The Only 7-Day Self-Care Challenge You Need This April

Does taking care of yourself always end up last on the list? If you answered yes, then its time to change that with a 7 day self care challenge this April. It's a simple way to make yourself a priority without needing a lot of time or intense planning. The goal is not to do more but instead, focus on giving yourself the care that you deserve. Let's take it one step at a time and make self care a part of your routine in a way that feels natural.

Putting your needs before others can definitely feel weird or selfish, especially when it wasn't really a thing growing up. If it wasn't modeled or talked about, it makes sense that now, as an adult, you're doing the same thing by taking care of everyone except yourself. 

Maybe you grew up watching adults around you be extremely busy and constantly putting themselves last, and that's just how life worked.

Or maybe you think you don't deserve self-care or feel selfish for putting your own needs above others—all common reasons you might've put self care on the back burner. I am here to remind you that taking care of yourself is not selfish, pointless, or whatever else your brain is trying to tell you.

Self care is incredibly important for your brain and body. While we all struggle with practicing healthy habits sometimes, it's important to remember that your needs matter. Let's talk about how you can get started on your journey with this 7 day self care challenge. 

What is a Self Care Challenge?

A self care challenge is exactly what it sounds like- a guided challenge to show up for yourself without overthinking it. The goal is to engage in intentional actions that will help you focus on YOU for a change and teach you to unlearn old patterns by giving yourself the care and attention you deserve (because you do)!

Each day you practice a self care habit, you get to remind yourself that your needs also matter, even when you weren't taught to prioritize it before or for any reasons we talked about earlier. Just like you, I also sometimes struggle with putting myself first, and my mind and body almost instantly nudge me, saying I need to focus on myself. 

This 7 day self care challenge will help you connect with yourself in intentional ways. 

Things That Make Self Care Hard

Before you start the 7 day self care challenge, let's discuss things that can make self care challenging or hard to stick with. Whether certain beliefs or habits get in the way, self-awareness about possible barriers can help you understand your self care mindset. 

1) Self care wasn't a part of your upbringing: I don't know about you, but growing up self care was not a lesson that was taught, and if it wasn't ever shown to you, how would you know where to start? I never saw my parents really slow down to take care of themselves. The focus was always making sure everyone else was okay, so that's what I learned to prioritize. There was a lot of unlearning I am doing on this journey, and it's a constant reminder that taking care of myself is not a luxury but a basic need. 

2) You feel like you have to earn self care: We all have experienced thoughts like, "I will rest when I finish everything on my to-do list." and then we raise the bar even higher for ourselves where you feel like we haven't done enough to deserve self care. Let me be the first one to remind you that self care isn't a reward for exhaustion, but something you deserve just because you exist. You don't have to earn self care. 

3) You're still figuring out what self care looks like: Social media can sometimes make self care look like its all about bubbles, expensive spa days, a 5 am morning routine, and constant self-indulgences, which is far from the truth, but it can make it more confusing to understand what self care even looks like or makes it feel out of reach. It can be hard to know where to start if self care was never modeled for you. Self care is about doing things that help you feel good without feeling selfish or guilty.

7 Day Self Care Challenge This April

This April, take on the challenge of engaging in daily self care by taking small but intentional steps toward taking care of yourself. Every day, you will get to practice a simple but meaningful way to reconnect with your needs. Give yourself the gift of slowing down and making yourself a priority.

Daily Self Care Challenge: 7 Day Challenge Self Care Routine

Day 1: Romanticize a Simple Moment 

Most of us rush through moments of our day without really slowing down and enjoying them. The first day of your seven day self care challenge will focus on something you already do but romanticize it. 

Whether you're drinking your morning cup of coffee ( or chai), journaling, or cooking dinner, you're going to make it special by being intentional and making it just yours! Maybe that means you drink your morning coffee from your favorite mug (my personal favorite), play music while you cook, or use different-colored pens when you're journaling.

I realized I would go through my day on autopilot sometimes, and things that really bring me joy, like reading a good book with a delicious cup of coffee or enjoying a good show; I was either multitasking or not as present in these moments. Romanticizing it really helped me connect with why I am doing this activity.  

Romanticize your day by slowing down and being present with yourself. I promise you will be glad you did this.  

Day 2: Engage in an Inner Child Activity

When was the last time you checked in with your inner child and did something that made you happy when you were younger? Like watching a childhood classic movie, drawing, or going outside with no agenda but to play? 

Whatever it was, you're going to find an inner child activity to bring back on day 2. If you need some help deciding which activity to choose, I've got you covered. I have an entire post on simple inner child activities for you to pick from and try out. 

You don't need to spend hours and hours on an activity. Remember, self care is not about how long you spend time doing something, but the quality of it and intentionality of it. Even if you only have 20 minutes in your schedule, try to be as present with your activity as you can.

Day 3: Change 1 Small Thing in Your Routine

We LOVE our routines. Routines give us a sense of control and structure, which is super important and helpful. BUT, they can also keep you stuck in the same patterns and make life feel repetitive. People who struggle with rigidity and always need a sense of control also struggle when they aren't able to stick to their routines.

My sister is a classic example. She can get very anxious and ruminative when she has to step outside of her routine because she is so attached to it and the meaning it adds to her life. But when she does step out, she's almost always glad she did.

Day 3 is all about changing just one thing in your routine. Whether you eat breakfast food for dinner, go for a run instead of going to the gym, or watch a funny movie instead of a crime thriller (I know, I know)!

Little changes in our routine can make the day feel different in a good way.

Day 4: Take Yourself Out on a Solo Date

I really think taking yourself out on a solo date is one of the most underrated forms of self care, but it can be empowering. Whether you cook yourself your favorite meal (any Biryani lovers?), enjoy a sunrise hike,  journal to get to know yourself, or cozy up with a good movie and some popcorn helps build self-confidence. 

Some people think solo dates are purely about being alone, but that isn't necessarily the case. The idea is to reconnect with things that bring you joy and enjoy your own company whether someone else joins or not. You get to move at your own pace and do things that make you happy. It's entirely YOURS!

I like to do monthly solo dates, where I try to do things that make me a little scared but are also mine to experience entirely. In January, I took myself to a gym date wearing my newest gym clothes, and in February, I just focused on purchasing a few new books for myself. That's the beauty of solo dates: You get to do what you want.

When you learn to pour care and attention to yourself, you show up much more excited for other people and parts of your life. So, the next time you are feeling drained or disconnected, plan your date with the most important person in your life- YOU!

Remind yourself that your happiness is always worth investing in. 

Day 5: Prioritize Rest (Even If You Feel Guilty)

No matter how much you have been made to believe that rest needs to be earned by checking off every to-do list, being completely depleted, or needing a legit reason, rest is a basic human need, not a reward.

Rest used to be so hard for me, and I would ignore all the signs my body would send me, indicating I needed to prioritize rest, but my own beliefs and emotions would get in the way. I had to be very intentional about rest and make it a part of my routine, something that became a non-negotiable.

If resting makes you feel lazy, that's okay. We've all been there. Day 5 is about noticing the thoughts and resting anyways. Your thoughts might say you're lazy; you're not being productive by resting or thinking about all the things that need to be completed from your to-do list. 

Having these thoughts does not mean you're doing something wrong. You're just going to acknowledge them, and then redirect your attention back to resting. 

Day 6: Clear Out Emotional Clutter

Emotional clutter is anything that reminds you of a stressful or challenging period in your life. On your sixth day of the seven-day self care challenge, you are going to clear out that clutter. 

Just look around your space and notice if there is anything you have been holding on to that you don't really need. If you're anything like me, maybe start by picking one thing and tossing it or donating it. It does not have to be this dramatic deep cleanse, but also... just let it go.

When I first did an emotional clutter cleanse, I got rid of old clothing pieces that would remind me of a bad time in my life. It felt good to have a space free from old energy that wasn't serving me.

Your space should feel reflective of who you are now, not a storage unit for old energy. 

Day 7: Celebrate Yourself 

Being a cycle breaker is a lot of work, and it's work you're doing. On the last day of your seven-day self care challenge, you will take some time to acknowledge all the progress you have made so far. It is human nature to be incredibly hard on themselves when things don't go the way we want, but when it does go right because of our efforts, we write it off, saying it was luck, or don't really stop to celebrate ourselves. 

On the last day of this seven-day self-care challenge, you will think or write about how much you have grown on your healing journey.

If this is the first time you are truly celebrating yourself, you probably haven't even noticed how much you have grown tbh. Is there anything you stopped doing or noticing that you're slowly unlearning? Do any emotions feel easier to deal with? Are you managing any relationships differently?

If you can't think of anything, just take the time to celebrate completing this self-care challenge. I went to a local coffee shop near my house and enjoyed the new book I purchased.

Remember, it does not matter how small; it's all progress, no matter how small or big.

If writing about it feels like too much this week, just practice sitting with it for a moment, take a deep breath, and tell yourself, 'I see you. I am proud of you.'

7 Day Self Care Challenge: FAQ's

Let's discuss some common questions about this 7 day self care challenge. Whether you're wondering what to do after the challenge or wondering how to make it stick, you will find the answers here. 

What if I am to busy for self care?

There are some days I wish I had 30 hour days to finish everything I need to do in one day. Most of us live really busy lives, and finding time to take care of ourselves can feel like another thing you need to do. Self care is non negotiable for me because I've seen firsthand the positive effects of taking care of myself just as passionately as I take care of others. 

No one is busy 24/7, and finding time for yourself to prioritize your needs is important. Whether you need to delegate or schedule some time, making time for self care does not have to be time-consuming. 

What if I miss a day during the 7 day self care challenge?

The goal of the 7 day self care challenge is NOT perfection. Recognizing that in itself is a form of self care. If you do miss a day, don't punish yourself for the rest of the day. Acknowledge you missed a day, extend some self-compassion to yourself, and focus on the next day. 

What do I do after the challenge is over?

Once you complete the 7 day self care challenge, take a moment to look over what self care activities felt good and what you want to keep in your routine. 

Self care is definitely not a do-it-one-time thing, but about finding intentional ways to prioritizing your needs every day. You can choose to repeat the challenge or try this 30-day self care challenge. You decide the pace and what works best for you. 

How to Prioritize Self Care in a Way That Actually Sticks

In my personal experience, anytime you are trying to build a habit, you will stick to it if you enjoy the process. For example, when it comes to journaling, I look forward to journaling in the morning while enjoying my cup of coffee. I associate them together, so the likelihood of me sticking to it is high. 

When it comes to self care, the goal is to find realistic ways to make it part of your daily routine. Focus on what feels good to you and keep it simple. Taking care of yourself shouldn't be something you add to your plate but should be THE plate. 

You are allowed to take up space for yourself!

Carving time out of your busy schedule to prioritize yourself can feel impossible, but it is always worth it. These self-care challenge ideas are here to help you slow down and reconnect with yourself.

This challenge is not a once-in-a-while treat but should be part of your everyday routine in a way that feels doable for you.

Psst...save this 7 day self care challenge and take care of you this April!

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