Working Towards Wellness: November 2025

[itsfi]

Whether self-care is new to you or you're a seasoned pro when it comes to wellness activities, welcome! 👋

There's a lot going on in the world - be it due to the holidays season, or 2025 coming quickly to a close, or just everyday stuff. Sometimes, we just need a space to block out the outside noise and spend some time focusing on our own well-being. Or some time to remind us to look after ourselves. Consider this one of those spaces. Jump right on in and join us for another month of wellness bingo. 

Self-care, the activities we undertake for our own well being, varies on our circumstances and needs. We're each on our own personal self-care journey, but it doesn't hurt to have a little encouragement along the way. Or to be an encouragement to others as we work towards wellness. Wellness takes work; let's do the work together, BIC! 

For more information on wellness bingo, check out the following:

• How To Play
• Rows 1 & 2 Activities Described
• Rows 3, 4 & 5 Activities Described
• How To Post

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy November!  

Spoiler

Tagging a few folks who have posted to previous Working Towards Wellness threads. Will try to update tags throughout periodically. If I inadvertently missed someone, I apologize. Feel free to tag others you think may be interested. Be well!
@ather @blackkitty2014 @caitbird @CorgiMommy @curlychiquita @danielledanielle @missjeanie @PrettyPaint @Samtian @Shosh85 

[caitbird]

@itsfi  thanks for the tag, and thanks so much for all your hard work creating these threads each month! They are one of my favorite parts of BIC, and such a great reminder/encouragement for me to prioritize and work on wellness and self care each month. I always look forward to seeing each month's wellness bingo board, and seeing everyone's posts and updates about their wellness activities! 💜

[itsfi]

@caitbird, thank you; it's always good to hear what folks are up to for self care.

[blackkitty2014]

Thank you so much for this thread and spending the time to describing everything in details @itsfi 🌹❤️🥰 I will definitely join again. I am normally lazy and don’t post often but this thread and the few that you created are on my to do agenda. I love it 🥰 

[itsfi]

Awww, thank YOU @blackkitty2014 for your kind words. Always good to see you on the boards but 100% understand that you are a busy lady. Definitely jump on in when you can; we love hearing from you!

[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), 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, if and as appropriate.

• Length 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.

[itsfi]

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

• Some squares on the wellness bingo 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 may be other ways to go about doing the activity/activities described. 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 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 to determine whether it is appropriate to engage in the activity.

• If an activity includes a time duration that you are not comfortable or capable of doing, adjust accordingly. Start with work 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)" replace the "(dot)" with a "." / period.

FIRST ROW:

GO ON A HIKE OR NATURE WALK (BUNDLE UP): Nothing like getting in some fresh air and a brisk walk or hike. With the weather cooling down and wind picking up in some parts, be sure to dress appropriately, including bundling up. And wearing sunscreen and staying hydrated, as necessary.

TREAT YOURSELF: Taking intentional actions to look after your physical, mental an emotional well-being is key component to self-care and can take many forms, including, but not limited to:

• Getting a massage, a mani/pedi, coffee, or a bite to eat with your significant other, a friend, relative, co-worker, or by yourself
• Taking a relaxing bath or spending a little extra time in the shower after a long day
• Getting enough sleep, sleeping in, getting to bed early
• Treating yourself to something you might not otherwise - a new pair of shoes, earrings, a lipstick, perfume;  coffee, a drink; flowers; a mani/pedi; a meal, dessert; a facial, massage, etc.
• Spending time with friends or family you don't often see
• An afternoon to yourself; calling a housecleaning service for a day; signing up and taking a cooking class; spending the day at a museum, going to yoga/pilates, etc.

FALL FAVE(S): Do you have a favorite fall activity or treat? Something that puts a smile on your face? Engage in that activity or have that treat. Or, both! Some examples include:

• Treating yourself to a seasonal drink
• Lighting a fall candle
• Visiting a pumpkin patch, corn maze, apple orchard, etc.
• Taking a scenic drive, hike, walk to see fall foliage or visiting a nearby town that's new to you or a favorite local spot
• Attending craft fairs, fall festivals or farmers market; going on hayrides; carving pumpkins; having bonfires gatherings; taking part in chili cook offs, baking contests; or just making/baking seasonal dishes
• Cozying up next to the fireplace, on the couch, with a drink in hand, etc.
• Watching a Thanksgiving movie or two (e.g., A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Remember the Titans, You've Got Mail, etc.)
• Watching the NFL's Thanksgiving Day Game, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or something in Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas series.
• Shopping sprees - online or instore - taking part in Sephora's Savings Event or Black Friday or Cyber Monday (remember to share your hauls on the November hauls thread - link to be posted shortly)

BODY CARE: 

• Having a nice soak in the tub; spending a few extra minutes in the shower
• Getting a massage, a mani / pedi, a facial - you don't have to go out of the house for any of these either, and can do them yourself
• Stretching, exercising - indoor, outdoors, by yourself, in a group
• Getting to bed early and/or sleeping in
• Using a hand mask, foot mask, face mask, hair mas, or other body mask - it can be something you purchase at the store or an at home DIY treatment done by warming up a pair of socks in the dryer and applying them to your just lotion-ed / oil-ed feet.
• Using a body tool - dry brush, gua sha (face or body)
• Body care can mean going to see your doctor for an annual checkup or just if you need to see your doctor, podiatrist, chiropractor, acupuncturist, foot reflexologist, etc.

STRESS MANAGEMENT: Stress. It happens. Sometimes we see it coming; other times it sneaks up on us and can hit us like a ton of bricks. Aim to prevent it. Manage it. Navigate around it. Triage it. Resolve it. We've all been in one or more of those situations. Some strategies, tips & techniques for stress management include, but are not limited to

• Identifying/Addressing the issue(s) or stressor(s)
• Making changes to your lifestyle
• Trying new or other techniques to relax
• Looking into other resources for support

Other strategies to manage stress may involve our five senses, such as:

SECOND ROW:

STRETCH (30 MINUTES): Whether it's a full body stretch or time spent on one or more parts of the body, aim for 30 minutes or more. It can be done all at once or broken up in increments throughout your day - for example, 10 minutes when you get out of bed, 10 in the middle of the day, and 10 minutes before bed. Do what works for your schedule and body needs.

Here are some articles that I've found helpful for stretching routines:

• Before betting out of bed: "6 Stretches You Should Do Before Getting Out Of Bed To Feel Great All Day" from Daily Health Post - dailyhealthpost(dot)com
• For stress management / stress relief: "Daily Stretching Routine: Boost Flexibility and Reduce Stress in Just 15 Minutes" from Greatist - greatist(dot)com
• Before going to bed: "14 Stretches to Do Before Bed for Better Sleep" from Sleep Foundation - sleepfoundation(dot)org

WORK ON JOY: We've looked at a few different approaches to cultivating joy as part of our self-care practice this year, including the ones listed below, which come from our July, August and September wellness bingo boards, respectively. Feel free to revisit one of these past monthly bingo cards (see below) or combine of a couple of the activities. Or, choose an approach or undertaking that works for you. 

from Psychology Today, "Reclaiming Joy in a World That Feels Hopeless"

from Explore & Create

from "How to Cultivate Joy in Your Life (10 ways)" on the Thrive Personally site - thrivepersonally(dot)com - 

1.    Slow Down Sometimes

2.    Practice Daily Gratitude

3.    Spend Time with Uplifting People

4.    Take Care of the Body

5.    Let Go of What Weighs You Down

6.    Celebrate Small Wins

7.    Choose to See the Good in Others

8.    Create Quiet Moments

9.    Make Time for Life-Giving Activities

10.   Accept the Present

DIGITAL DETOX BEFORE BED (30 MINUTES): Unplug from your electronics for a minimum of 30 minutes before you go to bed. Let your time really be about unwinding and unplugging.

• 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, keep doing those activities - unplug from social media, work, etc.

• If 30 minutes seems too long, start off small, with a 10 or 15-minute digital detox (or even 5 minutes) and work your way up from there.

STAY HYDRATED: Get in your daily dose of water, whether that's eight (8) 8-oz glasses or half your body weight. If you're exerting a lot of energy or working under conditions where you need extra water, get in that extra water and consider drinking some electrolyte water as well. 

AROMA-THERAPY: Light a candle, use a room spray or diffuser, spritz yourself with some perfume or apply a scented lotion or oil to your hands, feet and body. Use scent as a way to calm, soothe, refresh, uplift. Fragrance can improve mood, manage stress levels, enhance relaxation, promote mindfulness.

[itsfi]

Description of Activities (continued)

Spoiler

Remember: 

• Some squares on the wellness bingo 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 may be other ways to go about doing the activity/activities described. 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 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 to determine whether it is appropriate to engage in the activity.

• If an activity includes a time duration that you are not comfortable or capable of doing, adjust accordingly. Start with work 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)" replace the "(dot)" with a "." / period.

THIRD ROW:

HAVE A WARM & COZY DRINK: Fall offers some of the most fun and creative drinks.  Whether you make one yourself or buy one is entirely up to you. With or without alcohol. Be safe and drink responsibly if your drink involves alcohol. Always love seeing and hearing about a warm & cozy drink. Drop a pic or recipe here and/or on the What’s in your cup? thread.

PRACTICE GRATITUDE: What or who are the things or people you are grateful for? Some examples for practicing gratitude, include but are not limited to:

• Making an effort / carving out time in your day to be thankful for (or more mindful of) the people, events and things in your life this week

• Letting someone know in an email, text, in person, etc. that you are grateful/thankful for them or for something they did
• Writing in a journal about the people, things you appreciate

FREE SPACE: Undertake a self-care activity or something that advances or promotes your wellness. Or, do nothing at all. That, too, can be a form of self-care in and of itself.

TREAT SOMEONE ELSE: 

• With a meaningful greeting or a genuinely interested inquiry into their day 
• With a compliment, well-earned acknowledgment or praise, or kind word
• To a cup of coffee (or a $5 Starbucks gift card)
• With the gift of your time or attentive ear
• With a note of thanks or appreciation
• To a handmade / DIY self-care emergency kit (part ofWorking Towards Wellness: October 2025)

Spoiler

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 small if you're doing this for the first 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.

FOURTH ROW:

MUSIC - THERAPY: Music can be an outlet for expressing emotion and well-being. It can help with healing, reduce stress, provide comfort. Find a song or a playlist of tunes that resonates with you and whatever mood or space you are in at the moment and turn up that beat! Sing your heart out. Dance as if no one is watching. Or, just sit in silence, taking in the lyrics or rhythm (or both) of the music. Feel free to share what you've been listening to, in your check-in and/or on the 🎶✨Song of the Day and Music Thread!✨🎶.

SEASONAL FRUITS & VEGGIES: Get in your fruits and veggies. Fall offers a plethora of delicious fruits and vegetables. Roast 'em. Saute 'em. Add 'em 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 isn't easily accessible to you or something you're interested in, have a helping of your favorite fruits and veggies, seasonal or otherwise.

PRIORITIZE SLEEP: Quality sleep - a well-rested brain and body - can play a crucial role in our wellness, our wellbeing.  7 to 9 hours per night is the 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.

READ - AUDIOBOOK - PODCASTS - TV / MOVIE: Read a book, a blog; listen to an audiobook or podcast; watch a TV show or movie. For leisure.

EXERCISE (30 MINUTES): Let's get our bodies moving. Indoors or outside. Individually or with others. Let's get in 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, cross fit, aqua fitness, rock climbing

FIFTH ROW:

CREATE - ARTS - CRAFTS - HOBBIES: With your hands. Your words. Your voice. Drawing, sketching, knitting, crocheting. Macrame. Writing music, poetry. Painting. Coloring. Taking Photos. Creating a Look / Doing Your Makeup. Making a new or new-to-you meal or dish. This can include spending time or taking part in hobbies, like bird watching, doing puzzles, etc.

REFLECT - REFOCUS - RECHARGE - RESOLVE: 2025 is quickly coming to a close. Take some time now, before the end of the year gets here to reflect on your self-care adventures this year (the good, the bad, the area(s) that continue to be a work in progress). Start to think about the things you want to do more of in the coming weeks / in the next year and how you might want to go about those things. This isn't about finalizing your wellness goals or resolutions for 2026 (though if you want to, go for it!), but more about taking some quality time to think about any one or any combination of the following:

• What has wellness / self-care looked like for you this year? 
• What was your favorite wellness bingo square / activity this year?
• What self-care activity surprised you (for better or worse) the most?
• What self-care activity / activities did you find most beneficial to you?
• What area(s) of wellness and/or what self-care activity / activities do you want or need to work on more in the coming weeks or year? What practical and realistic next steps do you need to undertake to accomplish that?

This is an exercise for you; please don't feel the need to share unless you want to. The square is yours to check off if you simply make the effort to carve out some time to reflect on at least one of the above questions. Whether or not you come up (or want to come up with) with a game plan, goal or resolution for next year is completely up to you.

GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO ... : 

• Sleep in
• Take the last piece of pie 
• Close the door and have a good cry
• Laugh out loud 
• Jump in a pile of leaves
• Treat yourself
• Acknowledge your needs
• Ask for help
• Be you 
• Speak your truth 
• Let things or people go 
• Not be perfect - there are moments when we need to be spot on. It doesn't have to be 100% of the time. It may feel like it. Strive for excellence, not perfection. 
• Draw boundaries (and, if necessary, to enforce them, gently but firmly)
• Pursue your dreams
• Live your best life
• ________ (fill in the blank)

PRIORITIZE YOU:  

I suspect we've heard the phrase "self-care is not selfish" often. I imagine many of us can appreciate the truth of that statement, at least conceptually, most of the time. It's one thing to say it but quite another to embrace it and live it out. I'm not going to claim to be an expert in this field by any means, and, I'm fairly certain for many of us, it's a work in progress, and sometimes that work can feel like we're starting at the beginning, again and again. Or, giving it a go for the first time. A few ways (and these are by no means the only ways) to go about prioritizing yourself as a form of self-care, include, but are not limited to:

• Say 'yes' (or 'no' for that matter) to the next invite you get.
• Set boundaries and say 'no' to the next request made of you.
• Read for leisure, watch a TV show or movie, listen to a podcast.
• On your next trip to the grocery store, add 1 or 2 things to your shopping cart that are just for you.
• Buy yourself flowers (go for chocolate too while you're at it!)
• Let your partner / significant other know you need a day / night off and take yourself out on a date or make plans for a girls or guys day/night out.
• Say 'yes' the next time someone offers to watch the kids, pet sit, etc. OR ask a friend if they might do that for a day/night.
• Plan a mini vacation (even if it's just an overnight stay somewhere) and follow through with it.
• Spend half an hour (or more) at a cafe - reading, journaling, people watching - by yourself or with a friend you haven't seen for a while.
• Grab / make coffee and go for a walk in the park - by yourself or with a friend.
• Treat yourself to a mani. Or a pedi. Or both. Or a massage. Or a facial. Or, whatever it is that makes you feel pampered.
• Engage in creative activities, arts and crafts, hobbies.
• Spend an afternoon at the museum, art gallery, in the park, at a craft fair, Oktoberfest.
• Block out an hour of time on the weekend. That's your "Me Time." Commit to it.

HAVE A 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. If you have a food pic or recipe to share, have at it here or check out the What's on your plate? thread.

[itsfi]

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, 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 feedback on the activity, and with or without a photo. You can also attach a copy of the wellness bingo card with the applicable squares marked off, if you'd like.