Spring is in the air and I currently could not be more excited. It’s also known as the season of fresh starts. The flowers are blooming, the trees are budding, and the birds are chirping. It’s a season to start a new habit and make yourself a priority. Are you looking for some refreshing new ways to practise self-care this spring?
In this article, I’m going to share 30 self-care activities. It’s going to be a 30 Days Spring Self-Care Challenge to start in April (or whenever you want).
Are you ready to focus on YOU? Then read on, and make sure to download or print the checklist (at the bottom of this article) to keep track of your progress. Let’s get started!
“The first blooms of spring always make my heart sing.”
30-Day Spring Self-Care Challenge
1. Start a gratitude journal
Gratitude is being endorsed by wellness blogs and magazines. You can buy different kinds of specific gratitude journals, or download apps that remind you to jot down your blessings. Studies have found that giving thanks and counting blessings can help people sleep better, lower stress and improve interpersonal relationships.
2. Learn to meditate
Meditation is a simple practice available to all, which can reduce stress, increase calmness and clarity and promote happiness. Learning how to meditate is straightforward, and the benefits can come quickly.
3. Spend the day social media free
To spend the day without social media, deactivate your accounts or delete any social media apps from your smartphone or tablet, since this will remove the temptation to check them.
4. Call someone you love
Loving someone and having them love you back is the most precious phenomenon in the world, and it should be expressed as such. If you appreciate someone today, tell them. If you adore someone today, show them. Hearts are often confused and broken by thoughtful words left unspoken and loving deeds left undone.
5. Take a 15 minute walk outdoors
If you walk for 15 minutes at a time, your body still has burned calories that it wouldn’t have burned otherwise. Walking has been linked to all kinds of health benefits, like better heart health, improved brain function and mood, and more. It’s a trainer favourite for a reason.
6. Listen to a podcast
Podcasts are everywhere, these days, and there are so many topics to choose from. In recent years the quality has risen dramatically, as the podcasting space has grown up. If you have a smartphone in your pocket, you already have an ideal podcast listening platform right there.
7. Learn to cook a new recipe
Cooking at home gives you the opportunity to eat the foods you love exactly how you enjoy eating them. When you’re making a meal from scratch, you get to discover and experiment with different ingredients, seasonings, and cuisines. And as with any activity, the more time you spend in the kitchen, the better you become at creating fantastic meals!
8. Stretch for 10 – 15 minutes
Regular stretching helps increase your range of motion in the joints, improves blood circulation and posture and alleviates muscular tension throughout the body. In addition, it enhances your athletic performance and may reduce the risk of injuries.
9. Listen to your favourite songs
10. Practice deep breathing
Breathing exercises can help you relax, because they make your body feel like it does when you are already relaxed. Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. This is because when you breathe deeply, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax.
11. Try a free online workout
These are the 50 best resources for free online workouts that make is easy for you to exercise at home. Whether you have just a few minutes for a quick core workout, or if you’d like to join a month-long daily yoga challenge.
12. Read a book
Reading is good for you because it improves your focus, memory, empathy, and communication skills. It can reduce stress, improve your mental health, and help you live longer. Reading also allows you to learn new things to help you succeed in your work and relationships.
13. Write a list of short-term goals
If you feel that you may lose your momentum in the pursuit of the bigger picture, or getting to your targets is a slog… then try setting clear, short-term goals. Long term goals are good, but, hey, they are still long term. Wouldn’t it be better to create short-term goals that are realistic and have a higher possibility of goal achievement?
14. De-clutter your room or desk
A clean workspace increases productivity. Clutter doesn’t just affect your physical space, but your mental space too.
15. Go to bed 30 minutes earlier
It can be tempting to think that only big lifestyle changes will make a difference to your health. It turns out, though, that when it comes to sleep, going to bed just half an hour earlier can make a substantial difference to your sleep patterns and rest.
16. Have a pamper night
We could certainly all use a day or evening dedicated to taking good care of ourselves. If your budget doesn’t currently allow for a full day at the spa, consider doing an at home pamper night! If you feel most comfortable having the house to yourself, arrange to have your spa night when everyone is away.
17. Learn a new craft
The benefits of learning a new crafting skill include improving your brain health. When a brain learns a new skill, it develops new pathways for that skill. This then leads to having an easier time learning other skills. Not to mention active learning and skill building can fight dementia later in life.
18. Make your favourite meal
Cooking your favourite meal for your loved ones can provide you with a great feeling of accomplishment.
19. Buy yourself something nice
Spending money on yourself makes you feel better. Buying something new gives your spirits a lift. It is nice to have something new to wear or something new to enjoy in your free time.
20. Create a bucket list
The focus of a bucket list is to live a life with hopes and aspirations. Making a bucket list allows us to reflect on our values and goals, and identify important milestones and experiences that we want to have in our lifetime.
21. Watch a movie or series
Watching movies is an activity that has long been regarded as simply a pastime to enjoy when you have a free moment from life’s responsibilities. While too much screen time can be harmful, engaging in hobbies that balance your work and professional life can be healthy.
22. Write down your thoughts
When you write them down, something takes over and the writing becomes more serious and more purposeful. In a short while the mind calms down and reorganises. In the process of writing, feelings and emotions become clearer and hidden thoughts and feelings come to the surface to bring a more complete light to the situation.
23. Take an extra long shower or bath
Surprise! Luxuriating in a long, hot bath actually has medicinal benefits. Heat will get your blood moving, which is not only great for circulation (more on that later) but can also help sore or tight muscles to relax. And taking a regular warm bath can help reduce blood pressure, according to some research.
24. Dance around to happy music
When we dance our brain releases endorphins, hormones which can trigger neurotransmitters that create a feeling of comfort, relaxation, fun and power. Music and dance do not only activate the sensory and motor circuits of our brain, but also the pleasure centers.
25. Write manifestations down
Whenever you write – whether with pen on paper, or on a laptop – you’ve got to focus. There’s something about sitting down and collecting your thoughts, then translating them onto paper or a screen. Therein lies the secret to manifesting with writing. The focus of attention. The more you focus on something, the more whatever you’re focussed on increases or expands.
26. Create a visionboard
Vision boards provide you with a daily visual reminder of your dreams and goals. The reason that vision boards work so great is because you visually see them every day. Visualization is one of the most popular and effective mind workouts that you can do.
27. Spend some time outside
Studies have shown that time in nature or in general outside is an antidote for stress. It has been found to help with mental health problems such as anxiety or depression.
28. Do a hair mask
Hair masks can help moisturize and nourish your hair. They’re especially beneficial for dry, damaged, or frizzy hair. Some hair masks may even improve the health of your scalp and boost the strength of your hair.
29. Write it all down in a journal
Keeping a journal helps you create order when your world feels like it’s in chaos. You get to know yourself by revealing your most private fears, thoughts, and feelings. Look at your writing time as personal relaxation time.
30. Take a power nap
A power nap is a nap that’s short — less than 30 minutes long. The main benefit of a power nap is to help you feel refreshed, so you feel more awake through the rest of the day.
What better way to kick off Spring than with a 30 day self care challenge, right? This challenge is a great way to familiarise yourself with what self care really is, inspire new ideas for self care, and start the process of integrating self care into your daily life. Because at the end of the day…
Self-care isn’t selfish
Lots of love,
Sofie ♡
All About Sofie ♡ 