Hey you! It’s so nice to have you visit my blog, tysm for coming. Hopefully you’re here because you are curious about #SelfCareTogether, which is a 30 day self care challenge I started in 2018. I put the challenge together to try to create a sense of camaraderie around self care. I hope that you’ll find it fun!
Listen, it’s obviously not intended as a substitute for mental health treatment or professional advice. I find self care hard. I find it hard to justify putting time and effort into myself like that. You can probably tell a mile off that I need to work on my self worth. And I am doing. That’s part of what this is.
But I also like to feel a sense of connection and “we’re all in it together”. Call me soppy or whatever, I just think it’s nice. In the past I’ve absolutely loved seeing your pictures and posts about the challenge. It’s really given me the push (shove) I needed to get on with my own daily self care task.
So how does #SelfCareTogether work?
Each day we take on a different self care challenge. We start on the first of a month and keep going until we’ve completed the whole list.
We’ll use the hashtag #SelfCareTogether so that we can see everyone else’s posts and build some community fun around it. I think a bit of encouragement can go a long way, so also feel free to use the tag to ask for support with a particular daily challenge and please stop to build others up if you see them struggling!
You can share pictures on Twitter or Instagram (I tend to find it’s a nice way to document the challenge visually) – I love being tagged in these posts, but I’ll be browsing the hashtag on and off anyway so I’ll still get to see your posts!
How can I join in?
You just do. There’s no sign up or requirements. Just join in. Do as little or as much as you can and message me if you need any support.
What are the challenges?
Every day I will remind you of the daily challenge and include some thoughts around each one.
Each daily challenge will come with either an alternative challenge for those who are struggling or some notes on how to make a particular challenge easier. The alternative challenges will usually be variations of the main challenge that I hope will help make certain days more accessible for everyone.
E.g. On day 1 the main challenge is to get outside. As someone with agoraphobia, I understand this isn’t always possible so I’ll be suggesting opening a window/door and getting some fresh air as an alternative.
Every challenge also comes with an image suggestion (that you can share if you like) and a journal prompt (for your private use). Everything is optional and you can join in as much or as little as possible.
Here are all the challenges for June 2021’s #SelfCareTogether:
- Get outside // Alternative: open the window and let some fresh air in
Image suggestion: your view
Journal prompt: How do you encourage yourself when you’re trying something new? - Eat something tasty // Notes: it doesn’t have to be “balanced” or what other people would consider to be tasty
Image suggestion: your plate
Journal prompt: Name 5 feelings you experienced today - Drink water // Notes: flavour with squash or fruit if you need to!
Image suggestion: your water bottle
Journal prompt: What do you hope to get from this challenge? - Read a chapter // Alternative: listen to a chapter of an audiobook
Image suggestion: your book
Journal prompt: How do you like to relax? - Make something // Notes: it can be as small as a sandwich or as big as a blanket. Try to enjoy the process.
Image suggestion: your creation
Journal prompt: What makes you feel powerful? - Set a goal for yourself for the next week // Notes: This can be as small and achievable as you want it to be. Make sure it’s something within your control.
Image suggestion: write down your goal
Journal prompt: What’s a choice you can make this week to meet your own needs? - Move your body // Notes: Some gentle movement like stretching is fine
Image suggestion: yourself! Show me your smiling faces 🙂
Journal prompt: Write down 3 things you appreciate about your body - Connect with nature // Alternative: Water a houseplant or watch a nature documentary
Image suggestion: Some greenery
Journal prompt: What’s something you learned today - Add organisation to 1 part of your home/life // Alternative: write down 3 simple tasks you’d like to get done soon
Image suggestion: Show me your before and after!
Journal prompt: How do you feel today? - Compliment yourself. Say it out loud. Write it down. // Alternative: Remind yourself that you deserve kindness, patience and love. Say it out loud and then write it down.
Image suggestion: Show your note
Journal prompt: How can you celebrate yourself today? - Sit outside for 15 minutes // Alternative: Sit by an open window
Image suggestion: Your view
Journal prompt: What could you do to manage your nerves? - Work towards the goal you set last week // Note: even a small step counts!
Image suggestion: A moment of your day
Journal prompt: What makes you feel accomplished? - Get some rest // Note: a lie-in, nap, early night or some meditation all count
Image suggestion: A place you feel at ease
Journal prompt: How do you notice when you’re heading for burnout? - Listen to a podcast // Alternative: Join me on Twitter Spaces!
Image suggestion: A screenshot
Journal prompt: What are 10 things you love to do - Smile! (share a photo of yourself) // Alternative: share a photo of something that makes you happy // Note: this isn’t about smiling for the sake of it. It’s about appreciating your face. Feel your feelings, whatever they are.
Image suggestion: A selfie
Journal prompt: How do you recognise and identify your emotions? - Do something you’ve been putting off // Alternative: ask someone for help with a task that is overwhelming
Image suggestion: before and after
Journal prompt: How do you set boundaries and stick to them? - Do something you love // Alternative: write down 3 fun things you’d like to do when you feel ready
Image suggestion: your activity
Journal prompt: How can you make more time to do the things you love? - Have some cake // Alt: Have your favourite treat
Image suggestion: Cake!
Journal prompt: How do you remind yourself that you are worth celebrating? - Light a candle // Alt: Use a fireplace YouTube video to create some ambience
Image suggestion: candle
Journal prompt: How do you make the most of your alone time? - Have a bath or shower // Alt: Do something that makes you feel fresh and clean
Image suggestion: your favourite feel good products
Journal prompt: 3 Things you’d love to gift yourself - Get cosy // Notes: Snuggle up with your favourite blanket
Image suggestion: The comfiest place in your home
Journal prompt: How do you recharge? - Talk to someone you love // Alternative: Send a nice message to a loved one
Image suggestion: A pet or person you love
Journal prompt: How do you share your feelings with people who care about you? - Wear something that makes you feel good // Alt: Put on some perfume, body lotion or face cream
Image suggestion: the thing that makes you feel good
Journal prompt: What’s something you like about yourself? - Wash your face // Alt: Splash some water on your face
Image suggestion: Your face (no make-up, no filter if you are able)
Journal prompt: What could you do to improve your self worth? - Have a nice hot drink // Alt: spend some time making a special drink even if it’s a cold one
Image suggestion: your mug
Journal prompt: How do you soothe yourself? - Tell me what you are grateful for // Alt: 3 things that have made you smile today
Image suggestion: your list
Journal prompt: What’s something you can do today that you couldn’t do a year ago? - Stop to listen // Alt: listen to your favourite song
Image suggestion: a place you found peaceful
Journal prompt: What makes you feel calm? - Get yourself a gift // Notes: it doesn’t have to be something new or that costs money, you could gift yourself some pampering or some alone time
Image suggestion: the gift
Journal prompt: What’s something you could do purely for yourself each day/week? - Random act of kindness // Alt: Send a kind message to a stranger
Image suggestion: Some flowers
Journal prompt: How do you remind yourself to be kind to others and yourself? - Talk to your future self // Notes: Write a letter or email to open in the future
Image suggestion: Yourself!
Journal prompt: What’s something you are proud of?
What if I miss a challenge or can’t do one?
Please don’t pressure yourself. This is about having fun and making some time to put self care first. Recognising your own limits is a part of that and I’ve missed days myself in past challenges. I really hope that this can be something you enjoy as you do it and look back on fondly.
If you miss a day, or 2 or 3 or 23, no worries! Just join in again when you feel ready 🙂
I’m on Instagram as piglet.ish and Twitter as pigletish if you want to follow me, but that’s not necessary either.
I really hope you guys will join in and hope to see you there tomorrow at #SelfCareTogether!
You might also be interested in reading about my new self care routine or working through this list of 10 minute self care activity ideas!
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