Nothing works until you do. ~Kesha Brown
So this one time, on Instagram, I conducted a 30 day Self-Care Challenge and it was a huge hit if I say so myself!
People were really taking time to focus on themselves even if just for a few minutes of day.
Welp, now it’s your turn. If you missed the challenge last time or simply want to do it again, follow the prompts below every day and watch your self-care practice grow and solidify!
30 days of self care – a must do challenge
Day 1: Practice Self-Love. For the next 30 days I’m sharing ways I practice self-care in hopes you get ideas on how you can enhance or develop your own self-care routine. Play along!
Day 2: Music therapy (pay attention to what you listen to). What’s on your playlist that makes you feel good and empowered? I feel “up” when I pop on some Happy (Pharrell), mostly anything by India Arie, Brave (Sara Bareilles), I’m every woman (Chaka), and many more!
Day 3: Walk it out. One of the best forms of medicine is movement. Barring any ailments, walking is easy and free! My cousin Yogi walks at least 2 miles a day. I’m trying to get consistent like that and step up my game! What’s your favorite form of movement?
Day 4: Play dress up. Confession – I often play in makeup after watching YouTube vids (gotta love sharers!) and “go shopping” in my own closet. I think this is also why I like themed parties cos I get to dress up! Major benefit…HUGE self-image booster!
Day 5: Pamper yourself. My weekly Pamper Me days are on Sundays which include a facial, mani/pedi, and hair regime and on a monthly basis, can’t do without my massage! What do you do to pamper yourself?
Day 6: Dental health. Yessss, get yo mouth right! See a dentist at least annually, floss (use floss picks if you don’t like string), do a courtesy brush after eating foods that make your mouth feel gritty (you know the feeling I’m talking about), and wear your retainers or you’d be like me and have to pay for new ones (teeth move after braces VERY quickly!). Note: there is no such thing as perfect teeth. Just follow the advice above and you can avoid gum disease and other dental issues which are most important!
Day 7: Spiritual health. Whatever you need to do to take care of your spirit, do it…often!
Day 8: Sleep yourself well! If you feel tired a lot, have a hard time focusing, or feel irritable for no reason, you could be lacking in the QUALITY of your sleep. Wanna go through your day feeling refreshed, focused, and excited? Create a regular sleep pattern and routine. Ask me how if you need assistance!
Day 9: Let’s go shopping! Now you know I couldn’t talk about self-care without talking about a little shopping. A little caution to those who tend to go overboard…don’t break the bank!
Day 10: Sexual health. This form of self-care includes so many things such as…release sexual shame, create sexual freedom, co-create stable, intimate relationships, radically accept your body (a poor body image really holds you back here), build confidence, challenge what sexy “supposed” to look life, and last but definitely not least, know what you want and like and express yourself fully! Boom!
Day 11: Laugh (and do it often)! It is medicine. #nuffsaid
Day 12: Eat well….at least 80% of the time (gotta leave room for indulgences)!
Day 13: Use a gratitude journal. My gratitude journal is one of my best buddies. It has gotten me out of many of bad moods. Where’s yours?
Day 14: Spark creativity. We are all creative. Creativity is not limited to the arts. Problem-solving, making daily decisions, thought leadership, and much more require creativity. Spark and hone yours on the daily!!!
Day 15: Read more books. For some this could mean read ‘A’ book. LOL But for realz, reading IS fundamental (the cliché is absolutely right!). Don’t like to read? Try audiobooks. Don’t like non-fiction? Try some fiction and vice versa or poetry or other creative writings. The point is to expand your knowledge and experience through reading.
Day 16…Personal growth. What are you doing to develop a deeper sense of self, expand your inner being, and ensure you’re always growing?
Day 17: Ask for help. Why is it so hard for us to do so? Let me know your thoughts!
Day 18: Get yo’ money in order! Financial freedom doesn’t come easy. Make your moolah work FOR you. Budget well, talk to a financial advisor, and review your income/expenses monthly, quarterly, and annually. Oh and I don’t care how much money you make or don’t make, you can still save some duckets!
Day 19: Co-create positive relationships. In the wake of global high divorce rates, failed familial, business, and personal relationships, superiority complexes that lead to hatred and its related violent acts to fellow human beings, and a mindset that we are all separate, we’ve lost our interpersonal way, our ability to see each other as BEINGS who want the same basic things – love, support and connection. When will it end? How can we start to reverse this limiting global mindset? What can you do, even if small, right NOW?
Day 20: Explore a hobby. You never know where you might find new talents.
Day 21: Be your own best friend. Don’t expect someone else to be a great friend if you can’t be one to yourself first!
Day 22: Practice being “bad.” What is bad to you or perhaps something that would normally make you feel guilty? Wanna be selfish and take time for yourself today? Wanna eat a piece of chocolate? Wanna tell somebody no? DO IT! My idea of being bad is really only something that ultimately is good for you but you don’t do it enough. Note: y’all know I’m not talking about anything illegal or wholly immoral so don’t get those ideas in your head.
Day 23: Use aromatherapy to alter your mood and improve your overall well-being.
Day 24: Use your voice. Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it!
Day 25: Just say no. Often saying no to others means saying yes to yourself.
Day 26: Take digital fasts. Remove/cleanse yourself from the media every now and then!
Day 27: Show compassion for yourself and others
Day 28: Do you boo! You’ll feel so much better when you show up in the world as YOU; not a copy of someone else.
Day 29: Take (calculated) risks.
Day 30: Give back! There’s just something about helping others that makes you feel good.
Over to you…
Let me know how you do with the challenge and/or tag me on social media (@uncommonchick) if you post your pics online. I’d love to see you taking more time for yourself!
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