30-Day Self-care Challenge
It’s no secret that we all must take better care of ourselves. We’re constantly on the go and always putting others first, but what about taking some time for YOU? That’s why I’m challenging you to do a self-care challenge! For one month, let’s focus on making time for ourselves and doing things that make us feel good. Trust me, you’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll feel after just a few days of prioritising yourself. Are you up for the challenge?
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What Is Self-care?
Self-care is essential, yet it can be hard to define. For some people, self-care might mean taking daily time to relax and recharge. For others, it might mean getting enough sleep or eating healthy foods. It’s different for everyone, but the common thread is that self-care is about taking good care of yourself to be your best self. So ask yourself, what does self-care look like for you? Make sure to give yourself the time and attention you need to keep yourself healthy and happy.
Why do a Self-care Challenge?
If you haven’t taken care of yourself lately, now is the time to start! A self-care challenge is a great way to jumpstart your journey to becoming healthier and happier. Here are some reasons why you should do a self-care challenge:
1. You’ll feel better mentally and physically. When you take care of yourself, you’re not only improving your physical health but also your mental health. Taking time for yourself can help reduce stress and anxiety and lead to a more positive outlook on life.
2. You’ll have more energy. When you’re well-rested, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly, you’ll naturally have more energy throughout the day. This can lead to improved productivity at work or school and more motivation to pursue your hobbies and interests in your spare time.
3. You’ll be able to manage stressors in your life better. Learning to take care of yourself is an essential skill that will be useful when stressful situations arise. If you know how to manage your stress levels, you’ll be better equipped to deal with whatever life throws your way.
So what are you waiting for? Challenge yourself to a month (or even a week!) of self-care today. Your mind and body will thank you later!
How Does a 30-Day Self-care Challenge Work?
A self-care challenge is a great way to jumpstart your journey to better wellness. It works by focusing on adding healthy habits into your life for a set period, usually 30 days. The key is to make the challenge manageable and realistic so that you can stick with it and see results. Something as simple as taking a brisk walk daily or drinking 64 ounces of water can make a big difference in how you feel. Give it a try and see for yourself!
To get you started, you can follow my 30-day self-care challenge. You can either follow this challenge exactly day by day or tick off each option as and when it is completed. You can also tweak some of the options to suit your preferences. If you follow my 30-day challenge, you will find some free printable checklists at the end of this post.
Take Some Exercise
Exercise is well known for its health benefits and improving mood. However, many don’t have time or fail to prioritise exercise in their daily lives.
Start small with just 10 minutes a day and build it up from there. Why not try out some simple yoga poses or even go for a walk? As your fitness improves, why not set yourself some fitness goals, such as a local 5K race charity event? This is not only a great way to improve fitness but also a great way to help some local charities.
Read a Book
Reading has many benefits, including mental stimulation, stress relief, and tranquillity. If reading a whole book seems like too much of a task, why not take some time out to read some short stories?
You don’t necessarily have to read a physical book either; other options include reading from a Kindle or listening to your favourite book with Audible.
Try Audible for free for 30 days with one free audiobook of your choice – yours to keep, even if you cancel. Prime customers receive two audiobooks in their trial.
Have a DIY Pamper Day
Make some time for a little pampering session. Run a hot bubble bath, use some of your favourite products, and chill and relax.
If you have time on your hands, why not make your own spa products and add some essential oils to build a complete relaxation oasis? Pair with a good book and a candle, and enjoy your moments of bliss.
Cook Something Nice
There is nothing better than cooking some of your favourite food. Why not indulge in some of the fancy recipes you have been meaning to try?
Maybe invite a friend or loved one and enjoy a hearty meal together.
Treat Yourself
If you’ve been eyeing up those new shoes or handbags for months, why not take the plunge and buy that special item? If finances are short, why not treat yourself to something smaller, such as upgrading that black coffee to an indulgent golden milk latte or iced matcha?
Catch Up With Family
We all know how fast time goes when we have busy lives. Before you know it, it’s been weeks or even months since you last spent time with your family.
Take some time to schedule a meal or small get-together with your loved ones.
Make a Bucket List
Setting goals and creating a bucket list help us articulate what we want to explore, focus our attention, and hold ourselves accountable for pursuing our dreams.
Take some time to sit and list all your hopes and dreams, including things you want to accomplish and places you would like to visit. Once completed, you can plan how to achieve all these dreams.
Unplug From Social Media
The average person spends around 3 hours daily on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. That’s 3 hours per day, 1095 hours per year!
Why not use this time to pursue more meaningful activities such as hobbies, passions and dreams that can give your life more purpose?
Why not set a time limit on social media and try to use the time saved to become more productive or enjoy some of your favourite activities?
Donate or Volunteer
Have a clear out of all your old clothes, belongings or even furniture you no longer need and give them to some of your local charities. Having a good clear-out and de-cluttering can be beneficial to improving your mindset; giving them to charity will also give you a feel-good factor, knowing someone else will benefit from these items.
Try a New Hobby
Have you always wanted to try out a new hobby? If so, do it! If you have no idea where to start, list all the activities you have enjoyed in the past and check out what’s going on in your area.
Popular hobbies include trying out a new sport, learning something new, getting out into nature, cooking & baking or arts & crafts.
Purge Wardrobe/Closet
Take some time to clear out that wardrobe finally! Why not organise your clothes into seasons, work clothes, etc., so that it’s easier to find what you need? Seasonal items could be stored away to make space.
Practice Meditation
Meditation is well known for relaxing the mind and reducing stress levels. Try meditation for a few minutes daily to see how you get on.
How to meditate:
- Find a place to sit that feels calm and quiet. Gently close your eyes and follow the sensation of your breath as it goes in and out. If your attention starts to wander, return it to your breath.
- Don’t judge yourself or obsess over the content of the thoughts you find yourself lost in. Just come back.
- When you’re ready, gently lift your gaze and open your eyes. Take a moment and notice any sounds in the environment. Notice how your body feels right now. Notice your thoughts and emotions.
That’s it! That’s the practice.
Start a Journal
Writing can do wonders for your mental health! You can start by writing down your thoughts throughout the day in a small notebook. Over time, your journaling will develop, and it will help you understand your emotions, reduce stress, and allow you to solve problems more effectively.
Do Something Creative
Get your creative juices flowing and enjoy some creative activities. Why not upscale an old set of draws or try out some new crafts?
Listen to an Inspirational Podcast
Whether you’re figuring out how to set better goals, working on becoming a better person, improving your business, growing your wealth, building a rock-solid career, strengthening your relationships, or need the proverbial kick in the backside to turn your life around, there’s a podcast out there for you!
Bake a Cake
One of my favourite self-care activities is baking! How satisfying is it to bake some of your favourite treats and then enjoy them with some of your favourite people?
Meet a Friend for Coffee
Arrange to meet some of your friends for a coffee and catch-up date! Even if it’s just for a short 30-minute meet-up, getting out and meeting some of your favourite people can do wonders for your well-being.
Go for a Walk In Nature
Not only is taking a walk a simple yet effective way of dealing with mental stress, but it also combines the scientific benefits of exercise and spending time outside.
Take a walk around your local park or travel further afield and explore a new area.
Make a Goals List
You can only achieve your full potential if you know what goals you want to achieve! Like creating a bucket list, generating a goals list can give you focus and accountability, helping you plan and make your dream life!
Get a Massage
This has got to be one of my favourite self-care activities! Getting a massage may not be cheap, but a regular massage is one of the best ways to relieve stress and enjoy some much-needed self-care. If you’re concerned about cost, perhaps indulge in a foot or hand massage, which can feel just as good.
Watch Your Favourite Movies
Get the snacks and take some time to watch one of your favourite movies. Why not make it a family night or invite friends for a movie night?
Learn a New Skill
When was the last time you learnt something new? Why not learn a new language, sign up for a course, or teach yourself something from YouTube? The list is endless.
Buy Yourself Something Nice
Take a little shopping trip and treat yourself to something nice. Why not buy some new beauty treats, a new outfit, or even some stationary to start that daily journal?
Make a Gratitude Jar
Keeping a gratitude jar is one of the most powerful things you can do to create a positive transformation. It’s also really simple!
Start by writing down one thing you are grateful for each day and popping it into a jar. Gradually, the jar will fill up with positive messages that you can reach for when times are tough. Seeing physical proof of all the good things in your life can help you get past some of the darker days.
Help Someone
Helping others is not only good for them and a good thing to do, but it also makes us happier and healthier. Giving also connects us to others, creating stronger communities and helping to build a happier society for everyone. And it’s not all about money; we can also give our time, ideas, and energy.
Organise Finances
One of the biggest things we can neglect when busy is looking after our finances. Take some time to organise your monthly income and outgoing, and if finances are a bit of a mess, make a plan to tackle them and regain control.
Have a Social Media Purge
Keeping up with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat can be exhausting. So, to save time and sanity, it’s worth culling your “following” list now and again.
If there are people you never interact with or would be happy to never hear from again, don’t waste energy scrolling past their updates! Cut them out of the picture. Once you’ve done so, you’ll have a happier, more streamlined online experience.
Watch the Sunset
Sunsets are romantic, inspiring and Instagram-able, yet most of us only make time for this special experience when we are on vacation. However, you don’t need to be in some idyllic location to admire the beauty of a sunset.
Find a local spot and take some time to sit and watch the sun go down. If, however, you are more of a sunrise person, why not get up early one morning and take in a fantastic sunrise view instead?
Have a TV Binge Day
When did you last take a day out to do nothing? Leave all the stress and everyday life behind and give yourself a TV binge day. Binge-watch all your favourite movies, start a new series, and indulge in a proper lazy day!
If you don’t have any TV channel subscriptions, why not try Amazon Prime? Not only will you receive free next-day delivery on millions of items, but you will also have access to 15,000 movies and TV episodes with unlimited instant streaming. You will also have access to over 2 million songs on Prime Music.
De-Clutter Home
Along with calming the mind, minimising excess clutter in your home has been found to stimulate creativity and improve well-being. Decluttering is freeing in so many ways. Letting go of the excess “stuff” that fills your home often feels like a weight is lifted from your life.
Take one room at a time and get rid of anything you don’t need, use or are broken. Either take these items to a charity shop, sell them, or throw them out if they are no good.
You will soon realise that you will have fewer things to tidy up, clean, and manage, which will provide more time to do the things you value most.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re looking to boost your productivity, find more joy in life, or take a break from the everyday stressors of work and family, doing a self-care challenge is a great way to jumpstart change. And it doesn’t have to be 30 days; even committing to five or ten days can make a big impact. So what are you waiting for? Pick out some activities and get started today!
Remember to check out our related resources for more tips and guidance on health and well-being. Take control of your mental health and embrace a brighter future!
Thanks so much for stopping by; I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read and make it to the end! I have lots of exciting new content in the next few weeks, so make sure you pop back to catch up!
