A healthy lifestyle involves more than simply what you eat and how you exercise. Your emotional, mental, and social health are all important components of true holistic wellbeing. Because of this, using your self-care muscles is just as crucial as working out via your preferred activity (to some extent, perhaps even more important).
Even while there is nothing more enjoyable than engaging in activities that nourish your soul, self-care suddenly loses its charm when it becomes something we should do. Which would you choose: doing some yoga or cleaning the kitchen? Why then is the kitchen consistently tidy?
To assist you in discovering ways to better yourself, we’ve devised a 10-day self-care challenge. Each challenge aims to enhance your mental, physical, or emotional health, all of which are crucial to our existence.
Start by engaging in the “one day, one thing” routine. Over time, you could check off more and more things on the list in a single day. You’ll soon want to expand the list with more products. Finally, if you keep working toward your objectives, you will eventually make living a healthy lifestyle a habit.
10 Day Self-Care Challenge – Go For It!
Before we go any deeper, in case you’re someone who actually hasn’t heard much about self-care and you’re wondering what the big deal is, here are just a few of the benefits:
- Self-care improves your confidence & self-esteem
- It improves both your mental health & stress levels
- Self-care boosts your physical health
- It also helps you get to know yourself better
Keep in mind that this challenge is for YOU, so adjust the daily challenges as necessary. Accepted the challenge? Let’s get going.
DAY 1: MAKE SLEEP A PRIORITY
A good night’s sleep has the most impact on our capacity to process information and deal with difficult situations. When we are well-rested, we are better able to manage our emotions, be effective, and come up with original ideas. Sadly, our hectic schedules frequently prevent us from getting a full night’s sleep.
Create a nocturnal routine today and start the practice of prioritizing your sleep.
Ensure that you receive adequate sleep (seven to nine hours per night). Create a nighttime ritual that works for you to relax and get rid of tension before going to sleep.
The following practices will help you develop good sleep habits: taking a warm bath, turning off your electronics an hour or two before bed, sipping herbal tea, and using a little aromatherapy.
DAY 2: DRINK ENOUGH WATER
It’s not a good habit for our culture to choose diet Coke over bottled water. Coca-Cola, coffee, and energy drinks are frequently more drying than hydrating and might be loaded with sugar.
Without water, our body cannot operate correctly, and we experience both physical and mental consequences.
Drink more water today.
Uncertain about how much water is required? Aim to consume eight ounces of water eight separate times today by adhering to the “8×8 rule.”
Your health depends on getting enough water to support good digestion, cardiovascular health, energy levels, and cognitive function.
DAY 3: COMMIT TO HEALTHY EATING
Eating healthily may enhance your skin, lessen inflammation, and give you more energy, among other things. Contrarily, eating a diet high in unhealthy foods (including ultra-processed, fried, and refined meals) can have detrimental effects on your health, including an increased risk of illness, hair loss, mental health problems, a weakened immune system, and more.
To test if you feel better, set a challenge for yourself today to eat more vegetables and/or fewer processed foods at each meal.
DAY 4: MOVE MORE
Exercise is healthy, as everyone can attest. Your mood is improved, your stress levels are reduced, and you have more energy. So why aren’t we exercising more if we can all agree that it’s a good idea? The reaction is frequently a lack of time. The good news is that you can start seeing results after just 10 minutes a day. We can find 10 minutes, I’m sure.
Today, take a stroll, look for a 10-minute workout on YouTube, or stretch at your desk. Whatever you decide, make today more active than yesterday.
DAY 5: HAVE A QUIET READ
Choose a comfortable spot to read a book or designate a zen area in your house. Get yourself in something else and lose yourself in it; this is a terrific way to escape without ever leaving the house. Anything goes as long as it provides you a mental respite and makes you feel more at ease (or energized) than you did before you took up the book.
Reading keeps our minds busy, and an active mind better prepares us to deal with stress and the difficulties of life. Keep learning new things and pushing your mind. It will lead to happier thinking and a more optimistic attitude on life.
Today, pick up a book you’ve always wanted to read and read a page … or ten.
DAY 6: UNPLUG
When was the last time you put your phone away? Make it a goal to spend the full day without using your phone or any other digital distractions. Try going an hour or two without using any digital gadgets if a whole day is out of the question.
It might be really helpful to temporarily tune out the pings and rings and concentrate just on what is in front of you. You could be able to connect with others around you today or have a better night’s sleep as a result.
DAY 7: ENJOY A HOBBY
The epitome of self-care is making time for activities that you like doing. When doing something they enjoy, everyone feels fantastic. Developing a pastime is not about perfecting a talent; rather, it is about finding a way to unwind from the stress and turmoil of our daily lives.
Try something you’ve always wanted to do or indulge in your favorite pastime today simply for enjoyment.
DAY 8: SPEND TIME OUTDOORS
For most individuals, nature is a tranquil environment. You may benefit from the clean air, the splendor, and the tranquility of nature in a variety of ways, including by clearing your mind and improving your creativity and mindfulness.
Spend some time outside walking or simply sitting in nature and observing your surroundings. Get outside and breathe some fresh air. Long-distance walking outside is not only excellent exercise, but the appropriate quantities of vitamin D exposure may also improve your mood.
Make it enjoyable by visiting your preferred route or path. You may even include your family, your spouse, your favorite podcast, or a buddy by making a phone call.
DAY 9: LAUGH
Laughter is indeed the best medicine, as it has several positive health effects. Do something funny today, and preferably every day, to make yourself chuckle. You can laugh out loud by watching amusing movies, videos, or TV shows, reading a funny book, conversing with funny people, playing with your crazy pet, or browsing humorous memes online.
DAY 10: SPOIL YOURSELF
It is not self-indulgent to spoil oneself; rather, it is required. We must take the effort to constantly remind ourselves that we are unique and deserving of happiness in life. More abundant possibilities will start to show up when we are kind to ourselves and feel that we have earned them.
Today, treat yourself to something wonderful because you deserve it.
More Challenges to Add to Your List
After finishing your self-care challenge, you might want to take on another one. Enjoy life and keep adding tasks to your list in whatever order!
- Give up alcohol for 30 days
- Drink herbal tea before bed
- Spend time coloring
- Watch a TED Talk
- Do yoga
- Eat your meals without distractions, like your phone or TV
- Skip added sugar
- Walk 10,000 steps a day
- Feng shui a room in your home
- Set a reminder for three mental breaks during your day
- Join an online workout class
- Start a morning journal
- Write down three kind things you did today
- Do 10 push-ups
- Be creative and try painting
- Write a business plan
- Start a hobby like cross stitch
- Make a sugar scrub
- Take a personal day
- Call a friend
- Go swimming (just for fun)
- Write a love letter to yourself
- Treat yourself to a massage
- Make your bedroom a zen room
- Light incense or a candle
- Try something new
- Learn how to grow something
- Create a fitness goal (run a marathon)
- Complete a puzzle
- Video chat a family member
- Sketch a landscape
- Do 30 sit-ups
- Declutter your space
- Eat something green with every meal
- Get rid of 3 things you don’t use
- Have a spontaneous date night
- Say “no” to someone
