a day, but this is after starting the week with a 72 hour water fast. Lastly, throw in an exercise challenge of some sort to test myself physically. (Ever consider cold therapy? Check out the Benefits of Cold Showers)
These are just the basic rules I have come up with at this point on planning my Personal Hell Week. I will have more detailed concrete rules in the future. I plan on attempting this just days after Christmas in 2024. I am both excited and anxious thinking about the reality of it. Thinking of day 1 scares me but thinking of day 7 excites me. I am sure it would be a week I will never forget good or bad.
What would your Personal Hell Week look like?
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