Working Towards Wellness: September 2025

[itsfi]

Happy September, BIC! 🍃🍂🍁 Pumpkin spice season is underway and soon, the air will get a little crisper and the leaves will begin to change colors and fall. As the days get shorter and cooler, it's important to keep on top of our wellness routines, adjusting as necessary to meet the changes in the weather, our schedule, or life in general.

If this is your first visit to the monthly Working Towards Wellness thread or you've been here before, welcome; we're so happy you stopped on by. Please feel free to stay and check out the thread as oft as you'd like and join if you're interested. If you're back for another month of wellness bingo, welcome back! Looking forward to seeing what everyone, new and returning, has and will be doing this month as part of their wellness practice.

We're each on our own personal self-care journey. If you're like me, that journey varies - some days 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, and the members of this Community. Wellness takes work - let's do the work together, BIC!

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.

• Description of Activities. For more information or examples of the activities described in each square, check out ➡️ September BIC Wellness Activities

Posting: 

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.

Spoiler

@ather @blackkitty2014 @byme4u @caitbird @CorgiMommy @curlychiquita @danielledanielle @jaaayp  @Mellmars1185 @PDXXXX  @peculiarzmakeup @PrettyPaint @Samtian If I'm forgetting someone, I apologize. I'll try to tag more later. Feel free to tag others who you think may be interested. Thanks to folks who have inspired some of this month's new self-care activities by your suggestions and previous posts.

Also, for those who have been participating in these wellness bingo activities, consider posting your favorite or newly discovered self-care activities to the September is National Self-Care Awareness Month - Share your go-to self-care activities! thread as a way to give  folks, new and long standing to BIC, some real, practical ideas of how to look after our wellness. Having tools at our ready is a good thing when it comes to looking after our well being.

[itsfi]

Last check-in for me for this month.

Week 1 = green

Week 2 = yellow-ish

Week 3 = red/purple 

Week 4 = brown 

I've been nursing a cold for the last week-and-a-half so between all the soup, orange juice and water I've consumed, I feel pretty confident with the seasonal fruits & veggies and stay hydrated squares. I spent some of my down time checking off a few things from my health care maintenance list, too. I was also able to put together some ideas for balanced (and varied) meal plans for the fall with some healthy snacks as well as some indulgences, and have focus(ed) on eating well or just eating things other than mostly liquids since feeling better. 

Before being down and out for a few days, my work on joy focused primarily on how and with whom I spent my time, with much of it spent offline; getting outside and getting in some extra movement in the form of stretching, exercise and outdoor walks; drawing boundaries; limiting time with things and people who are not healthy to be around; etc. 10% less time online from the week prior, that's not so bad. 

After the second day lying on the bed, I decided to multi-task and spent some time brainstorming some creative - arts - crafts - hobbies projects I want to devote (more) time to in the fall. Also had time to try out some photography techniques and to put the finishing touches on October's wellness board. Now, to work on wrapping up those activity descriptions. 

Free space: I did a couple of things for my "free space" square. First, my summer toe nail polish has (finally) been removed - I did it @PrettyPaint! But I see that I forgot to mark it on the board. 🙄😝 Gonna let my toenails "breathe" and keep them free of polish for a while (read: I'm too lazy to do them and don't have any place to be where I'll be wearing open toe shoes). I also have been shutting down my electronics and getting to bed a little earlier a couple of nights this week, and using some of that time to reach for some of the tools in my collection. Using some of my tools is part of my Shop Your Stash / Use Your Stash Challenge: Fall 2025 🍂🍁  and I was trying to pare down which of my tools I wanted to focus on this season. Lately, I've been reaching for this Cold Massage Roller Ball by Japonesque which I was kindly gifted by a very generous friend. This came in handy during the heat wave both to cool down and loosen up some knots at the base of my neck. I'll post more details about it later this week on the It's Tool Time - The BIC Beauty Edition thread. 

Treat yourself after you complete all 3 "focus" activities: Went to lunch with a friend that I haven't seen for some time. The "treat"ing myself came in the form of me taking time to get out for and letting myself be treated to lunch. It was nice to get out (especially with having been indoors for a few days) and good to catch up.  

Self-Care Bucket List: Finally put together a list that I feel is realistic, doable and a good one for me to work on through the end of the year. 

1. Digital Detox Days - 📵 one day every month with usual caveats of allowing for checking phones & using them when necessary (e.g., GPS, etc.) (9.2025 - 12.2025) - I shared this goal with a friend who is on board to join me in this endeavor. We'll be checking in monthly to keep each other accountable. It's good to just unplug sometimes, and so often needed. 
2. Weights - 2x weighted vest + 2x free weights or machines / week - the walking with a weighted vest should be easier to remember to do <<said after she moves the weighted vest closer to the seat by the front door>>; the free weights, I'm going to have to work on coming up with a routine for ramping up the weights. 💪 
3. Journal or have a quiet time every day for 30 consecutive days, doesn't have to be a long quiet time or journal entry, but just want to try to develop a consistent practice of it. I've included an either or of either journaling or having a quiet time as I find both restorative and cathartic in their own ways, and 5 minutes of QT or jotting a few words down in my journal. ✍️
4. Focus / tie up loose ends on a couple of personal projects I have up going on - there's been a few things I've just been stop-go on for far too long and I want to make more progress on a couple of them, so I'm pushing myself by putting this on to my self-care bucket list. 🗒

Write down 3 things you appreciate about yourself: ☑️ I focused the 3 things on areas that I don't often focus on when it comes to self-appreciation. Wasn't the easiest of activities - the coming up with 3 things or 3 areas wasn't  necessarily the challenging part, it's the saying it, or writing it down, that felt a little strange - not because they're untrue but perhaps because they haven't been so explicitly acknowledged before and that made it unfamiliar, though no less needed or beneficial.  

Have a seasonal drink: ☕ Before I caught the cold, I was trying out and tweaking a few recipes for a cozy cup of cinnamon apple coffee. I hadn't had much of anything but water and OJ so I gave it a try after a few days of being better and being without coffee! Did it while spending some time journaling, too (yaaaay, self-care bucket list in action!!) - it hit the spot - warm, cozy and autumnal. 

Alright, board cleared. I'll continue to work on my day-to-day self-care from now until the end of the month. I discovered some self-care activities this month that I'd like to incorporate more regularly into my wellness routine this fall so we shall give those a go beginning ... well, beginning now. No time like the present, right?!

October wellness board will be up a week from today, on October 1.  Until then, keep posting your September activities here. 

Happy fall, wellness warriors! 🍂🍁

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi I'm so sorry you've been sick. I'm glad you kept yourself hydrated and were able to try out some photography techniques. Also, I'm so impressed you removed the toe nail polish. I can't say the same for myself. It looks so terrible, but I'm almost thinking it's not worth getting out the polish remover because it's so grown out. That cold massage roller ball looks really cool! 

[itsfi]

Thank  you @PrettyPaint; all good now. It was inevitable - I was in a few places where I was around people who had colds or were themselves around people with colds. It was a good reminder too that sometimes it's better to just rest. But I gotta tell you, I got a little antsy just not doing much; hence, removing my toe nail polish, hahahaha! This little massage ball knick knack is pretty handy. I tried it the other day on my calves after a long-ish (more -ish than long) walk and it, and some stretching, did the trick. I just posted a little more deets on it to the It's Tool Time - The BIC Beauty Edition thread.

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi I'm so glad that you're feeling better and allowed yourself to rest. I'll definitely check out your post about the massage ball tool. I would never had thought to use it on my legs. My calves are actually really sore right now from weightlifting...haha. 

[itsfi]

You're strong!! Good for you for lifting weights @PrettyPaint! And for doing weights where you are sore. I use the weights on the lower end of the spectrum, hahahaha! Arms, legs, doesn't matter. The little pin thingy is always near the top with the lighter weights/lbs. I'm always having to pull it out from the heavier weights/lbs that people who use the machines before me lift.

Yeah, I was lazy one day and didn't want to/was too sore to get off the couch to grab the bag of peas from the freezer to put on my calves 🤣 and this little gadget was on the side table so I was like "hmmmm, I wonder ... " and it worked!! 

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi I'll definitely need to give it a try. I've done weightlifting for a long time (since high school), so it definitely takes a while to get up there with the weights. 

[caitbird]

@itsfi  wow, awesome job, you checked off the whole board! 🎉👏 Sorry to hear about your cold, I hope you're feeling better! Great job making your wellness work for you, even when you're not feeling your best.

Do you have an app that helps you keep track of screen time? I really need to get better at detaching myself from my phone more often 😅 good for you for cutting down on your screen time!

I'll try to check off a few more wellness activities and post one more update here before the end of the month. Looking forward to October's wellness board! 💜

[itsfi]

@caitbird, it was actually easier to work on wellness activities when I was sick, in the sense that I had more time and it good to have something to do other than just lying on my back. Ha! Though, there is some form of wellness / self care to just being still. I will say that it gave me opportunities to break my then win streaks or personal best records for consecutive wins for Connection games and for Wordle. 😉

I don't have an app for tracking time off my phone other than whatever it is that's already on my phone, probably part of a Microsoft feature connected to some product I had for work? If I do anything, I might block time on my calendar for a digital detox, so that nothing gets scheduled over it. Starting off small helped - when I went to a cafe, instead of being on my phone, I'd bring a book. Or, use my Kindle - technically an electronic but I permitted it as I was using it to read a book. Started with 30 minutes, then would find other activities to do for an hour, or multiple 30-minutes activities, etc.

[Samtian]

We'll see if I can hit that digital detox before end of month haha.

* Date myself- I was originally not going to do this one. But I saw Bourne Identity was playing at the local theater for like $2.82 so I had to go. I love the Bourne movies and never seen any of them in theater. Also went and got some fudge from a local company (better go get that out of my car now that I think about it), went and got a malibu sandwich and cherry iron port shake as well. 

Spoiler

[itsfi]

Yasssss!!!!! Marvelous work @Samtian

I'm so happy you decided to go for it! Oh my goodness - $2.82!! Ummmm yeah, you definitely had to. In fact, you may have to take yourself out again if there's another good movie for that price! 

I had to look up what's a malibu sandwich and while it looks good, we're in a heat advisory here so that shake is  sounding so much better!!! 🤣 

Go for another bingo, samtian! You got this!!! Lots of options for your next B-I-N-G-O - there's digital detox ... break out the good stuff ... write 3 things you appreciate about yourself ... new season, learn / do something new ...

P.S. I'm gonna have to show my hair guy your 'do - that's what I want my bangs to look like!

[Samtian]

@itsfi I had no idea until I looked at the app and saw it and was like WHAT?! 

What is a heat advisory 🤣 They are so good. 

Those bangs are so thick! I can't remember which wig it was. I think the cut for them starts clear on the opposite side. 

[itsfi]

Those bangs look gloriously thick @Samtian! I don't have enough hair and my strands are far too thin to make that 'do happen but ohhh, the bangs are so pretty! And that lip color looks very lovely on you as well! 

[caitbird]

@Samtian  great job! That sounds like a fun solo date, I hope you had fun!

[Samtian]

@caitbird Thank you, I did!

[danielledanielle]

I'm so glad you did that, how did you like seeing it on the big screen? @Samtian 

[Samtian]

@danielledanielle Thank you me too! It was great and loud haha. Only me and one older guy with a cough so I can't complain too much. 

[caitbird]

This past week or so has been a real rollercoaster, mentally and emotionally, but I did manage to check off some wellness bingo squares since I last posted to this thread. I even got a couple bingos! 🎉

💜 date yourself: I treated myself to lunch at Panera & a little shopping at TJ Maxx afterward, does that count? 😅

💜 work on joy: I have been trying to be present and appreciate the little things in life. It is a work in progress, but I'm trying. Also shout out to the pets (Fabian, Frida, and Sunny) for giving me joy every day 🐱🐱🐶

💜 quiet time, meditate, journal, breathe: I did a little journaling, and I have been trying to work on mindfulness and self improvement more. Again, it's a work in progress.

💜 break out the "good stuff": I am wearing a really cute dress today that I got at TJ Maxx a while back, even though I didn't have anywhere to go today. No regrets - I can't remember the last time I felt this cute!

💜 focus on eating well: I am trying to slowly but steadily work on eating healthier, and hopefully losing some of my extra weight. Trying not to binge eat, to eat less sugar, be aware of portion control, etc. Another work in progress, but I think I'm doing better overall, at least recently.

💜 focus on going to bed on time: this is a tough one for me, as my sleep schedule has been, historically, a hot mess 😂 but I have been trying to do better, and I think I'm succeeding, at least a little bit. Baby steps!

💜 take a walk: my parents went to see a show in a neighboring state and stayed overnight, so I was on Sunny duty while they were gone. We got a couple of nice walks in! 

Here's my parents' favorite child:

💜 practice gratitude: today I wrote down 3 things I am grateful for. I'll try to do this more often.

💜 write down 3 things you appreciate about yourself: I did this too. It was really difficult for me, with how I've been feeling lately, but I managed it in the end.

💜 read; audiobook; podcast; blog; TV/movie: I am trying to read more fiction (since I have mostly been reading non-fiction this year so far). Right now I am working on Ninth House, by Leigh Bardugo. I am only a few chapters in, but I like it so far. It's a dark Academia type of story.

[Samtian]

@caitbird Great work! I hope things calm down soon!

[danielledanielle]

Great work @caitbird , even when you aren't feeling it

[caitbird]

@danielledanielle  thank you so much! 😊