{"id":43084,"date":"2023-09-07T20:00:22","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T20:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/polarization.wpengine.com\/?page_id=43084"},"modified":"2025-01-26T06:44:39","modified_gmt":"2025-01-26T06:44:39","slug":"how-it-works","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/pdc\/how-it-works\/","title":{"rendered":"How It Works"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<h1>How It Works<\/h1>\r\n<p>Getting started is easy. In just five minutes per weekday over four weeks, you can help overcome toxic polarization in your life and our country. Join thousands of Americans taking The Challenge right now.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/pdc\/exercises\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"> Start The Challenge <\/a> <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"how-it-works-hero\" src=\"http:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/pdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/how-it-works-hero.jpg\" alt=\"how-it-works-hero\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h2>3 Simple Steps To Get Started<\/h2>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"icon-commit-circle\" src=\"http:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/pdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/08\/icon-commit-circle.svg\" alt=\"icon-commit-circle\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h4>Step 1: Set a reminder<\/h4>\r\n<p>Commit to The Challenge: one exercise per weekday for four weeks. Start by <a href=\"#reminder\">setting a reminder<\/a>. We&#8217;ll send you a quick email or text each day, to help you build the habit.<\/p>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"icon-try-circle\" src=\"http:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/pdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/08\/icon-try-circle.svg\" alt=\"icon-try-circle\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h4>Step 2: Start off easy<\/h4>\r\n<p>Each day, select one of three exercise options: easy, intermediate, or advanced. The easy exercises can be completed in as little as 5 minutes. Choose the exercise that matches your energy for the day.<\/p>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"icon-keep-it-up-circle\" src=\"http:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/pdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/08\/icon-keep-it-up-circle.svg\" alt=\"icon-keep-it-up-circle\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h4>Step 3: Keep it up and spread the word!<\/h4>\r\n<p>Keep it up and encourage others to join you in The Challenge by sharing it with your family, friends, and colleagues.<\/p>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Building Blocks Illustration\" src=\"http:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/pdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/Building-Blocks-Illustration.jpg\" alt=\"Building Blocks Illustration\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h2>Weekly Building Blocks<\/h2>\r\n<p>Each week focuses on a different skill building block to address polarization in different areas of your life.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"icon-block-1\" src=\"https:\/\/polarization.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-block-1.svg\" alt=\"icon-block-1\" \/> Week 1 Building Block:\r\n<p>Address you own divisive habits.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"icon-block-2\" src=\"https:\/\/polarization.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-block-2.svg\" alt=\"icon-block-2\" \/> Week 2 Building Block:\r\n<p>Reintroduce honesty and tolerance within your political in-group.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"icon-block03\" src=\"https:\/\/polarization.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-block03.svg\" alt=\"icon-block03\" \/> Week 3 Building Block:\r\n<p>Overcome tension in your more politically-estranged relationships.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"icon-block-4\" src=\"https:\/\/polarization.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-block-4.svg\" alt=\"icon-block-4\" \/> Week 4 Building Block:\r\n<p>Mobilize together in cross-partisan groups to tackle shared concerns.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/pdc\/exercises\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"> Start The Challenge <\/a><\/p>\r\n<h2>Five Skill Drills Each Week<\/h2>\r\n<h3>Monday &#8211; Stop to Reset<\/h3>\r\n<p>Challenging times like ours can also be fertile ground for changing our more entrenched habits, but only if we take advantage of them by committing to a significant reset; that is, by pausing to be reflective and intentional about the next path we choose.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Tuesday &#8211; Spot Positive Deviance<\/h3>\r\n<p>When we find ourselves trapped in the vicious cycles of polarization, it is best to figure out what is already working. So rather than trying to fix the problem with some new idea or program, first find the bright spots &#8211; the people or programs that are already working effectively to mend the divide.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Wednesday &#8211; Complicate to Simplify<\/h3>\r\n<p>When humans face threats or challenging conflicts, we tend to prematurely simplify them and fall into &#8220;us vs. them&#8221; thinking. We can avoid this by <em>intentionally complicating<\/em> life. That means developing new habits of thinking, feeling, acting, and living that allow us to tolerate and learn from complexity, contradiction, nuance, and opposition.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Thursday &#8211; Move to Synchronize<\/h3>\r\n<p>When stressful conflicts leave us feeling trapped in an &#8220;us vs. them&#8221; world, consider physical movement as a salve. Neuroscience research has found that physical movement can help us to break free of ingrained patterns of thinking, feeling and reacting. And moving together &#8211; side by side &#8211; has been shown to promote empathy and rapport.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Friday &#8211; Adapt to Setbacks<\/h3>\r\n<p>The way out of our political quagmire will be hard and we&#8217;ll make mistakes. The key here is to expect and learn from setbacks by taking a long view and proceeding in ways informed by sound research on effective decision-making in complex environments.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/pdc\/exercises\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"> Start The Challenge <\/a> <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"fist-bump\" src=\"http:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/pdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/fist-bump.jpg\" alt=\"fist-bump\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h2>Getting The Most From The Challenge<\/h2>\r\n<p>We have found The Challenge is most effective when participants do the following:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"icon-start-small\" src=\"https:\/\/polarization.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-start-small.svg\" alt=\"icon-start-small\" \/>\r\n<p><strong>Start Small.<\/strong> Begin with easier and quicker exercises to get going.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"icon-toxins\" src=\"https:\/\/polarization.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-toxins.svg\" alt=\"icon-toxins\" \/>\r\n<p><strong>Locate the Toxins.<\/strong> Start by reflecting on how polarization is damaging your life and relationships today &#8211; this helps you choose what to work on.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"icon-friend\" src=\"https:\/\/polarization.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-friend.svg\" alt=\"icon-friend\" \/>\r\n<p><strong>Find a Friend.<\/strong> Try doing The Challenge with friends or co-workers, so that you have others to complain to and celebrate with. This is a game-changer.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"icon-subtract\" src=\"https:\/\/polarization.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-subtract.svg\" alt=\"icon-subtract\" \/>\r\n<p><strong>Subtract.<\/strong> Think about what you could stop doing each day to make time for these activities, like unplugging from your devices for an hour. It helps!<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/pdc\/exercises\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"> Start The Challenge <\/a><\/p>\r\n<h2>Set a daily reminder<\/h2>\r\n<p>Get daily exercise reminders on your phone or email throughout The Challenge to stay on track.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Better navigate politically polarizing situations<\/li>\r\n<li>Repair strained relationships with family and friends<\/li>\r\n<li>Become a less reactive and more effective communicator<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>By submitting your cell phone number, you are agreeing to receive periodic text messages from Starts With Us. Message and data rates may apply. Text HELP for more information. Text STOP to stop receiving messages.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How It Works Getting started is easy. In just five minutes per weekday over four weeks, you can help overcome toxic polarization in your life and our country. Join thousands of Americans taking The Challenge right now. Start The Challenge 3 Simple Steps To Get Started Step 1: Set a reminder Commit to The Challenge:&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":43417,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-43084","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Polarization Detox Challenge - How It Works<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"With four weeks and just five minutes a day, you can help overcome toxic polarization in your life and our country.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/pdc\/how-it-works\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Polarization Detox Challenge - 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