January is self-love month! And what better way to celebrate than to make some changes in your daily routine. Follow us on social media to follow along starting on 1/8/23, or start your self-lead journey at any time. Tag us @blossomcandw to share your challenge!
Day 1- Make a list of your strengths and good qualities. If this is hard to come up with, think back to compliments you may have received from other people. Maybe you’re funny, smart, or a good listener… maybe the food you cook is delicious. This could really be anything!
Day 2- Journal about your past accomplishments. Again, this could be anything, from big accomplishments like graduating, to smaller (but still important) wins like using a coping skill effectively when you’re upset.
Day 3- Move in a way that feels good to you. This could be light stretching, intense exercise, or even dancing in front of your bedroom mirror.
Day 4- Put on an outfit that makes you feel great. Take some extra time to get ready and do your hair and makeup if that’s something that you’re into. It’s crazy how much these little things can boost your self-confidence!
Day 5- Make a playlist of songs that make you feel confident and amazing. I encourage you to blast them and sing along!
Day 6- Do a guided self-compassion meditation. You can find one that you like on YouTube or a favorite meditation app. These should focus on helping you with being kind to yourself and treating yourself with love and care, as you would do for a close friend or family member.
Day 7- Light a candle with a scent that makes you feel relaxed and calm. Take a few moments to just breathe and be in the moment without any distractions. Maybe curl up with a good book and a warm, fuzzy blanket.
Day 8- Take a walk outside by yourself. Try to forget about your phone and just pay attention to what you see and hear around you. Maybe you see trees and flowers, maybe some animals, and maybe you hear birds chirping or the sound of a nearby stream.
Day 9- Write a letter of forgiveness to yourself. This could be about past mistakes or wrongdoings, or about how you’ve treated yourself in the past.
Day 10- Take a warm or hot bath or shower. Take notice of how soothing the sensation of the water is. You can also use a scented soap or bath bomb for added relaxation.
Day 11- Get or make yourself your favorite drink or sweet just because! You don’t have to wait for a special occasion to treat yourself (within reason). I’m personally a fan of overpriced lattes from coffee shops and gourmet cupcakes.
Day 12- Do something for someone else that will make you feel good about yourself. Go out of your way to help a coworker with a task, bring someone something that will make them smile, or do something around the house for a stressed-out partner or roommate.
Day 13- Write about different parts of your body and why you love them, not because of how they look, but because of what they do for you. For example, I love my hands because they allow me to play piano.
Day 14- Write about how far you have come and what progress you have made, as compared to a different time in your life. It can be easy to overlook our successes when we’re constantly thinking about how much we still have to achieve. Take time to reflect on how awesome you already are!
Day 15- Do an activity by yourself that brings you joy. Maybe this is playing an instrument, maybe it’s doing a puzzle, maybe it’s going to the batting cage, or practicing shooting hoops. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something that you truly enjoy.
Day 16- Make a list of things that you don’t like about yourself. Once you’ve finished that, separate your list into things that you can change and things that you cannot change. First, think about how you can accept the things you cannot change. Then, consider ways that you can change what you do have control over. I know this probably sounded counterintuitive at first, but this can really help with loving yourself! For example, if you’re ashamed of something that you did in the past, you can recognize that you can’t go back and change what’s already happened. You might tell yourself that everyone makes mistakes, and you can just try to do better in the future. Maybe if there are certain qualities that you don’t like about yourself, like being easily irritated, you can work on that by finding better ways to manage your emotions.
Day 17- Give yourself a massage. Focus on any areas of tension, like your neck, shoulders, and back.
Day 18- Make a list of positive affirmations to counter negative thinking. You can say these to yourself when you are struggling with self-love. These can be things like “I accept who I am” and “I’m becoming a better person every day”. It’s best when they’re in your own words and they’re something you can really believe.
Day 19- Do something nice for yourself. Maybe that’s going to get a manicure or pedicure (or doing it yourself), maybe that’s getting your hair cut or dyed, or getting a new piercing or tattoo. It could even be something as simple as having some time to yourself if that’s not something you get often.
Day 20- Write about someone that you look up to or admire. Consider how you can bring out their best qualities in yourself. For example, I think it’s super cool when people aren’t afraid to be themselves, despite what other people think. Because of this, I try my best to embrace what makes me unique, even if that might be “weird” to some people.
Day 21- Go to bed early, without any distractions. Make it a priority to get to bed at a time that allows you to sleep for at least 8 hours and stay off your phone and other electronics. A lot easier said than done, but you deserve enough sleep so that you’re not tired and cranky throughout the day.
Day 22- Eat breakfast. This one might sound easy, but I know a lot of people skip breakfast. It’s important to have something in your stomach to give you fuel for your day. If possible, try to sit down and eat without rushing. I know I can be guilty of eating in the car sometimes, but still… it’s a good start to the day when I am able to do this!
Day 23- Take a day off (whether that’s today or another day). I’m realistic, okay? I don’t expect that you can necessarily take off on this day exactly. However, when you’re able to, take some time off work or other responsibilities. Give yourself permission to just relax. You can go on a day trip, or you can have more of a staycation or mental health day. We all need a break sometimes.
Day 24- Schedule a medical appointment that you have been putting off. Part of loving yourself is making sure that you are taking care of yourself. You can do this by attending preventative appointments like teeth cleanings and yearly appointments with your doctor. You can also do this by scheduling an appointment to get vaccinated to prevent yourself from getting sick. Another option would be to schedule an appointment for a medical problem that you’re having.
Day 25- Consider what beliefs get in the way of self-love and challenge them. Maybe you have the belief that you don’t deserve love from anyone, including yourself. You could challenge this by reminding yourself that you are worthy even when you don’t feel like you are.
Day 26- Get rid of clothing that doesn’t fit or that you just don’t like anymore. Stop hanging onto that article of clothing that might fit again someday (but realistically hasn’t fit for a while and you know it). Donate or give away clothing that just isn’t your style or that you don’t ever wear. Trust me, you do not need it and you will feel a lot better about yourself in clothing that fits well and that you actually like.
Day 27- Set a boundary with someone in your life. Is there anyone you’re feeling some resentment towards (or another unpleasant emotion like frustration or anger)? That may be a sign that you need to set a boundary with them. Loving yourself means standing up for your needs and wants, even if that can sometimes be uncomfortable.
Day 28- Set a boundary for yourself. Boundaries aren’t just limited to other people. You can also set expectations for yourself. Maybe this means sharing more or less about yourself with certain people, or maybe this means not drinking as much because you don’t like the way it makes you feel.
Day 29- Write about your perceived flaws and how you can view them from a different, more positive perspective. For example, maybe you don’t like a certain physical characteristic about yourself, but maybe other people see it as a unique part of you that makes you special.
Day 30- Celebrate yourself by spending time with people who love you for you. Be around people who help you to be your best, most authentic self.
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