Wellness In Progress: January 2025

[itsfi]

2025 is literally just days away, BIC! Let's start off the year strong with making our health, wellness and self-care one of our priorities. We can make it fun, too, with another game of wellness bingo! 

Self-care can be a very personal thing - what works for one person may not work for someone else. Practicing wellness is a process - it takes time and effort. We have our good days and bad days - moments when we are thriving; and others, where we need to pause, take a deep breath (or multiple ones, for that matter), and reset. But even as our self-care journey is a personal matter, support, encouragement and just knowing there's something there doesn't hurt. Wellness takes work. Let's do the work together, BIC!

▶️  How to play:  There are many different ways to take part in this wellness challenge. A few are mentioned in the spoiler below, but if you have a way to approach wellness bingo that works best for you, go for it!

Spoiler

• Treat it like a game of BINGO, except in this BIC-version, you are your own moderator, either (a) selecting which activities you want to engage in or (b) putting them into a random generator tool, blindly pointing at a square, or writing each activity (or each square) onto a piece of paper, placing all of them into a bowl and pulling one out each day you intend to undertake a wellness activity, and then doing that activity.
• You can aim to do 5 activities in a way that earns yourself a BINGO!  5 activities across the same row, down the same column or across diagonally from upper left corner to lower right, and/or upper right corner to lower left. OR
• You can just go about your day picking one activity to undertake and work towards doing all the activities on this B Well card (but see notes on making adjustments below).
• You can choose to go row by row or column by column each week. Thank you, @Mellmars1185, for sharing how you went about your wellness bingo last month. It's such a great approach!

🗒  Monthly Self-Care Activities:

• The self-care activities in the squares change from month-to-month, with some appearing in a previous month's bingo wellness card, and others being new or tailored to the specific month/season. 
• For a more detailed description of the activities in each of the squares above, click on this link ➡️ January 2025 Wellness Bingo Activities
• If you're interested in seeing what others have done for some of the activities being repeated, you may want to take a peek at some of the replies from other members of the Community in previous wellness challenge threads -Wellness In Progress: November 2024 and Wellness In Progress: December 2024.

🌟  Posting Your Self-Care Activities. This challenge is certainly one you can do on your own. It's also something we can take part in together. If you feel comfortable, share about the activities you did to earn each square by replying to this original post - with words, photos, and/or a pic of the bingo scorecard with the activity / activities you took part in crossed out. You can post weekly or at the end of the month, depending on your preference. We love hearing from the Community and have learned about new ways of doing things that we wouldn't have thought of otherwise. 

🎀  Make Adjustments As Needed. We are all at different stages of our wellness / self-care journey. While it cn be good to challenge ourselves, sometimes, it's best to take make adjustments. I'm not at expert at this at all, and if there's an activity that is not something you are ready for or that you shouldn't engage in, make the adjustments you need to, or just skip that square altogether.

• Be safe. Consider weather conditions or where you are in your own wellness efforts. For instance, the second square in the last row is for a winter walk or hike - if it's storming outside or you're in an area where it is not safe to do this (e.g., weather advisory, shelter-in-place, etc.), then skip this one and stay indoors. Be safe. Also, for some of the activities listed in the boxes, particularly the physical ones, please consult with your physician or health care provider before starting, if and as appropriate, and adjust accordingly.
• Focus on one activity per week vs. one per day. We have BIC'ers who engage in wellness activities in some form every day, some more than one activity in a day. We also have BIC'ers who are starting out on their wellness journey or are coming back to self-care. There's be different objectives for each of us; make this work for you. If there's an activity in a square that you've been eyeing for whatever reason and you want to focus on that for the week, focus on working towards that activity for one day, two days, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 for the week. If there's another activity that piques your interest, give that a try for another week. 

⏲  Duration for Certain Activities. The time periods for certain activities included here are arbitrary.

• For example, the third square in the first row is for "Exercise (20 minutes)" - if you want or can do more than a 20 minutes, go for it. If you're starting out or if you're crunched for time, aim for 5 minutes and work up from there, when, if, and as appropriate for you.
• Same with the "Stretch (20 minutes)" in the third row, second square.
• If you're starting out or are aware of certain conditions that may make either a more challenging effort, please discuss these activities your physician or health care provider before starting, and adjust accordingly.

Excited for another month of wellness bingo, BIC. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year! 

[itsfi]

@CynthieLu, yaaaay, excited to hear about your self care activities this month! Hopefully there's a mix of activities that pique your interest.

[CynthieLu]

A lot of your picks have caught my eye @itsfi I think I can get a line this month! 🎊😀

[Samtian]

@itsfi Woo can't wait for this next one, thank you!

[itsfi]

Yaaaay @Samtian! Hoping this will be a good and fun way for all of us to help keep our own well being top of mind as we hit the ground running on another year! Happy New Year to you and your family!

[Titian06]

Thanks for starting a new wellness challenge, @itsfi !  Appreciate the new items on the card this month. 🙂

[itsfi]

@Titian06, yep, will definitely be rotating activities every month. It'll be a good way to have a mix of different types of self-care activites. 

[itsfi]

Below are brief descriptions of the activities listed in the squares for January 2025's wellness bingo card.

🌺  ROW 1: 

• Stretch (20 minutes): Focus on one or two body parts or go for a full body stretch. 

• Resolution: Did you make any new year's resolutions for 2025? If so, take a stab at one of your resolutions and mark off this square. If you don't make resolutions or didn't for the year, pick a self-care activity and give it a go. It can even be a wellness activity you've already done, do it again and consider this square checked off.

• Cook / eat a healthy meal: Have a healthy meal, including your veggies. If you remember to take a photo of your delicious meal, think about sharing it on the Re: What's on your plate? thread.

• Quiet time - meditate - journal:  Set aside some time for you and your alone. Whether it's sitting quietly to reflect, to listen to music, to meditate, or to journal.

• Digital detox 20 minutes before bed: Turn off and set aside your electronics - phone, tablet, laptop, computer, TV, etc. for 20+ minutes before bedtime. Exception: if you listen to an audiobook or an app like Headspace as part of your wind down routine or to help you fall asleep, keep at it; no need to stop doing those activities. 

🌻  ROW 2: 

• Try / do something new: Has there been something you've been meaning to try or do? A hobby you've been interested in taking up? Give it try. "New" doesn't have to mean brand new; it can also mean something you've just recently gotten into - maybe you've tried it once or twice before? Give it another go. Is there a beauty look or technique you're wanted to try? Or a product you've wanted to put to the test, like blush? The Cheek Challenge Winter 2024/25, The Frost, The Glitz and The Wardrobe always has some fun ideas. Or check out and post pics to Makeup Challenge of the Week 2021/2022/2023/2024 or What are you wearing today Pt2 threads. 

• Hand / nail care: Caring for hands and/or nails can take several forms - using a hand cream/lotion or a hand mask. Giving yourself a manicure (or going to get a professional manicure) or applying cuticle oil. If you work with your hands often, doing some stretching exercises. 

• Aromatherapy: Light a candle, use essential oils in a diffuser, applying a favorite or soothing/calming perfume or a hand cream or body lotion with a scent that is pleasing to you. Do it separate or while engaging in another self-care activity - maybe while reading, writing in a journal, listening to music, having quiet time, stretching, etc. 

• Practice Gratitude: Start or end your day, or take a break from your day, with a few moments identifying something for which or someone for whom you are grateful. 

• Exercise (20 minutes): Running, walking, hiking, cycling, yoga, pilates, dancing, tai chi, weights, skiing, snowboarding, playing basketball, rock climbing, swimming, etc. Care for your body with some exercise. Please consult with your physician or health care professional before undertaking a workout, and may the necessary modifications to suit your physical condition, if and as appropriate.

🌷 ROW 3

• Hydrate: Get in your daily recommended amount of water, be it 8 glasses a day or half your body weight, etc. 

• Listen to music: Stop, pause and press play on your favorite tunes, be it pop, rock, R&B, hip hop, jazz, showtunes, classical, etc.  Listening to music can boost mood and reduce stress. Share your favorite tune for self-care / managing stress here and/or 🎶✨Song of the Day and Music Thread!✨🎶.

• FREE SPACE: This space is yours for doing another wellness activity (a repeated one or a new one) or for doing nothing at all. 

• Winter walk or hike: If it's safe to do so, head outside and get some fresh air. Ahhhh! Go for a leisurely (or fast) walk or hike. Depending on the weather were you live, you may need to bundle up before heading outdoors - it's chilly (and possibly wet) outside this time of year. If you spy a scenic shot worth taking and share, post your pic on the Nature Walks and The Beautiful Outdoors photos 🌿🌷🏞 thread.

• Mask time:  There's a mask for every need, skin type and time constraint we might find ourselves. And for most every body part - wash off mask, sheet mask, overnight / sleeping mask. A mask for your face, your hands, your feet, your hair. Pick one or multi-mask with more than one.

🌹  ROW 4

• Tool time self-care: Sometimes our self-care activity can be amplified with a beauty tool - pairing a hair treatment or mask with something like the BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY Scalp-Thingy: Scalp Massager; using a SEPHORA COLLECTION Jade Facial Roller with a sheet mask; using LED light product likeDr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx SpectraLite™ FaceWare Pro or a microcurrent device NuFACE NuFACE® Mini+ Starter Kit . If you have a tool you're using (or have been meaning to put to use), bring it out and use it. Let us know about your beauty tool here and/or on the It's Tool Time - The BIC Beauty Edition thread.

• Declutter: Decluttering your home or personal space can have a meaningful effect on your psyche. Removing unnecessary items and/or organizing or reorganizing your space can be a great way to get the new year going with a fresh start.

• Motivational quote: Do you have a well-liked or favorite quote? Something that inspires you? Motivates you? Resets or reframes your mindset? Or that just makes you feel good or better? Speak the quote(s) to yourself and, if you're up for it, share it here. We love to be inspired.

• Arts - Crafts - Hobbies: Do you enjoy drawing, coloring, knitting, crocheting, sewing, gardening (remember to dress for the weather, and to include SPF)? Do you find it relaxing to visit a museum, cook/bake, take photos, decorate the house, learn a different language, work on puzzles, a DIY project, do crafts, go antique shopping, collecting, scrapbooking, etc. Spend some time this month doing the arts, crafts and/or hobbies that bring you joy, make you happy.

• Warm & cozy drink: Make or treat yourself to a warm drink - Coffee? Tea? Hot water with lemon? Hot cocoa? Apple cider? Or, perhaps something a little more spirited? (Please remember to be safe.) Slow things down a little with a warm drink. Share your drink of choice here and/or on the What’s in your cup?  thread.

🌼   ROW 5

• Speak kindly to yourself: This can take many forms, including giving yourself kudos or a pat on the back for something you did or accomplished or reframing self-criticism into a more positive and balanced assessment. Self-care is a process and so is speaking kindly to ourselves. We can take baby steps with this, working on getting to a place where this act of self-care becomes a little less uncomfortable or awkward, a little more natural and comfortable. We just have to take one step towards it. Then another... and another... We got this! 

• Foot care: Whether it's a-10 minute foot soak, using a foot mask, giving yourself an at home pedicure or going in for a professional one, don't forget the feet.  

• Hair / scalp care: And let's keep our hair and scalp top of mind while we're at it, whether it's a detox shampoo, a wash off hair mask, a leave in conditioner, an overnight hair treatment or pre-shampoo hair oil serum or treatment. Remember to give some TLC to your hair / scalp this winter.

• Prioritize sleep: It feels good to get up refreshed. That often means getting a good night's sleep. And, that means being mindful or and taking care to safeguard our sleep time and our wind down routine.  

• Book - audiobook - podcast - tv - movie: Sometimes we just need to disconnect and give our mind time to focus on something other than the demands of our day or the going-ons in our world. Take 10, 20, 30, 60 minutes to hit a momentary pause on the daily grind with a good book, audiobook, podcast, TV show or movie. If you've finished a good book or audiobook, consider sharing your thoughts on it (but, no spoilers) on the BIC book club!  thread. Or, if you've found an entertaining TV show or movie, let us know on the What are you watching? (Don't be a spoil sport - spoiler your spoilers) thread (but again, no spoilers).