December Self Care Challenge: 30-Day Guide to Reduce Stress

Introduction to the December Self Care Challenge

The holiday season can be an exciting yet stressful time of year. There are parties to attend, gifts to buy, meals to prepare, travels to be had, and quality time to spend with loved ones. With so much going on, it's easy to let your self-care routine fall by the wayside.

That's why the December self care challenge encourages you to be intentional about taking care of yourself during this busy season. By focusing on small, daily self-care habits throughout the month, you can avoid burnout and keep your mental, emotional, and physical health in check.

Benefits of Participating in the Self Care Challenge

Committing to the December self care challenge offers many benefits:

• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Boosts mood and emotional wellbeing
• Increases energy levels
• Strengthens immune system functioning
• Improves sleep quality
• Enhances concentration and productivity
• Supports healthy boundaries with obligations

Tips for Sticking with the Self Care Challenge

Here are some helpful tips to stay consistent with self-care habits all month long:

1. Start small - Focus on 1 or 2 manageable self-care goals each day
2. Schedule it - Mark self-care activities in your calendar to make time for them
3. Automate reminders - Set phone alerts telling you when to practice self-care
4. Pair up - Find an accountability partner to do the challenge with
5. Notice obstacles - Identify what gets in the way and problem-solve solutions
6. Be flexible - Customize the challenge to fit your unique needs and schedule

30 Self-Care Ideas and Activities for the Challenge

The December self-care challenge involves doing small self-care habits every single day. Here are 30 quick yet impactful self-care ideas you can choose from during the month:

Physical Self-Care Activities

1. Take a 10 minute walk outside
2. Stretch for a few minutes when you wake up
3. Drink 8 glasses of water
4. Take a luxurious bath by candlelight
5. Give yourself an at-home massage
6. Cook yourself a nourishing meal
7. Go to bed 30 minutes early
8. Do a quick YouTube yoga flow
9. Cuddle under a cozy blanket
10. Make yourself a cup of hot tea

Mental Self-Care Activities

1. Journal or freewrite for 10 minutes
2. Read an uplifting book for a half hour
3. Listen to a motivating podcast while getting ready
4. Watch an informative documentary
5. Stimulate your mind with brain games or puzzles
6. Research an interesting topic
7. Be screen-free for a couple hours
8. Declutter and organize part of your living space
9. Browse inspiration on Pinterest or Instagram
10. Learn a new skill on YouTube

Emotional Self-Care Activities

1. Take some deep breaths when stressed
2. Treat yourself to something special
3. Compliment yourself in the mirror
4. Let go of resentment towards someone
5. Spend quality time with a loved one
6. Cuddle your pet or look at cute animal pictures
7. Dance to your favorite upbeat song
8. Make a vision board for the new year
9. Watch a funny video that makes you laugh
10. Write a list of things you feel grateful for

Spiritual Self-Care Activities

1. Spend 5 minutes in stillness and silence
2. Practice mindful breathing while performing daily tasks
3. Pray, meditate, or reflect on whats sacred to you
4. Read an inspirational or spiritual text
5. Journal about the deeper meaning behindholiday traditions
6. Show kindness to strangers in small ways
7. Spend time appreciating the beauty of nature
8. Create art, music, poetry, or dance as self-expression
9. Find the lesson in a challenging situation
10. Make time for what fills you with awe and wonder

Sample 7-Day Self Care Challenge Guide

To give you an example of what a December self-care challenge might look like, here is a 7-day guide integrating the various self-care suggestions:

Day 1

1. Morning stretching for 5 minutes
2. Drink 64 oz water throughout the day
3. Take a contemplative walk at lunchbreak
4. Journal 3 gratitudes in the evening

Day 2

1. Cook a vegetable packed omelette for breakfast
2. Listen to a motivating podcast during commute
3. Take relaxing bath by candlelight before bed
4. Stretch hamstrings and hips before bed

Day 3

1. Try new gentle yoga video in morning
2. Drink 8 glasses of water
3. Read uplifiting book for half hour post-work
4. Practice 5 minutes meditation before bed

Day 4

1. Wake up 30 minutes early for leisurely morning
2. Make green smoothie for breakfast
3. Take social media/screen break for a couple hours
4. Massage own neck and shoulders before bed

Day 5

1. Take short walk outside in morning
2. Do quick decluttering session over lunch break
3. Call close family member to catch up after work
4. Stretch entire body before going to sleep

Day 6

1. Freewrite in journal first thing in morning
2. Make date night plans with significant other
3. Stimulate mind with crossword puzzles
4. Practice mindful dishwashing after dinner

Day 7

1. Sleep in an extra hour
2. Make comforting cup of herbal tea
3. Watch hilarious comedy special
4. Take relaxing epsom salt bath before bed

Tips for Continuing Self-Care After the Challenge

The December self-care challenge is meant to help you build sustainable habits over time. Here are some tips for making self-care an ongoing practice even after the month is over:

• Identify 1-3 key self-care activities that gave you the most benefits to keep prioritizing daily.
• Schedule set days/times for those self-care habits in your calendar or set phone alerts.
• Reward yourself when you stick to the routine for milestones like 1 week, 1 month, etc.
• Recruit friends to join you in favorite self-care activities like walking, reading clubs, taking classes etc.
• Continue trying out new self-care ideas whenever you need variety.
• Be gentle with yourself on days when self-care falls lower down on the priority list.

Benefits of Maintaining Self-Care Habits

By continuing self-care even after December, you amplify and compound all the same benefits experienced during the challenge itself: less stress, enhanced mood, improved health, increased resilience, and an overall greater sense of happiness and fulfillment.

Making small yet deliberate efforts to tend to your wellbeing every day provides the foundation needed to live your best and most vibrant life.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.