2020 Community Self-Care Check-in Challenge!

[BrendaBT]

As the New Year unfolds and we adjust back into our daily hectic routines it is important to remember to pause, take a break, and take care of ourselves as well. This year my biggest goal is to practice more self-care rituals. After all, beauty starts from within!

As a way to commit, hold each other accountable, and ultimately help each other take care of ourselves, we thought it would be fun to do a weekly self-care check-in, by choosing one ritual and reporting back weekly with our progress.

Now, I know most of us are busy people, but dedicating time for ourselves can be as simple and effective as:

1. A morning meditation, and/or nightly adaptogenic drink (may we suggest FOUR SIGMATIC - Golden Latte Mushroom Mix with Shiitake & Turmeric or FOUR SIGMATIC - Mushroom Hot Cacao Mix with Reishi )
2. Better sleep! Committing to getting a full night's sleep 1 night/week, and sticking to an earlier bedtime.
3. Waking up! Get up after that first alarm so you’re less rushed in the morning and have more time to mentally prepare for the day!
4. Be active - get to yoga 1/week or go for an early morning run before work.
5. Skincare - masking on a weekly basis, getting a facial, or remembering to remove your makeup every night!
6. “Me time!” Embrace the FOGO (fear of going out), read that book you've been wanting to pick up
7. Make healthier choices - adding more fruits and veggies to your meals.
8. YOU PICK! You know yourself better than we do, so if we missed something please share how *you* want to take care of yourself. Just don’t forget to check in with us! 😊

This thread will be a place to talk about your weekly self-care check-ins, share how you’re feeling about your progress, recommend/talk about products you’re using, and share your self-care tips and tricks.

Reply below to tell us which self-care ritual you’re committing to!

*EDIT 4/2:

Hello everyone, we hope you and your loved ones are staying safe! Given the times, we may just need this thread more than ever so we wanted to add in extra self-care goals now that many of us are spending more time at home or are going into the world helping others. Here are some additional ideas for taking care of yourself. We challenge you to try a few of these and share your wins on this thread!

1. Stick to your routine: Maybe it's putting on your favorite outfit instead of PJs or doing your makeup/hair in the morning! Snap an OOTD and share it here.
2. Staying active: This could be as easy as one 10-minute workout video each week or dusting off your yoga mat. Let’s see that at-home gym or virtual workout class!
3. Setting up your space: Are you reading, eating, sleeping, working out, and BIC-ing in the same spot? Try to establish devoted spaces for all of your activities.  
4. Stay social: Set up virtual face-time with your loved ones and maybe spend some extra time here in the BIC!
5. Spring Cleaning: Try reorganizing your home, bedroom, or simply going through your stuff to declutter your space. If you reorganize your beauty space we would love to see a before and after photo here!
6. Take on a new hobby or learn a new skill: Master that smokey eye you’ve always wanted to. Maybe even learn a new language or instrument!
7. Do your own nails - no nail salon? No problem. Let’s see that at-home mani once you’re done – no worries if it isn’t perfect.

What are you doing for self-care? We are open to all advice and want to congratulate you on your little wins!

[txcatx]

Oh, I love this thread! I'm always trying to stay active, and last year, I discovered my newest obsession--yoga at breweries and wineries. And I happen to live in a city where at least five breweries and wineries/vineyards offer regular yoga classes! But, knowing that I should probably exercise without alcohol on occasion, I've been trying out free hot yoga and barre classes at various studios this month. 

I'm also trying to adopt a more minimalist lifestyle (though there's an interesting New Yorker article about minimalism this week), and I'd really like to own fewer, high quality items, from makeup to clothing. 

And I need to actually finish books that I start reading. I have a bad habit of buying a book, reading a few chapters, and then starting on a few chapters of a new book. Then repeat.

I've also been making an effort to save money for an international trip each year, which started last year. I'm off to the Balkans in May. 

[RebeccaBT]

@txcatx THAT IS AMAZING! I need to find this near me! 

Best,
Rebecca

[JaneanBT]

Hi @txcatx ,

Yoga at wineries and breweries you say?

This has to be the most amazing thing I have ever heard of since Goat Yoga! I live in an area where there are tone of wineries so I will be doing some research in the not so distant future....thanks for that 😉 

Best Wishes,

Janean

[MissPuff]

Oh man, yoga at a winery! Sign me up!

The Balkans, that's awesome! Can't wait to hear about it! 

[LaurieBT]

One of my self-care goals this year is to fill up all the pages of my new journal within the next 3 months, then start a new one. My journal is small (about the size of a Huda Beauty Obsessions palette), so I don't feel pressured to write too much at one time. I can fill up an entire page pretty quickly. I've been writing down anything that comes to mind - favorite song lyrics, funny things my friends say, interesting things that happen each day, etc. Writing in my journal this month has really helped me organize my thoughts and remember the details of each  day. I'm striving to keep it up! 🙂

Best regards,

Laurie

[haleyvvvv]

Hope you're coming along in your journal goal @LaurieBT!

[LaurieBT]

Thank you, @haleyvvvv! 🙂 I always have it with me in my purse and have filled about one third of the pages so far. 

[Melly337]

I am always looking to improve sleep and my skincare routine. Just purchase some new Algenist and Fresh products to try out then got the free Hydra Perk facial in store for spending over $75. Ally at the Torrance (California) Del Amo Sephora gave me the best facial I have ever received from Sephora and tons of awesome advice. I will be coming back again soon and requesting her the next time I am coming to in store to purchase some more beauty goodies. 

[haleyvvvv]

Glad you had such a lovely experience at the Sephora store, @Melly337! How are you enjoying the Algenist and Fresh products? If you're inclined you can share your skincare routine at this thread https://community.sephora.com/t5/Skincare-Aware/Skincare-Routine-of-the-Day/td-p/5146142

[LexBT]

Spent my sunday meal preppin for the week! Making me realize I need some new tupperware... And I spent some time organizing my bathroom and made sure I limited the products I keep in my nightstand drawer for my solo #emptieschallenge 

[blackkitty2014]

Oh wow @LexBT that is so good. I need to do this. 

[RebeccaBT]

@LexBT This is inspiring! I need to get back to meal prepping! 

Best,
Rebecca

[SwordlessMime]

I’ve always wanted to try skincare products, I’m sorta late for the whole New Year resolutions. But I got some products and so far I’m on track with a skincare routine.

[haleyvvvv]

Nice @SwordlessMime! You should consider sharing your skincare routine at this thread: https://community.sephora.com/t5/Skincare-Aware/Skincare-Routine-of-the-Day/td-p/5146142

[princessxlea]

So far my goals are to be more productive (especially in terms of my education), keep up my daily skin routine (especially at night is when I tend to slack off), and to start working out because I really want to shape my thighs.

[haleyvvvv]

Good luck in your goals @princessxlea! Have you checked out the skincare routine of the day thread: https://community.sephora.com/t5/Skincare-Aware/Skincare-Routine-of-the-Day/td-p/5146142 , it might provide insight into maintaining a routine!

[ClassicallyFab]

This is great! 
-My days start with a full spectrum, 10k lux light  because I live in the Northeast and morning sun isn’t easy to get. 

-I exercise generally 5 days a week, and often use sauna the same amount. That’s my me-time. I’d like to add in more machines and heavier weight-bearing exercises.

-My fave adaptogenic beverage is rose tulsi tea- such a beautiful flavor, and calms me immediately. I’d like to add in some more herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint, nettle, and ginger.

-Sleep- I need to be better about wearing amber glasses the hour before bedtime. Sleep is otherwise consistent.
-Breakfast is usually fruits and veggies with a protein shake, and lunch is prepped, but I need to get creative for healthy dinners.

-More masking would be nice.

-Gotta remember to do a cold cycle in the shower- I sometimes zone out and forget. 😄

-Wanna do the Five Minute Journal Daily for the next 6 months.

-It’s time to cut down on sweets, and to try to substitute some sweets for fruit.

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[haleyvvvv]

Great goals @ClassicallyFab!

How do you find the light? Does it do a good job of mimicking sun?

[LexBT]

ok I think I have two I'd like to share to hold myself accountable:

1) cooking more, exploring new recipes, healthy meal prep for the week!

2) work on those empties. I am a notorious product hoarder - always have been, well before I started working at Sephora. So you can imagine what it's like now...Anyway, I'm dialing up the steps on my AM & PM routine per some suggestions from my derm (vitamin c, AHA/BHA, hyaluronic acid) and really letting each product run it's course before trying something new.

I'm going to try to check in on monday mornings ❤️

[blackkitty2014]

@LexBT please join us on "What's on your plate" thread.  I'm learning to cook more at home myself.  So if you have any easy dinner prep, please post away 😉

[mmmiu]

My self-care ritual for this year is to remember to put myself first (depending on the situation of course!).

I've made sure to start making some "me time" and going out for a walk in the city and looking for new coffee shops.

I also want to do at least 1 solo trip each year and I'm already planning it for 2020. I did my first one towards the end of 2019 and loved it!