Are you up for a 30 day Self Care Challenge?
I’m not usually a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions. Although it’s always good to have a few ideas of what we would like to change, do differently or do more of in the New Year, more often than not we can be a bit over ambitious and find ourselves being really motivated for a few days or even a week or two and then something gets in our way or it feels too hard and we stop, and feel like an utter failure – again!
The key to making a change is to be realistic, set small achievable goals, make yourself accountable and give yourself small wins (rewards) along the way.
So this year I thought I’d set you a gentle challenge. Rather than depriving yourself or setting unrealistic expectations why not take some time out for a little bit of self care?
I have thought of 30 different things for you to try over January. There are few ways you can do this, there are no hard and fast rules, just a starting point really to taking some time out for yourself and making your self care a priority. And you never know some of things you do could stick!
how to do the challenge
one-a-day
Print off the chart and each day randomly pick a different square to complete and cross out, working your way through all 30 challenges.
One-a-week
Choose one idea and stick with it for a whole week, and then the next week choose something different to do (some of the suggestions might not work for this as they are more one off or occasional activities). This could last a lot longer than January – you could be busy well into the Spring!
pick-a-line
Play it a bit like bingo, and pick a line to complete in a given time.
a-weekly-event
Pick a few ideas that you could do on a regular weekly basis – for instance have a games night with your family on Fridays, or cook your favourite meal every Saturday, switch your phone off every Sunday, declutter a different room/cupboard each week etc.
just-one-thing
Keep it really, really simple but consistent and choose just one thing from the whole list and do it every single day – it could be drink more water or go outside every day, or do something kind for someone or maybe start a gratitude diary.
is it time to make a change?
I’m hoping that some of the activities will inspire you to carry on with them, even if you just pick one thing from the choices to do and it becomes a new self care habit then that would be amazing.
This challenge can be done any month – not just in January. So whenever you need a little bit of inspiration for some self care, choose something you can do for yourself right now.
Sometimes we just need a bit of push, a challenge or encouragement to do something different and make a change. I belong to a Bootcamp and the challenge we have been set for the next 45 days (until 14th February) is to do some form of exercise everyday and record it. It could be going to a session, going for a 5km run, swimming 20 lengths, an hours bike ride or some yoga or pilates. I don’t think I’ll be doing exercise every day, but it’s given me the little push I needed to do some form of movement most days, even if it’s just getting outside for a quick walk.
Hoping this inspires you to start some much needed self care and create a few new healthy habits for your mental and emotional wellbeing.
“Self care is not self indulgent, it’s self preservation”
Audre Lorde