This 30 Day Self Care Challenge Printable will help you jump start your self-care journey! This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here.
Lately I’ve been looking for unique self care ideas.
Over the last few months, I’ve been exploring mental health, hobbies, spirituality, crystals and more and wanted to figure out ways I can fit that exploration into my self-care routine.
That later inspired this 30 Day Self Care Challenge!
There is no pressure to finish the full schedule. At any point, once you find a few practices that connect with you, you can stop and add them to your routine. You can also go back to this challenge anytime you need new and unique ideas.
Check out the full list of challenges below along with a download link at the end!
30 Day Self Care Challenge Printable
Day 1: Go candle sniffing
For me, going candle sniffing at Marshalls and TJ Maxx is a major event, especially when they’re on clearance! I can spend hours choosing between vanilla bean sugar or mahogany lavender cedarwood. Is Pumpkin Spice on sale??
Day 2: Create a vision board
A vision board can give you much needed insight on your future and what YOU want for yourself. You can create a 6-month, 1-year, 5-year or 10-year plan. Some goals you can focus on include: finances, career, romantic relationships, mental health, traveling, physical health and giving back to the community. This video of Issa Rae sharing her vision board really inspired this one!
Learn how to create your very own digital vision board online for free at the link below:
Digital Vision Board – Step-by-Step Guide
Day 3: Start a dream journal
Writing down my dreams has helped me process some of my emotions. Since I can quickly forget my dream a few minutes after waking up, I quickly recollect the events that occurred and write them down in my dream journal. Who did I see? Where was I? Did I have any conversations? Was I on a mission?
Day 4: Volunteer at a homeless shelter
Intentionally helping others makes everyone feel better. Some studies have also found a link between volunteering and improved physical and mental health. So many community centers, food banks and homeless shelters can use all of the help they can get!
Day 5: Complete a shadow work prompt
Shadow work is a version of self-care that helps you look deeper into yourself, your past, your surroundings and more. It’s a great way to gain insight into why you do what you do, why you think the way you think, why your parents are the way they are, etc.
Day 6: Do an activity that you enjoyed as a child
One of my favorite things as a kid was gel pens! Multicolored, glitter and bright! Think Lisa Frank. This later inspired my love for digital planning, using stickers and colorful fonts. Digital planning is one of my versions of inner child work!
Day 7: Meditate with a crystal
Harness the power of self love and healing crystals by holding them in your hand during meditation. A few awesome crystals for self-love are rose quartz, rhodochrosite and rhodonite.
Day 8: Join a pole dancing class
A Glamour Magazine editor wrote and produced an amazing piece about her experience learning to pole dance. Surprisingly, pole dancing helped her build confidence and was a form of self care in the end. Try it out and see what happens!
Day 9: Watch an ASMR video
Spend a few minutes (or hours) getting much needed tingles from your favorite ASMR video. From eating sounds to candle crackles to whispers, many people find ASMR to be a relaxing and soothing experience.
Day 10: Cook your favorite dish from restaurant
How many times have you eaten takeout and thought to yourself “I could’ve cooked this myself!” Now is your chance! Make your favorite restaurant dish yourself and throw in some healthy alternatives if you’d like!
Day 11: Go to sleep with music
Sleeping with music really helps me go to bed AND wake up in a zen mood. On the weekends, since I don’t need an alarm, I love to wake up with my favorite R&B playlist.
Day 12: Digital Plan, with stickers!
Organizing and planning your life is definitely a form of self care! You also don’t have to spend too much money or lug around a planner. Try out digital planning with your iPad at no cost additional cost with my Free Digital Planner, with Self-Care Incorporated. Free digital planning apps include: Xodo and Noteswriter.
Day 13: Repeat five affirmations in the mirror
One of the first few “homework assignments” I had to do in therapy was affirmations in the mirror. It was very weird, uncomfortable, awkward and everything else imaginable. But after a while, I got used to it and began believing my affirmations.
Day 14: Visit a metaphysical shop
Visiting a metaphysical shop was like a whole new world for me! I had so much fun shopping, choosing my favorite crystals and spending wayyy to much money. If you are exploring crystals and/or spirituality, a metaphysical store is a great place to start!
Day 15: Track A Habit
While you’re on your self-care journey, build a habit or 5 using a habit tracker! Currently I track quite a few daily habits but you can start with 1 or 2: Exercise, 30 minutes of reading, no fast food/takeout, wake up by 7am, journal, cleaning and intentional relaxation.
Day 16: Dance in your room with headphones on
When I got my first iPod shuffle over a decade ago, I loved dancing in my room, with the lights turned off and headphones on the highest volume and my doors locked, of course! This helped me release energy, gave me some alone time, and feel free without judgement.
Day 17: Buy fresh flowers
Research has shown that flowers and other plants can help cleanse the air in your room or home. One of the best feelings in the world is to deep clean your home, light a candle and set down fresh flowers right after!
Day 18: Get an astrology/natal chart reading
If you know the date, time and location of your birth, a natal chart reading can help you understand your personality better. If you feel comfortable, you can share info from the reading with your friends and family to see if they have noticed those characteristics within you.
Day 19: Follow along with a breathwork video
Some nights when I can’t sleep, I follow along with Tracee Ellis Ross’s breathwork video. This and/or yoga have really improved the quality of my sleep.
Day 20: Strike up a conversation with a stranger
Take the time to genuinely get to know a stranger. Think – Humans of New York. Have that deep conversation that you’re maybe unable to have among your group of friends. It’s easy to be in your own mind and quickly avoid social interactions, but with a little intention, you can do it. Clubhouse is one of my favorite apps to have social, political, pop culture conversations with strangers.
Day 21: Join a group fitness class
Group fitness classes really helped me catapult my fitness journey. I have (some) commitment issues and can’t stick to one workout routine. Because of that, I signed up for Classpass! Ever week I can attend yoga, boxing and versa climbing for a reduced fee.
Day 22: Schedule a solo cafe date
I’ve always imagined myself traveling to Paris, looking sophisticated, book in hand, at a locally owned cafe. However, you and I can create this experience at home. Don’t wait for the big moments to enjoy the little things. Take yourself on a date instead of waiting for friends or a significant other.
Day 23: Start a bullet journal
The creative release of a bullet journal is unmatched! You can add in your own doodles or use stickers. You can create a vision board, track a habit, organize your schedule and more! The Bullet Journal subreddit is huge and provides awesome inspiration!
Day 24: Ask your parent/guardian (s) about their childhood
One of my favorite moments with my parents is learning about their childhood experiences. My dad grew up on the beach with 10 brothers and sisters. Hearing their stories always provides me with a feeling of joy and great perspective. If you have a good relationship with your parents, guardians or older family members, ask them about their favorite childhood memory.
Day 25: End your night with a glass of wine
Wine should be consumed safely and in moderation. As I’ve gotten older and out of the party phase, I genuinely enjoy winding my week down with a glass of wine or two!
Day 26: Start a flower or plant garden
One of my best friends started a flower garden in his front yard for just a few dollars. It’s a great way to add life to your home or garden. Plants are also known to improve the air quality of their surroundings.
Day 27: Join a group on MeetUp.com
After graduating college, I became so consumed with work that I had to find a hobby. That’s how I joined my first book club on Meetup! I later joined a kayaking class on the Biscayne Bay in Miami. Meetup has helped me curate really cool experiences and I can’t wait to continue exploring.
Day 28: Smudging
Sage is known for its space and aura cleansing benefits. Many people smudge their new homes with sage before they move in, cleans their crystals with sage and burn sage during yoga. You can also smudge with Palo Santo or incense.
Day 29: Listen to a New Podcast
Recently, I’ve been branching out from my usual podcasts as I continue to explore mental health, self-care, crystals and spirituality. I listen to a wide range of podcasts throughout my day as I work. Since then I’ve learned so much about myself, the world and everything in between!
Day 30: Watch A Tear Jerking Movie or Video
Now this may be controversial, but I think a good cry is necessary. Sometimes you carry around so many emotions without even realizing it. You need to find a way to let it out. I do that by watching really sad videos on YouTube or rewatching The Titanic. If you can handle it, give it a try!
Download your 30 Day Self Care Challenge Printable here:
