Working Towards Wellness: August 2025

[itsfi]

Hi BIC, and happy August! Yes, it's already August. Before we know it, kids will be back in school (and some of us may be headed back as well), and summer will be in the rearview mirror. Let's make the most of this month, which happens to be National Wellness Month, and take (or make) the opportunities we have to look after our wellbeing. One way to go about that is with a little game of wellness bingo. If you're new to BIC or to this little corner of BIC, welcome!! If you've taken part in a previous BWell Bingo here or if you've poked your head in to see what this is about, welcome back! 

We're each on our own personal self-care journey, one that, if you're like me, varies - some days (weeks, months, years) are better than others. Wellness is a process - it's about progress, not perfection. It takes work. Much of that work falls on us individually, and our efforts towards self-care, as it should, but that effort is and can be helped, inspired, encouraged, and supported by others, be it friends, family, coworkers, acquaintances, or the members of  this Community. Wellness takes work - let's do the work together, BIC!

How To Play:

Spoiler

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. Just remember, be safe and make adjustments, if and as applicable. 

▶️  This game of wellness bingo is about YOU and YOUR wellness. So whether it's aiming for one square a day, a week, or the month, give it a go! There are several ways to go about this wellness bingo challenge, including, but not limited to:

• Work towards BINGO, 5 squares in a row - across (rows), down (columns),  or diagonal
• Choose a row or column and work your way through the activities described during the week or month
• Focus on one or more activities each day or week or month
• Select activities that interest you or that challenge you and work towards checking off those squares

For a more detailed description of the wellness activities for each square, including examples for some, check out ➡️ Description of August 2025 Wellness Activities

☑️  NOTE: Some description may contain references to articles from different companies. These, along with other activities described, are for illustrative purposes. These are provided as examples, and neither I, nor to my knowledge (without inquiry), Sephora, are affiliated with any of the third parties referenced.

 ⚠️  Tailor the activities to your surroundings, situation and circumstances. 

• If it's not safe to perform an activity, pass on it or modify accordingly. For example, if it's storming outside, the "outdoor activity" square can wait another day, or next month. Also, an activity is not something you can do for health reasons, pass on it. Please consult your doctor or health care professional before beginning an activity, if and as needed.

• If a square includes a time for a certain activity and that time is too long for you, try the activity for a shorter duration. For example, if unplugging from electronics for half-an-hour before bed is too much too soon, start with 10. If more will do, go beyond 30 minutes.

Posting:
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 down for picking up some real life tips, tricks and techniques.

To post, click "Reply" in the lower left hand corner of this original post and write away in the box that will appear. You can list the activities you performed, with or without your thoughts on the activity. You can if you choose, attach a copy of the wellness bingo card with the applicable squares marked off.

Here's to another month of working on wellness with you, BIC! We got this!

Spoiler

Tagging a few folks who participated in last month's wellness challenge. Apologies if I iadvertently missed anyone.
@ather @CorgiMommy @curlychiquita @danielledanielle @Mellmars1185 @PrettyPaint @Samtian 

[itsfi]

Keep posting your August self-care activities in this thread. For September wellness challenge card, check out Working Towards Wellness: September 2025.

[itsfi]

Final check-in for this month's wellness bingo activities. Pink check marks are the new activities I was able to get to during the last 8 days.

Social Studies: Two social activities in the same week! My younger self might think I'm reverting back to the social butterfly I was long ago. Naaaah. I don't have that kind of energy anymore. 

Stress management: Ever a work in progress. The past week-and-a-half has had its share of rough days. I took a couple of moments in the last few days to pause and do a few of the suggested activities in the write up for this square, including taking a few long breaths of fresh air, getting outdoors for lengthy walks, adding time to my stretching/meditating routine, not being online or on my electronics, or if I was, then focusing most of that time on meaningful activities and interactions, and checking in with people who are supportive and nurturing of me with gentle and tough love. The social activities actually helped, too. One involved an event where I didn't know anyone and the other I only knew one person.  They were good breaks. I even finalized plans earlier this week for another social activity next month - who am I?! 😲 Hahaha!

Working on Joy: I took a slightly different approach to this self-care practice this go around. I said 'no' to a couple of things in an effort to have more time to work on joy my way. While there were good reasons for me to say 'yes' , I've have good peace of mind since relaying my 'no'.

Performing Arts: One of the social activities I took part in had music and some performative aspect to it. 

History: Revisit Resolutions: I've been (fairly) consistent with 2 out of the 3 - prioritizing sleep and digging deeper into hobbies and skills. I wouldn't say journaling is something I've been consistent with but it is coming along, slowly but surely. Daily journaling started off well and then slid. Then came to dead halt. 😞 But, we'll try again. Tomorrow is a new day and as good as any to try again. 

Chemistry (of fragrances): I made a pit stop into one of my local Sephora stores during lunch the other day to test out some fragrances, including the new Valentino, Brown Girl Jane and Jo Malone fragrances along with some new-to-me scents from Burberry and Montale. 

Gym Class heroes: Weights. Extra time spent doing yoga. 

August Report Card: 2 out of 3 satisfactory; 1 needs improvement

Similar notes to Kilian's Love Don't Be Shy but notes come through differently

This smells like banana cream pie

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi Great job completing the board. I'm sorry it's been a stressful couple of week for you, but it certainly sounds like you're doing your best to manage everything. I'm so impressed that you went to social events where you knew basically no one. That's something I'd like to try at some point, but I may be a bit too much of an introvert. 

[itsfi]

Thank you @PrettyPaint; appreciate your thoughtfulness. Yeah, I'm usually able to compartmentalize it but sometimes stress gets the better of you. There was one point where I thought "oh man, if I were a runner, I would just keep running and running and running and ..." Instead, I went to the freezer to grab some sorbet and then picked out a color to paint my toe nails. 😂🤣😂🤣 Not gonna lie, there was a moment during the second brain freeze where I questioned my decision to have sorbet 😝 but overall, it hit the spot and I was (eventually) able to find a more productive and better way to try to alleviate or manage, is a better word, the stress. 

I'm out of practice with going solo at social events but it ended up being alright. I do recommend giving it a try when are ready. Or picking an activity or setting that would offer a level of comfort to you, like a cooking or baking class or painting class, where you can focus on a task but still have opportunities to engage with people ... if you want to. 

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi I hope the last few days have been less stressful for you. Sorbet and toe nail painting actually sound really nice right about now. I have been procrastinating painting my toes because I hate removing nail polish from my toes. I'm not sure why - it's just such a hassle for me. 

[itsfi]

Thank you @PrettyPaint; it's been a little better, more so because I turned my attention to something else. 😆 I'll circle back to it soon and will work on being prepared with some tools for stress management beforehand. 

Oh, I completely understand and now I don't feel like the only person - it's a challenge at times to motivate myself to remove my toe nail polish. So much so that I sometimes just don't bother to paint them because it means I'll need to remove the polish at some point. But, I was going to wear open-toe shoes and one of my toenails still has a bruise from when my very large and very heavy tumbler landed on it and I needed to paint my toenails because I didn't want everyone to have to see the unsightly bruise. And now, the polish must be removed ... eventually. 🤣 I'm with you with procrastinating. Ummmm, not gonna lie, I went to look at the wellness bingo card to see if there was a square that we could check off if we removed our toe nail polish. Nope. Drat! Hahaha!

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi Maybe next month can include a toenail polish removal square. 😂 I think my old polish will still likely be hanging on in October, though at that point I may be wearing closed-toe shoes often enough that I'll just let it grow out. I have on white polish currently, so maybe it will give off an intentional french manicure-type look. 

Sorry you hurt your toenail so badly with the tumbler. Ouchy! It must be a big tumbler. I must admit I've also used nail polish to cover up nail injuries. 🙂

[itsfi]

hahahaha @PrettyPaint; I'll just say this - there's probably a square that could work for that, if I were to be cheeky about it. 🤣 I'm not ruling it out ... ummm, me being cheeky, that is. 😝  Ahhhh, an unintentional French pedicure, that would be marvelous! I'm impressed you painted your toe nails white - I try every summer and I make a mess of it every time. Every. Time.

Yeah, I didn't expect it to bruise or to still be there. I was trying to do some organizing and decluttering of my makeup stash and I knocked something over that created a domino effect that sent the tumbler tumbling over 😂 onto a bag and then my toe! Ouchy is right! I at least have gotten some wear out of my nail polish. There's that. 

[CorgiMommy]

Bingo! Bingo! ... great job clearly the board @itsfi looking forward to September!

[itsfi]

@CorgiMommy, thank you! September will be here in a matter of days! New wellness card/thread will be posted Monday. 🙌

[CorgiMommy]

@itsfi thanks!

[danielledanielle]

👋🏽 

 

Outdoor activity + Working on Joy: Last weekend, I grabbed Mochi waffle mix and we had a little dandan family picnic.  I haven't baked I'm forevvvverrrr, and it's boxed mixed, but it was nice.  I think I can still make an Angel's food cake from scratch, but not this month 🤣

[itsfi]

A little dandan family picnic - how fun!! Mmmm, mochi, yum!! No angel food cake this month, but maybe next @danielledanielle? I've heard there might be a square that could fall easily into. 

[Samtian]

Working On Joy- I have two video streams I like to check in on, that bring me great joy. Katmai Bears are getting super fat for hibernation right now, so I like watching them fish. I'll never be able to afford to see them in person so this is the next best thing. And in Denver Zoo, not even a couple weeks ago, a momma lion had 4 cubs! They have a live cam you can watch of them, and I love checking in on that too.  I'm also spending time outside with the strays and I finally got one to let me pet him, now he always wants pets. 

[CorgiMommy]

I love that web camera too, those cubs are adorable @Samtian 

[itsfi]

Those are wonderful ways to work on joy; what smiles they must have brought to your face. Ooouuh, which one wants to be petted all the time now @Samtian? You are so patient and loving with them. I'll have to check out the Katmai Bears and the new mama bear and her baby cubs. 

[CorgiMommy]

I am a bit of an overachiever, just need to finish the book I started and I will clear the board 

 Social Studies- our old neighbors came for a visit.  It was so great to catch up with them.  And their children are all grown up!

Work on Joy - got up early and took a walk at sunrise and watched the bunnies scurry around and listened to the birds singing 

Geography  - finished organizing my important papers now i just need to renew my passport 

[danielledanielle]

Yaaaaasss, clear that! @CorgiMommy 

[CorgiMommy]

Thank you @danielledanielle 

[itsfi]

@CorgiMommy, congrats on clearing the board.