Cultivating Self-Love
A 15-day self-care challenge.
by LEAH HAMDOUN ★ FEBRUARY 5, 2021
While most of us ignore the importance of self-love, it’s a key part of maintaining our mental health. With all the stress we’ve been going through, especially with Covid and politics, balancing college and a social life has been challenging. Try this 15-day self-care challenge to feel empowered and stress-free as we head back to campus!
Day 1:
Buying yourself flowers is a form of self-care that’s proven to make you feel more energetic and reduce stress. They also boost our serotonin levels.
Credit: Instagram (@itsyuyann)
Day 2:
Calling a long-lost friend can make you remember memories and promote oxytocin, which is also known as the happiness hormone!
Day 3:
Taking yourself out to dinner or sitting alone to read a book is a self-care ritual that’s very underrated. By sitting alone, you have the time to think for yourself without anyone disturbing you.
Day 4:
Listening to a podcast can boost your imagination! Try listening to uplifting and motivational podcasts to help bring intention to your day. Here are some podcast ideas:
Where There’s Smoke: Brett Gajda and Nick Jaworski
Inspire Nation: Michael Sandler and Jessica Lee
Day 5:
By making a vision board, you get your subconscious mind to attract what you truly want in order to have your dream life. Therefore, making a vision board can make you realize what your goals truly are for the future so you can focus on working toward them.
Credit: Pinterest (Amazer)
Day 6:
Hair therapy—changing up your hair every once in a while is an essential form of self-care! Getting your hair done is a confidence booster and a stress reliever, so why not go for the style you’ve always been too scared to try?
Day 7:
Getting a facial can make you feel relaxed and make you look younger. I definitely recommend occasionally treating yourself to a facial because I always feel refreshed and stress-free afterwards.
Day 8:
Going for a walk outdoors is an excellent idea for lowering stress, promoting happiness, and improving productivity. By immersing yourself in nature, you will get a natural boost of refreshment which will drive you to work better once you’re done!
Day 9:
Having a 30-minute workout will definitely improve your mood. In fact, exercising will leave you feeling happier and more stress free because it stimulates your brain chemicals!
Credit: Instagram (@shaymitchell)
Day 10:
Reorganizing your room has been proven to improve your mental health! The environment you’re in influences your mood and emotions, so declutter your room, move your furniture around, and add some plants for a little anxiety reducer!
Day 11:
Wearing a cute outfit, even for classes on Zoom, can increase your confidence and enhance your self-esteem. Even if you’re dressing up for yourself, it’s a great way to reduce anxiety and stress.
Day 12:
Unplugging yourself from social media is proven to improve mental health. Try taking a day off from the toxic comments and pressure to impress everyone. Instead, watch a movie, put a face mask on, get your nails done, or read a book!
Day 13:
Meditating for a couple minutes is an effective stress relief method! So even if you’re short on time, take a couple minutes to relax your body and mind. Also, it’s a great way to flush out the toxins building up in your mind!
Day 14:
Going for an adventure with a friend will awaken your inner child! You can go hiking, climb a mountain, or bike through the woods. Connecting with nature is an amazing way to reduce stress.
Credit: Pinterest (Renee Roaming)
Day 15:
Watching the sunset with your best friend or significant other is the perfect way to end this 15-day self-care challenge isn’t it? For some extra fun, set up a nice picnic complete with your favorite snacks and drinks.
This 15-day challenge is built to help you cultivate your self-love, while keeping depression and anxiety at bay. As college students, we know that our academics can be both exciting and stressful, so we owe it to ourselves to manage these swings by practicing self-care. I’m hoping you will find some of these ideas helpful and begin implementing them throughout your daily routine! Always remember to love yourself, let the negative pass-through, and take in all the positives.
Cover photo credit: Instagram (@itsyuyann)