Hi ya’ll! I’ve been thinking of doing something like this for awhile and after a pretty stressful past few weeks, I felt it was time to finally share it with all of you. I present The Self-Care Challenge. It’s a challenge for you to bring into your everyday lives to try and carve out just 10 minutes a day specifically for you.
Self-care is a pretty broad term. We all know what it means but practicing it can be something else entirely. I’ve created a simple week long challenge with things your can do to make a moment of your day dedicated just to you. Please feel free to jumble up the schedule, skip what doesn’t interest you and focus on what does instead or simply choose just one thing to try out. These are all things that personally help me on the not so great days and I hope regularly integrating them can help your rough days too!
Day 1: Hydrate
Today’s challenge is to swap out one sugary drink a day for a glass of water instead. Or if you’re bad at drinking water altogether and waiting until the end of the day like myself, set a reminder for yourself at 10 am to have a midmorning glass. Keeping hydrated is such a little thing but is so necessary.
Day 2: Pamper
How often is your shower routine more of a to-do list than actually relaxing? Today’s challenge is to take an extra minute or two when you’re done with your routine and relax under the water. Live in a water conscious area or that doesn’t sound like your thing? Try a post shower activity for you. A face scrub because it feels nice. Lotion your poor feet. Whatever it is, do it because it feels good, not because it was on your to do list.
Day 3: Stretch It Out
Today’s challenge is to do a short and sweet stretching routine. As someone who sits for 10+ hours daily for work, stretching is one of the best things I’ve started to do. There are plenty available online to read or follow along to. I’m personally a fan of blogilates stretching routines on youtube.
Day 4: Treat Yourself
Today’s challenge is to simply treat yourself! You want to do a little bit of retail therapy? Go for it. You want to have extra dessert with your dinner tonight? Go for it. You want to do that thing you really don’t need to but want to? Go for it. Self-indulgence every so often is a good thing. If you have the means, let yourself treat yourself. It’s why we work so hard after all isn’t it?
Day 5: Hobby Happy
Today’s challenge is to do a hobby you enjoy or have enjoyed in the past or to start something new. Writing is mine but I have lots of others I enjoy too. Take ten minutes and do something you enjoy that’s in no way shape or form related to anything but giving you some fun times.
Day 6: Sleep It Off
Today’s challenge is to attempt to get 30 minutes more of sleep tonight than you normally would. Go to bed earlier or wake up later, whichever makes sense for your schedule. That TV show, fic, whatever it is will be there the next day but that extra bit of sleep might make a huge difference in how you feel.
Day 7: Something New
Today’s challenge is to try something new or plan to try something new. It could be finding a new recipe to try for dinner, for a baked good, a new hobby, a new workout, a new walking route, a new paint color for your bedroom. Anything and everything. Change is scary but new things can be good and give us something to look forward to.
I hope one or more of these things helps remind ya’ll to take some time for yourselves!
This week I’ve been doing a ridiculous day-of-the-week themed self-care schedule and I’ve really been enjoying it. Mine is a little silly, but that’s part of the fun.
Monday=Make Something Monday - It can be anything. Art, crafts, food, coffee, whatever. just something you don’t always do. I made a thank-you card for a friend.
Tuesday=Treat Yourself Tuesday - Anything that feels like a present to yourself. I took myself out for coffee and breakfast and worked on homework.
Wednesday=Weed Wednesday/Workout Wednesday - I’m trying to cut back on my marijuana use, but I’m giving myself Wednesday evenings to smoke as much as I want. But I also incorporated a new workout into my day, which was super fun! It can be anything you find enjoyable.
Thursday=Thirsty Thursday - I took myself out for a coffee, but it can be a soda, a tea, or an alcoholic beverage so long as that isn’t dangerous for you.
Friday=Facemask Friday - Any facemask, or facial, or whatever. Pamper yourself! I’m making this one a thing EVERY WEEK, so post pictures with me if you want!
Saturday=Sleep-In Saturday - Let yourself sleep later than usual if you can, or take a nap! Sometimes sleep can feel so luxurious.
Sunday=Skincare Sunday - Exfoliate and lotion up! Shave, if you so choose. I make a sugar scrub with just regular refined sugar, oil, and an essential oil for scent, and I use a lavender-scented lotion afterward!
The new month started as beautifully as it possibly could have – with a heavy mist shrouding the sun, but I was glad when Winter bit my face with sharp-as-fuck teeth. It’s not happy with the idea of surrendering to Spring, despite not showing up much for the past three months it was supposed to reign. (Though we know who’s to blame for Winter’s weakened state…)
I was supposed to write…
The new month started as beautifully as it possibly could have – with a heavy mist shrouding the sun, but I was glad when Winter bit my face with sharp-as-fuck teeth. It’s not happy with the idea of surrendering to Spring, despite not showing up much for the past three months it was supposed to reign. (Though we know who’s to blame for Winter’s weakened state…)
I was supposed to write…
All during August, National Wellness Month focuses on self-care, managing stress and promoting healthy routines. Create wholesome habits in your lifestyle all month long and see how much better you feel!
Research has shown self-care helps manage stress and promotes…
