Working Towards Wellness: April 2026 🐣

[itsfi]

Whether you're starting your personal wellness journey,  looking to refresh your self-care routine, working towards maintaining or further refining your wellness practice, welcome! 👋 It's great to have you stop by, and if this seems like something that might be of interest to you, we'd love to have you stick around and join us, as you feel comfortable, for another month of wellness bingo. 

What is this about?

Simply put, it's about focusing on our personal wellness (in its various aspects), in a fun way, à la a game of 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 are others there working through it with you, doesn't hurt.  

FAQ / FYI:

• How to Play / How to Post
• Description of Activities: Rows 1 & 2  |  Rows 3 & 4  |  Row 5  

[adamsev]

Thanks gurl, you're always such a sweetie @itsfi 

[miss8]

Cheers to the wellness chef, @itsfi 🥂

My 2nd #WellnessBingo 😋 & Let Me Tell You #ILoveApril 💦🌻

 

[miss8]

Don't Forget To Hydate, Every Body 💚🩵💙

 

[itsfi]

Hope everyone had a great weekend, and, for those who took part in an Easter egg hunt (with real eggs), hoping that all eggs have been accounted for. 😂 

Here's my first check in for April: 

Dove for Easter (Week 1) - shopping bag for Sephora Spring Savings Event (Week 2) - cherry blossom for cherry blossom festival (Week 3) - rain drops and umbrella for April showers (Week 4+)

gratitude: 

Thankful for: 

• fresh air and rainbows after the rain
• do overs
• the moment my head hits the pillow at the end of the day 🛌
• the joy that Fridays bring
• evening walks
• grace
• brain teasers 

hydrate: fruit infused waters are back for spring and summer 😁

Spoiler

pineapple & blackberry infused water. Will see how this taste with basil next time.

brain teasers: Connections + Wordle + Block Crush - I got a little carried away with that last one, it's addicting. Going to put a limit on how much I play in a day, or a sitting 😬

Spoiler

NYT Connections - this was just plain luck NYT Wordle - down to the wire!


Block Crush - Adventure 1Block Crush - Adventure 2Block Crush - Adventure 3

financial wellness: I attended a handful of seminars at the end of last month, including one on financial wellness. It got me thinking about the ways I need to improve in that area in my own life, so I drafted a plan this past week that I'm hoping to stick with through Labor Day weekend, consisting of budgets and a list of "to do"s for learning more about being financially savvy. Let it sit for a few days and went back to revisit it the other day and made a few adjustments. Going to start working through that to-do list on Monday (tomorrow). 

spring refresh:

I hit reset on a couple of things, including:

• prioritizing sleep / digital detox before bed - aiming to get to bed 30 minutes earlier and tacking a portion of that extra 30 minutes to my digital detox before bed. Theoretically, I could be unplugged for an hour before bed but that seems unlikely. Planning on gradually building up to it, so for the first few weeks, trying to get to bed 30 minutes earlier, with maybe 20-25 minutes online and now maybe 35-40 minutes of being unplugged before bed. Fingers crossed I can keep up with this at least a couple of nights each week.

• "do overs" 🎬 - projects or activities/things I started but didn't finish or didn't complete as intended. I can come up with lists fairly easily but they can be long and/or detailed, both of which can be a blessing and a curse. Went over the list and picked 3 projects to work on, one being financial wellness. 

spring refresh(er): decided to have 2 bites at the spring refresh square, this time with some spring refreshers: the lemonade edit 🍋

• sparkling lemonade
• strawberry basil lemonade - this was from a local restaurant and serves as inspo for a future DIY. I need to figure out a good ratio of strawberry puree or juice to basil because the latter was a stong; I didn't mind it necessarily, but it could have been more balanced.

Spoiler

sparkling lemonade

strawberry and basil lemonade

[Samtian]

@itsfi Love those stampers! Great start to the month and you've done some fantastic things. 

[danielledanielle]

I love the Sephora Bag so much as a stamper @itsfi . It's not the only takeaway from this, I just love it the most

[itsfi]

It would be fine if that was your only takeaway @danielledanielle; I was pretty pleased with myself when I was able to make some edits to make it look close to a Sephora bag (without actually using the Sephora logo/tradename less I cross the line of using something I'm not supposed to, which I completely appreciate is not mine to use without permission). And, of course, I did think "hmmmm, I think we need another promo gwp or Bazaar item that is along these lines ..." 😂 Or a pin or charm of the Sephora bag, or ... don't mind me, just thinkin' aloud here ... 💡 

[blackkitty2014]

Thx you for the tag and all the works you put into this series @itsfi 🌹❤️ I need to post my first report: 

Hobbies: as I reported in previous months, my new hobby is to care for my existing orchid plants.

I got the big purple orchid on December 1st last year. I almost killed it due to overwatering so half of the flowers fell off. I got new 2 flower stems popped up at beginning of Feb this year. The last flower fell off about 2 weeks ago and now here she is continuing to bloom on the new 2 stems. The little orchid was from last year Mother Day. Excuse me for the bragging 🫣 I’m excited 😜 

[Samtian]

@blackkitty2014 As you should be!

[danielledanielle]

🤏🏽🤏🏽🤏🏽🤏🏽🙌🏽Yaaaaasss @blackkitty2014 

[PDXXXX]

You have every reason to brag @blackkitty2014 ! I've never learned how not to kill an orchid and yours are gorgeous! I love that purple shade and seeing new blooms must be so satisfying.

[blackkitty2014]

Thx you @itsfi @PDXXXX ❤️🌹 I’m totally beginner level. I still have much to learn. Will update more if my third plant has rebloom. 

[itsfi]

I love this @blackkitty2014 aka the orchid whisperer!!! 😍 Look at all those buds on both your orchid plants ... and I spy a new one just forming in the middle of that stem, too! Looooove this! I would never had guess that you killed them, they look so lush and alive. The petals/leaves are so green and healthy, too! You have every right to be proud. I'm so impressed. bragging, nahhhh, you're speaking truth! You're amazing, blackkitty.

Ummmm, are you sure you aren't (or shouldn't be) the author of this book?! 😘

[itsfi]

How To Play:

The short-and-sweet of it is to just jump right on in, by undertaking one or more of the activities described in a square.

✔️  Once you've performed the activity, that square is yours - check it off however you like. If you mark off 5 squares in a row, be it horizontally, vertically or diagonally, you've got yourself a BINGO!
✔️  It doesn't have to stop there (or start there), feel free to work towards checking off as many squares as you can, or clearing the board, by the end of the month.
✔️  Just remember, be safe and make adjustments, as needed.

⚠️  Be Safe. Always be mindful of weather and safety conditions of your location, and your health and physical condition before engaging in any activities listed. For activities you're unsure of, especially the physial ones, consult with your physician or health care professional before starting an activity and make any adjustments (including passing on the activity), if and as appropriate.

⏲  Durataion of Activities. Certain activities may include (in parens) a specified time for the activity. This is meant as a guideline, an example. If this is not something you feel comfortable doing, for whatever reason, perform the activity for a different period of time. Start out at 5 minutes and work your way up from there. If you can go for a longer period of time, go for it. Remember, this is about your wellness and your progress.

How To Post:

Posting about your progress is completely up to you. If you feel up to sharing about the self-care activities you undertook, please do, no matter the number of activities! We love hearing about what worked or what didn't work for you. And, we're always looking to pick up some real life tips, tricks and techniques.

To post:

• Hit "Reply" in the lower left hand corner of this original post and write away in the box that will appear.
• List the activities you performed, with or without your feedback on the activity, and with or without a photo; and/or
• You can attach a copy of the wellness bingo card with the applicable squares marked off, if you'd like.

[itsfi]

A brief description of the self-care activities in the squares for this month's Be Well bingo card is below. Please note:

⭐  Some squares on the wellness card include more general activities or types of activities. The information included below serves as a guideline or example of how you might go about the activity described. There are other approaches to take. Looking forward to hearing what everyone does for the squares they mark off.

⭐  For some activities, reference may be made to another resource or third party, each and every one of which are, to my knowledge (without inquiry) independent of, and not affiliated with, nor endorsed by, me, Sephora, its parent company or affiliates, unless otherwise explicitly noted.

⭐  Safety first. If conditions are such that it is not safe to perform the activity in question, be it due to weather, the location, your physical, mental or emotional state, do not engage in the activity. Make any appropriate modification or skip the activity altogether. If there are limitations or conditions that may prevent you from safely undertaking the activity, consult with your health care professional first to determine whether it is appropriate to engage in the activity.

⭐  If an activity includes a time duration that you are not comfortable with or capable of doing, adjust accordingly. Start with what works for you, whether that's starting out at 5 minutes or 10, or otherwise.

⭐  Where a reference is made to a website and includes "(dot)" please replace the "(dot)" with a "." / period.

*****

ROW 1:

gratitude

Gratitude is the heart's recognition of the goodness in our lives (big or small) on the days when we feel on top of the world as well as the ones when it feels like a struggle to just hit the snooze button. To practice gratitude is to be thankful for something or someone, to recognize the value of that thing, event or person in your life, and to acknowledge it - aloud, on paper, to them, or in your heart, or any combination of those ways.

There's no one way to practice gratitude, but sometimes it helps to have some examples of a few ways to go about it. For some practical tips and ideas on how to practice gratitude, feel free to check out one of the following online articles, and, if you know of an approach to practicing gratitude that has been meaningful for you, please do share.

• "What is gratitude? 12 tips for how to start a gratitude practice" at Better Up - betterup(dot)com
• "20 Gratitude Exercises & Activities to Boost Wellbeing" at Positive Psychology - positivepsychology(dot)com

2026 self-care focus revisited

Think back, way back to ... January. One of the self-care activities for BIC wellness bingo was to identify at least one self-care area or activity you wanted to focus on for 2026 (See spoiler below for a full description of the activity). For the square this month, (1) decide whether you want to keep that self-care area / activity as your focus for 2026, or if life has changed in such a way that you'll be better served if you shift your focus for the year to another self-care area / activity, shift your focus; and then (2) depending on what you decide, do an activity within that original or modified self-care area or that particular self-care activity, as applicable.

If, for any reason, you did not get a chance to pick a self-care area/activity in January to focus on for the year, here's a chance to give it a go. See spoiler below for a full description of the activity. 

Spoiler

stretch (30 minutes)

Go for a full body stretch or focus on one or more body parts. Set aside 30 minutes to stretch those muscles at once or break up your time throughout the day, fitting in what works for you when you can - whether it's 5 minutes during your morning or afternoon break, during your lunch period, by way of your yoga, pilates, barre or ballet class, or as part of the warm up or cool down before your cardio or weight training session. Tailor your stretching routine (the movements and the duration) for what your body needs and what you can carve out in your schedule. For example: 

• If you sit in front of a computer all day, consider spending a good chunk of this time on your hands and wrists, along with your neck, shoulders and core.

• If you stand all day, maybe you want to focus some extra time on your legs and back. 

• If you don't have 30 full minutes to spare (or if that's just a long time to devote to stretching), break it up for something that's more realistic for your schedule, your body, your lifestyle - maybe it's 3 10-minute sessions throughout the day.

• Maybe it's a series of 2 - 5-minutes stretches while you're on hold, on a video conference call (a great time to do some ankle stretches without anyone seeing what you're doing on screen).

• Or, maybe you start off the month trying to get in 10 minutes a day and work your way up to 30 over a longer stretch of time (pun completely intended).

check in with a friend - focus: them

There's a lot going on in the world. Take some time to check in with someone you care about, be it a family member, close friend, coworker, or perhaps even an acquaintance. This can be as simple as a genuine and sincere "how are you?" to meeting up over coffee or going for a walk (bundle up if it's still a bit chilly out, and maybe grab a cup of coffee while you're at it!). It can be a conversation on the phone, FaceTime, over text, by e-mail, as well as face-to-face. You can start by sending a card or with an invite to catch up - over a meal, drinks, a shopping trip, a mani/pedi, a workout, etc. It can be about you as well (and if it is, there's that Check-In with a friend re: YOU box at Row 3, Column 3 that can be marked off), but be sure to make it meaningfully about them.

free space

Ahhhh, the free space! This square is all yours for the taking. You can choose to undertake a self-care activity for this square if you wish to do so. Or, you can choose to do nothing at all. That, too, can be a form of self-care in and of itself.

ROW 2:

hydrate

What's your water number? Are you all about 8-glasses or more a day? Or do you subscribe to the half your body weight philosophy? Or some other benchmark? Do you prefer filtered, still or sparkling water? Plain or infused with flavor? Warm or cold? With or without ice? Whatever your preferences, just do it! Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

digital detox (30 minutes)

Unplug from your electronics for a minimum of 30 minutes. Let your unwinding time really be about unwinding. You can combine it with another self-care activity and check off multiple squares at once - e.g., like stretching (that's this square and the fourth square in Row 1).

In previous wellness bingo challenges, the digital detox time has been before bed, but for this month, it can be anytime. Remember: 

• If you are aiming to do a digital detox before bed and if reading on your Kindle, listening to music or a podcast on your phone or using an app like Headspace is part of your unwinding routine, please keep doing those activities - think of this square as more unplugging from phone activities related to social media, work, etc.
• If you're driving somewhere and need your GPS, please use your GPS. Perhaps find another time to do your digital detox. 
• If 30 minutes seems too long, start off small, with a 10 or 15-minute detox and work your way up from there.
• If you want to or can unplug from your electronics for a longer period of time, go for it!! 

quiet time - journal - meditate - breathe

Spending quality time with ourselves in solitude can be helpful to our well-being. No TikTok. No Instagram. No BIC. Spend some time in quietness, whether it be in the practice of being still or in meditation. Or, maybe you prefer to carve out some time in the day to journal (digitally or with pen-and paper). Or, take time out to focus on your breathing.

•  Quiet Time - Set aside some time to just sit (or lie down) and be still. The first thing to do is to identify how much time you want to spend being quiet. Start out by easing into if you're doing this for the first time or if you're just short on time - 5 or 10 minutes.

• Journal - Write down your thoughts, in general, or in response to a prompt/question. If you're looking for a prompt to get you started, check out the online article from silkandsonder(dot)com titled  "60 Fun Writing Prompts for When Your Journaling Practice Needs a Shake-Up"

• Breathe - There are a host of breathing exercises and techniques available online, including "10 Simple Breathing Exercises for Sleep and Relaxation" on the Oura Ring blog. If you do an internet search for "oura" and "10 simple breathing exercises" it should pull up an article titled "10 Simple Breathing Exercises for Sleep and Relaxation" - the post includes written instruction as well as illustration of the steps involved in the 10 different exercises described.

own your awesome

Think of this activity as "speaking kindly to yourself" on steroids, but in an authentic-not-arrogant, humble-not-haughty, and empowering-not-egotistical sort of way. Hear me out. 

I'm going to assume (and I'm fairly certain it's an accurate assumption) that for many here, "speaking kindly to yourself" or even taking that up a level, "tooting your own horn" is not something that feels natural. I suspect there may be a teensy bit of cringe just thinking about doing it or making an effort to do it. But, for the sake of checking off this square, let's just try. Here's one way to go about it. [NOTE: You won't have to share any of this. Also, If doing all 4 subparts of Part 2 below feels like it would be too much or is too big a step right now, just pick one - (a), (b), (c) or (d).]

1. Choose your medium, be it a journal, the 'notes' feature on your phone, an e-mail, letter/card, post-it notes, or scraps of paper. If you choose one of the latter two, have some place to put the post-it notes or scraps of paper, whether it be affixed to the fridge with magnets, into a jar, on a corkboard with thumbtacks, or somewhere else. 

2. At certain points this month (yes, the activity for this square doesn't have to be completed in one sitting - it can be, but doesn't have to be), write about the following in or on your medium of choice from Part 1, above: 

    (a)  Something you accomplished this month that you are proud of - it can be big, small, or anything in between. You could have accomplished it on your own or as part of a team. It can but doesn't have to be self-care related. It can be an obstacle you overcame or doing something outside of your comfort zone. It can be a milestone you achieved at work; with your side-hustle; as a mom, dad, child, aunt, etc. Heck, so long as you do all parts of this activity, it can even be "Doing this (tooting my own horn / owning my awesome) activity makes me so uncomfortable but I'm doing it anyway and I'm proud of myself for going through with it."  I'm serious about this; I know this isn't going to be easy for some of us. (btw, I appreciate you just making an effort to do it; I really do.)

            - Examples include: "went to the gym 3x this week" or "helped a coworker meet their targets" or "received a promotion" or "kept to my low/no buy" or "didn't overreact when ...." or "went outside my comfort zone ..."

    (b)  At least one character trait or personal attribute you possess that you are proud of.  

             - For instance, being adaptable, resilient, calm, hard-working, forgiving, creative, open minded, funny, tactful, analytical, independent, ambitious, disciplined, optimistic, trustworthy, supportive, being authentic, true to yourself, etc.

    (c)  One of your best skills/talents, personal or professional.

             - Some skills and talents might include: being sociable, hospitable, encouraging; making people feel at ease; being good at painting, photography, gardening, cooking, fixing things. Or programming, playing a musical instrument or being detail oriented. Having a strong memory or a great voice. 

    (d)  Your favorite physical feature of yours (bonus points if you include on your note/paper why you chose the feature you did). 

             - i.e., my eyes; my smile; my hair because I pay good money to maintain it; my dimples; my scar because it tells a story; my uterus because it carried my babies; my abs because I worked hard for them; my skin, my cheekbones, etc.

For those electing a journal as your medium of choice in Part 1 (e.g., the 'notes' feature on your phone, an email or letter/card), all four sections of Part 2 [subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d)] can be included on the same "page". 

For those using post-it notes or scraps of paper, use one post-it or scrap for each of Parts 2(a), 2(b), 2(c) and 2(d).

3.  Once you've completed Parts 1 & 2:

*  If you used a journal or your phone to memorialize your responses, keep them stored / tagged, in case you ever want to go back to it - or if there's ever a time it wouldn't hurt to be reminded of how great you are. We all have those moments. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of our own value. 

* If you responded to these items in an email, letter or card, send them to yourself. Or, with the letter/card, place them somewhere readily accessible and where you will remember.

* If you wrote down your responses on a post it note or a scrap of paper, put them up on the fridge, cork board, or in a jar, or somewhere accessible and where you'll remember where you placed them. 

4.  Check off this box. All done!

NOTE: To those for whom this self care activity is a challenge, well, to everyone actually, zero expectation to post your responses. You can certainly do so if you want to, but zero pressure, obligation or expectation. I'm just going into this one with the hope that if you decide to give this square a go, that it gives you an opportunity to celebrate you. If doing all 4 subsections of part 2 seems like a lot, start with just one. Which one is completely up to you.

tour your town

Sometimes our best adventures can be found in our own backyard. Be a tourist in your own town. You never know what hidden gems you may discover.  

Not sure how to go about it? Here are a few ideas to consider (remember your camera, and sunscreen and water if you'll be spending any time outdoors): 

• Check out one of the popular tourist attractions that you've not otherwise visited

• Take a guided tour - of a particular neighborhood or with a focus on a particular type of food (e.g., donuts, ice cream, etc.), cuisine (e.g., Italian, Chinese, Mexican, or small bites, street food, etc.) or drink (e.g., coffee, craft beer, wine, smoothies, milkshakes, etc.). Or of things that your city/town is known for that you might not otherwise have known about. 

• Create your own tour of certain spots - either based on a particular dish/food (e.g., deep dish pizza, dim sum, mole, buffalo wings, grits, burgers, burrito, froyo, bagels, margarita, etc.) or if a local magazine, online or print, publishes an annual list of "must try" dishes, work your way through that list

• Check out various neighborhoods in your city - one every 10 days, one a month, one every other month, etc. Some cities have street fairs during the year that may be worth checking out

• Explore local museums, historical sites, city parks or gardens

(Description of activities for Rows 3, 4 & 5 continued below)

[itsfi]

Description of Activities (continued)

ROW 3:

create - arts - crafts - hobbies

Creative activities can be a meaningful form of self-care, providing an outlet for stress, promoting relaxation, and assisting in regulating emotional and mental well-being. Examples of self-care through arts, crafts, hobbies and other creative activities include:

• Painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics
• Writing stories or poetry, journaling, writing a letter to yourself or someone else
• Playing a musical instrument, singing, dancing
• Sewing, knitting, crocheting, macrame, pottery, making jewelry
• Photography, video design, editing, making films, making a collage
• Arts, crafts, architecture, creating a scrapbook, decorating the house, etc.

exercise (30 minutes)

Let's get our bodies moving. Indoors or outside. On your own or with others. Let's get some exercise. At least 30 minutes if you can - all at once, or broken up in smaller cycles throughout the day. If you're not feeling up to doing 30 minutes or it's not in your best interest to try for 30, go for 5 or 10. Exercise can come in many forms, including:

• Walking, running, biking, hiking
• Raking leaves, chopping wood
• Wall workouts, yoga, pilates, resistance bands, weights, doing balance exercises
• Tai chi, martial arts
• Swimming, racquetball, pickleball, soccer, volleyball
• Dancing, HIIT, circuit training, bootcamp, crossfit, aqua fitness, rock climbing

check in with a friend focus: you

Yep, your turn to share about you. It's like the activity in Row 1, Column 4, but the focus of the check in is YOU. I get this might not be the easiest thing to do. You can always try making your check-in time about both you and them; just make sure that everyone is feeling like they are being heard and attended to, including you. Especially you if you are the type of person who tends to put others' needs before your own.

 
If it feels uncomfortable to initiate a discussion about yourself, consider sharing with them that one of the things you want to work on this year is wellness / self-care and that you're interested in focusing on <<insert an area or activity you're interested in digging deeper>> and share a little bit of why you chose that activity / area and/or what you might be hoping to achieve, etc.

brain teasers

Just as our muscles need exercise, so too do our brains, but instead of running, yoga, bicep curls or leg extensions, think of the exercise for our brains consisting of: 

• puzzles and riddles, such as playing Connections, Sudoku, or Wordle, or  working on solving Rubik's Cube, crosswords, etc. (Thank you to  and   for first intro'ing me to Connections and Wordle)
• card games, like Soltaire, Uno, etc.
• board games, including checkers, chess, Battleship, Clue, etc.
• video games
• learning (continuing to learn) a new language
• taking part in a scavenger hunt, dinner mystery murder game, or escape room

financial wellness

With April 15 being Tax Day, I thought it appropriate to turn some attention to finances. While financial wellness may not be the most glamorous or fun area of wellness to work on, financial well being is a form of self-care. It can take on many approaches, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Create a realistic and reasonable monthly budget
• Track your spending, on your own, through an app, etc.
• Set financial goals for the future, on your own or with a trusted, independent, qualified financial advisor
• Listen to a financial, money or investment related podcast
• Save money every month - to invest, for a treat, etc.
• Hit "reset" or "refresh" on your efforts to be financially savvy - not all of us are great with managing our money, but every one of us can take one step to be a little better at it than we are. For some of us, we may have some habits we need to let go of or manage better. For others, we may just not know where to begin. Here's a chance to hit "reset" or "refresh" on our financial health - out with old bad habits, and in with better ones.

• While the article is a little dated, going back to 2019, "3 Easy Things Every Woman Can Do to Avoid Financial Stress" at healthywomen(dot)org offers some reasonable and realistic tips worth looking into. The third "Practice mindfulness" offers some straightforward, practical ways men and women can do to be better with money management. 
    

ROW 4:

spring into body care

When the season shifts from winter to spring, we make changes to our clothing and face skincare. Some of us may or may not also take stock of our body care routine and make adjustments there as well. For this square, do any one or any combination of the following:

• Assess your current body care routine and see if you need to make any adjustments to your products - to swap out to a lighter formula, a different scent or to a product targeting a different skin concern, etc. - be it  your soap, scrubs, lotions/creams, treatments, or services.
• Exfoliate / use a scrub more often ... or less often.
• Switch to a lighter body wash or lotion/cream/body butterIncorporate different fragrances into your routine
• Indulge in a mani/pedi
• Switch to a stronger deodorant, if needed, if you live in an area where it gets very hot and/or humid
• Do an at-home hand or foot mask, or both; or a foot-peel mask
• Treat yourself to a body care product. Sephora's spring savings event is coming up (April 10 for Rouge and April 14 for VIB and BI members) and that may be a good time to restock on your favorite body care product(s) or try out one of the new releases or a new-to-you item.
• If you're spending more time outdoors with the warmer weather, body care in the spring also includes keeping up with your water intake, and possibly upping it. It also means you may need to focus some time stretching your legs and feet if you're doing more walking and hiking outdoors. Or, reaching for sunscreen more frequently. Speaking of sunscreen, if you have one you're loving, swing on by the  and give a shout out to your fave sunscreen, whether it's tried-and-true or new-to-you. 

spring refresh(er)

There's a couple of ways to interpret how to go about the activity described in this square - 

(1) go for a spring refresher drink, something to quench your thirst, be it a cocktail, mocktail, that new flavor combo at your go-to coffee spot, your favorite tea, iced for the warmer season, or fruit and/or herb infused water, homemade or store bought, or 

(2) take to heart the prompt, "Out with the old ... "

Renewal, rebirth, growth, new beginnings, and hope are often associated with spring. Here's a chance to pause, reflect and pick one (or more) things you want to work on refreshing this season, starting ... now. Some things to consider include:

• Refresh your living space: with spring decor, lighter bedding, spring scents

• Declutter: kitchen gadgets you never use; worn out towels/linens; old makeup or personal care products you don't like or know that you are not likely going to ever use; the piles of papers that stack up that you really don't need to keep around (though you may want to shred certain things first before tossing); those knick-knacks and do-hickeys that seem to find their way into drawers, closets, etc.

• Start or get back on track with: that personal goal you set out for yourself way back when; your New Year's resolution; spending more time on your self-care

• Let go of: your phone for two hours the minute you get home from work; FOMO; negative self talk; engaging in gossip or stirring the pot; comparing yourself to others; toxic people; physical clutter; digital clutter; the need to control everything; the need to please everyone; packing too much into your schedule; the things that hold you back; unrealistic expectations; past mistakes; being unkind to yourself

seasonal fruits &  veggies

Let's get in our fruits and veggies. This season offers a plethora of delicious fruits and vegetables. Roast 'em. Saute 'em. Add fruits or veggies to your oatmeal, salad, soup, pasta sauce, water, and/or smoothies. Or, just eat them as they are. If you have a farmers' market near you, grab a bag & head on over to see what's available. If seasonal fruits and veggies or a farmers' market are not easily accessible to you, reach for what is available to you, whether a favorite of yours or something new-to-you.

spring bucket list

One of the wellness activities for March, 2026 involved putting together a Spring Bucket List - identifying 3-5+ things you wanted to do this spring (see spoiler below for the full write up of the activity). To earn that square in March, you needed to (1) put the list together and (2) do one of the activities you listed. To check off this square this month, you'll need to do another one of the activities on your spring bucket list. 

If this will be your first time creating a spring bucket list, this square is yours once you put your list together and do one of the activities you listed.

Spoiler

 

springtime stroll

Carve out some time (after dinner, on the weekend, etc.) to enjoy the spring season and all it has to offer, with a leisurely stroll outside. Remember your sunscreen and water! 

(Description of activities for Row 5 continued below)

[itsfi]

Description of activities (continued)

ROW 5:

healthy meal

Whether you're cooking at home, going out, getting take-out or having it delivered, or reheating leftovers, etc., sit down, slow down, and practice self-care by nourishing your body with a healthy meal. There are many different ways to eat a healthy meal and I recognize that this can be easier said than done for many, for a host of reasons. Some ways to go about having a healthy meal, whether you're new to it or it comes naturally to you include:

• Getting your daily intake of nutrients as recommended by your doctor or health care provider
• Having some form of vegetables (preferably not deep fried) with your meal
• Taking the time to sit down to a meal - not rushing
• Looking up some quick and easy recipes online to try. For instance, the blog, The Girl on Bloor - thegirlonbloor(dot)com - has a post titled "52 Easy & Healthy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights" that has some recipes that look quick and easy to make, healthy and tasty.

get outdoors (remember spf + h2o)

If the conditions are good (e.g., sun is out, temperatures are not extreme one way or another, etc.), take advantage of it and get some vitamin D in the process, and remember sunscreen and water. Some outdoor activities you might consider undertaking include:

• having a picnic with family and/or friends
• going for a brief walk with a coworker during lunch or for your coffee break
• gardening - fruits, veggies, herbs, plants, or flowers
• going for a walk before or after dinner with your pets, neighbors, friends, family
• taking an outdoor yoga class
• going for a bike ride, a hike, a run
• playing tennis, pickleball 

new to you

"A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions." ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

I don't know about you but I'm a creature of habit. I have routines I like. I have my comfort zones. They feel safe. They come easy to me. Routines have their time and place, and value. As do new experiences. New experiences can be a little nerve-wracking and uncomfortable at times, because it takes us outside of our routines, our comfort zones, but they can be so rewarding, too. 

For this square, do something new-to-you. It can be anything "new" to you; it need not be directly related to self-care or wellness or beauty, but it can be. Some examples of a new-to-you experience or activity include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Learn a new skill, whether for fun or because it's useful [NOTE: this can be taking a next step or learning a new technique in something you are already doing. For example, if you like to cook or bake, maybe try out a new recipe or sign up for a cooking class. If you are taking a language course, continuing to develop that skill set by making an effort to speak in that language in public - at a restaurant, in a store - with someone who is fluent in that language.]

• Try out a new restaurant, cafe, wine bar or visit a park, museum or shop that you've never been to - if it's in your town, this might also score you that last "tour your town" square in Row 2

• Ask for help

• Read a book, for leisure

• Give yourself a "time out" (e.g., an hour, 2 hours, half a day, a full day, etc.) and do something for you - not because you have to or need to do that something, but because you really want to do that activity for yourself. It can be an activity that you do with other people - family, friends, etc.; it doesn't have to be a solo activity, but it should be something that you want or have wanted to do, something that gives you joy, gives you life. 

• Try speaking more in meetings or try speaking less (and listening more)

• Pick out fruit, vegetable or spice you've never tried at the store or farmers' market, do a little research, and create a dish around it

• If you're someone who gives a lot (of your time, of things, etc.), let someone give you something or willingly accept something from someone

• If you're someone who is often on the receiving end of things, take the time to (a) think about how you might give someone else your time, attention or some thing and then (b) give someone else that time, attention or thing

• Learn about something new to you - new part of history or form or art, new part of your family history, or about someone else's history or culture. 

• Try going to bed half an hour earlier or getting up a half hour earlier

• Listen to a new genre of music or a learn about a new-to-you musician

• Say 'no' when you don't have the bandwidth to take on something and when you might otherwise say 'yes' because you want to please someone / becaus94te you don't want to disappoint someone

• Volunteer

• Speak kindly to yourself 

• Try a new sport, exercise, breathing exercise/meditation, video game, brain teaser (this one could mean a check for another square on this board at the same time)

• Take an online class or masterclass - there are free ones that can be found online. Sephora offers certain digital masterclasses every month for 200 BI points. If you're signed up for notifications, an email typically goes out near the beginning of the month. You can also check sephora-events(dot)com for a list of the current masterclasses. YouTube also has some past Sephora Digital Events available online.

• If you're someone who primarily engages in solo activities, join a group activity (e.g., group exercise class, walking tour with others and engage) or make plans to do something with someone else

• If you're someone who tends to spend most of your time engaged in activities with others, do something on your own (e.g., lunch, movies, coffee shop, etc.)

• Try a new beauty product, technique, color, or look, or give a new thread on the Forum a try.

read - audiobook - podcast - tv/movie

Read a book, a blog; listen to an audiobook or podcast; watch a TV show or movie. For leisure. To learn something new or further develop an existing skill set. As part of a DIY project or self improvement. To give you a break from the daily grind. To make you laugh, cry, feel the feels. To bring you joy.  If you discover a book worth reading, give a recommendation here or on the BIC book club! Or, if it was a TV or movie you watched, let us know on the What are you watching? (Don't be a spoil sport - spoiler your spoilers) thread.

prioritize sleep

Quality sleep, a well-rested brain and body, can play a crucial role in our wellness. While every person has their own sweet spot for ideal amounts of sleep, 7 to 9 hours per night is the generally recommended amount of sleep for adults for optimal cognitive function, memory and overall health, with consistency and quality sleep being key components to maintaining good health. It can be hard to make time for it with all the things we have on our plates, but every effort counts. If this is a self-care area that is new to you, consider focusing on one of these activities this week, next week, this month, etc., and continue to work your way through the list below as you feel ready.

• Figure out your sleep needs - how many hours of sleep do you need each night? This is not how many hours you need to get by but what is the optimal amount of hours of sleep per night for you at this time in your life? Determine your needs and make it a priority to achieve this amount.

• Establish a consistent sleep schedule and work on keeping to it as often as possible. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, including weekends. This helps to regulate your body's internal clock. Look, I get this isn't always practical (or desirable - sometimes, sleeping in is a good thing!), but it might be worth a shot. When I first started trying to do this, I set 10/10:30pm as my target bed time, and would aim to start my digital detox around 9:30pm-ish. If I went out on Friday or Saturday nights, my goal bedtime would be pushed back to 12midnight but I wasn't too strict about it - I also didn't / don't go out that much so it's not really a problem but when starting out, I gave myself a broader window on the weekends.

• Create a wind-down bedtime routine. This signals the body to wind down. Ideally, the routine is something calming - reading a book, meditating, doesn't involve electronics or if so, minimally and its function is to aid with winding down - i.e., Headspace, audiobook, guided meditation app, etc.

• Create a sleep conducive environment in your bedroom. To promote better sleep, make your bedroom a cool, dark, quiet space.

• Draw boundaries; learn to say 'no'. Be mindful of your commitments and how they may interfere with your sleep needs. Part of this is reframing the role of sleep in your life - prioritizing sleep is not about sacrificing other things in your life. It's about recognizing how getting quality sleep regularly contributes to your well-being and choosing for it. Or, at the very least, choosing for it more often than not.

[miss8]

@itsfi Is #RedWineAfterDinner Still A Healthy Thing To Do? 🍷 😋