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!

[ShortErica]

I have ran 1 mile every day. As a person who completed a half marathon in December, I thought it was a silly thing to do at first. But it is the point of having time for me even if it is less than 10 minutes a day. I'm curious how my mile time will change over the year. I know the heat really affects me. I guess we will see. I've skipped a couple days because I did an all day frisbee tournament and think that counts as a reason to pass.

[MissPuff]

@ShortErica  Oh I've always wanted to do this, but as silly as it sounds, I could never get past a week because the 10 minutes was simultaneously too long and too short a time. I'd find all sorts of excuses to not do it (it's only a mile, I'll do the 7 on Sunday, I'd have to wash my hair everyday...etc). I live in the northeast so the weather challenge is the snow rather than the heat, but I sort of love this. I might steal it.

GOOD LUCK!!! 

[ShortErica]

I know what you mean @MissPuff. I'm hoping having a mile goal time will help. Cause running a mile is a lot different than a 5k. I let myself slide if something comes up but as long as I'm not missing days in a row, I think it will work. I guess it's still the beginning. Let me know if you do it!

[PrettyPaint]

@ShortErica  I think that's great that you've been running every day. What time of day do you usually run? 

[ShortErica]

I usually run after work @PrettyPaint which is not good for betting the heat but at least I'm awake. I remember a time when I was a morning person but not anymore.

[PrettyPaint]

@ShortErica  I like to run in the morning during the summer months, but it's nearly impossible for me to do in the winter. Plus I really like to take a shower after running.

[ShortErica]

Yeah, if it is the evenings I rinse off @PrettyPaint vs. a full shower. I remember bundling up to run and mornings were more rare. 😊

[greeneyedgirl107]

@BrendaBT I'd really like to exercise, and incorporate more fruit into my diet.  I'm usually pretty good about the latter but have slacked off due to work being hectic.

[haleyvvvv]

@greeneyedgirl107 I hope your work becomes less hectic soon! I get a seasonal fruit box weekly and it's really helped me incorporate it into snacks, although I still have a fair bit of work to be at the levels I want.

[greeneyedgirl107]

@haleyvvvv Thanks for the well wishes! Just today it slowed down, so I incorporated half an avocado and half a pear into my diet.  The problem is I'm still bloated and uncomfortable from the McDonald's I ate on Monday when I was swamped and stayed late!  I hope I feel a little for the weekend, as I have a birthday party on Saturday for a friend.

[haleyvvvv]

Yay for the pear and avocado (so yummy!). I hope you feel better this weekend @greeneyedgirl107 and enjoy the party!

[greeneyedgirl107]

Thanks, girl!  @haleyvvvv 

[CookieGirl1]

This is a really great thread idea, @BrendaBT.  Right off the bat I can think of a couple of areas where I can practice better self-care/self-improvement and it's not like they're things that are really that HARD--it's just a matter of following through!

-NOT hitting the "snooze" button in the morning and just getting out of bed when the alarm goes off!

-Being better about wearing sunscreen, even when I'm in a rush in the morning

-Not letting myself get stressed over things so easily

It's great that we can all encourage each other to take better care of ourselves :).

[haleyvvvv]

Yes, @CookieGirl1, sunscreen is so key! It might help to combine it with another step (sunscreen in moisturizer) or as a spray you can use on the go for example, COOLA - Makeup Setting Spray Organic Sunscreen SPF 30.

[mrsmouse]

What a great thread @BrendaBT!  I'm going to commit to two. 

1) More masking!  This year I want to get more masking session in and and be more active on the masking thread. 

2) Drinking more water!  I used to be really good at getting in over 64 oz a day and I am going to commit to getting back to that.

[haleyvvvv]

Water is such an imperative, @mrsmouse! I used to be so bad at it (couldn't have any at my work desk), but I got a water bottle that encourages me and it's really helped.

[mrsmouse]

@haleyvvvv, I've definitely upped my water intake since this post, but still haven't hit the 64oz that I used to.  I have also upped my masking so am doing better with both my goals.  There is certainly still room for improvement though.  🙂

[blackkitty2014]

Love the idea of this thread. My goals for this year are 

1) Sleep. I normally get about 5 hrs of sleep. I want to pump this up to 6-7 hrs 

2) Exercise: The goal is to get at least 15k steps, burn 500 calories (which translate to exercise about 60-70 mins) and win every darn challenge on my Apple Watch 

3) Masking: I’m pretty good in term of skincare but I’m so lazy when it coming to mask. But I don’t have any reason not to not to now 😍🥰

4) Eating healthier 😉

[haleyvvvv]

@blackkitty2014 congrats on the gratis! Hope you enjoy the masking! Also, nice job on the 15k steps (that's so many steps!). Good luck with the apple watch challenges!

[blackkitty2014]

Thx you @haleyvvvv .

[eshoe]

Ooooooooh @blackkitty2014 @you are one lucky gal🤩 would love to know how the candle smells. Congrats and I am with ya on the sleep!