Spring 30-Day Self Care Challenge (Part One)

Selfcare provides the foundation for wellness. It's not about lavish, self-indulgence, it's about intentionally caring for our body, mind, and spirit, so that we can enjoy a life well-lived and care for others.

While we know it's essential, it can also be hard to do for a number of reasons.

How hard?

Well, it takes effort, and sometimes we just don't feel like it, and when we're tired it gets harder to make good decisions. Sometimes, we don't realise the consequences of not taking care of our own health, or our inner voice convinces us that it won't make a difference or we're not really worth the effort.

These things can be hard to overcome, which is why a 30-day selfcare challenge is so useful. It gives us something simple to do each day that gets us in the habit of making selfcare a natural part of the day.

And Spring is the perfect time to the make a change for good.

You are worth the effort, there is time in your day for selfcare, and it will be worth it!

So, let's get started. Here are the first 15 ideas for our Spring Self Care Challenge. Pick one each day and get going. Your future self is going to love you for it.

ONE: Shed your winter skin with a refreshing body scrub

You can easily make a jar of your own coffee and sugar scrub. Mix 1/2 c of coffee grounds (used is fine), 1/2 c of brown sugar, and 1/2 c olive oil.

Store in a glass jar and use twice a week during the 30-day challenge. Wet you skin first and then rub down with a 2-3 tablespoons of your delightful body scrub.

TWO: Make time for tea

Tea rituals are a chance to pause, breathe, and appreciate the good in each day. If you have fresh mint growing back in the garden, make yourself a pot of the most delicious mint tea.

Gather 1/4 c fresh mint leaves, wash, and roughly tear them with your hands. Place the leaves in the teapot and add 2 c of boiling water. Steep for 5 minutes and then strain. Add a dash of honey if desired. Breathe deeply and enjoy.💚

THREE: Plant some seeds for your future self

Now is a great time to sow pea seeds for a lovely addition to your summer salads. Grow them around a teepee for a pretty addition to your kitchen garden. Your future self will love you for it!

FOUR: Find a quite space and read (even if it's only 5-minutes)

Reading is a wonderful way to unwind and let your body rest. New books are great, but digging out an old favourite can be super refreshing too.

FIVE: Walk your way to wellness

Moving your body every day with a gentle walk is a wonderful way to relax and refresh your mind. Now that the days getting longer, make a plan to walk in the fresh air each day. If you don't feel like you have the time, start with just 2-minutes, and build up from there.

SIX: Declutter a small space

Spring cleaning leaves you feeling amazing, but you don't need to do the whole house to feel great. This week start with one messy spot. Tidy a bookcase, or a bench, or a wardrobe floor. Decluttering little spaces will give you all those spring clean feels.

SEVEN: Make some yummy Cacao Bark

This is easy and super delicious. To make Cacao Bark, melt together:

1/2 c coconut oil
1/4 c cacao butter
1/2 c cacao powder (or cocoa powder)
1-2 Tbsp nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, sunflower)
Pinch of Himalayan salt
1/4 - 1/2 c honey, maple, or rice bran syrup (start with 1/4 and taste)

Pour onto a dish lined with wax paper. The larger the dish the thinner the bark. I use a 27 x 15cm slice tin.

Place in the freezer and then sprinkle with 3 Tbsp of chopped nuts and/or dried fruit (freeze-dried raspberries look amazing, but cranberries are my go-to). Freeze for at least 20 minutes before breaking up. Store in fridge or freezer for as long as it lasts.👌

EIGHT: Get kombucha brewing

Kombucha is a slightly fizzy fermented tea. It's probiotic-rich with healthy microbes that can help our digestive system. And you won't believe how popular it is!

In 2018 global sales for kombucha hit almost US$1 billion, but it's super easy to make at home. You make Kombucha from 4 ingredients - water, black or green tea, sugar, and a scoby (a pancake shaped colony of living bacteria and yeasts).

Tell me more ...

Every time you make kombucha your scoby should develop a new layer, which you can remove and gift. If you don't have friends with a spare scoby, then you can make your own from 500mls of Daily Organics Kombucha.

To make your own scoby, use a one litre jar, add 1 cup of room temperature black tea mixed with 2 tablespoons of sugar to 500mls of Daily Organics Kombucha. Cover tightly using cheese cloth or a handitowel and a rubber band. Leave in a warm place, out of direct sunlight for 30 days. You should see a mushroom-like pancake form on top. You can then use that scoby and 1.5 cups of the liquid to start your first brew.

What's the best kombucha recipe?

My favourite recipe mixes 12c of hot water, 6 black tea bags, 3/4c of organic sugar together in a 4 litre glass jar. After 20-minutes you remove the tea bags and let the liquid cool to room temperate. Then add 1.5c of your kombucha starter and the scoby, cover tightly with cheese cloth and store in a warm place out of direct sunshine. Brew for 7-14 days. Start testing it after 7 days. You don't want it to taste like vinegar, but you want it tasting like sugar water either.

You then remove the scoby, keep 1.5 cups of the liquid for your next brew, and refrigerate the rest. Easy!

NINE: Herb up your salads

In the last couple of weeks, I've seen our mint, parsley, and coriander all spring back to life in the garden. These are a fantastic addition to coleslaw and salad. This Be Pure Green Slaw recipe uses all three, and it's super delicious.

TEN: Sow some greens

Now is a great time to get the greens growing in your garden. September's a great time to be sowing rocket, spinach, NZ spinach, lettuce, and spring onions. Your salads are going to be amazing.

Adding salads to you lunch and dinner is an easy win for wellbeing.

ELEVEN: Work on your habits

If you haven't read Atomic Habits yet, I highly recommend. Spring is a great time to prioritise the things that make life beautiful.

TWELVE: Maximise the delight of avocados

Avocados are fantastic food for wellbeing. They're nutrient dense and super satisfying. Adding half an avocado to a morning smoothie is an easy way to make a quick breakfast sustaining.

For a delicious morning smoothie blend 1.5 c of water, 1 c frozen blueberries, 2 scoops Nuzest vanilla protein powder, a large handful of washed greens, half an avocado, and a heaped teaspoon of Maca. Delish! 👌

THIRTEEN: Take time in the sun

As the sun comes, take your meals outside. There are lots of benefits from eating outside - it feels more relaxed, you get the benefits or sunshine and fresh air, and the food always tastes better outside!

FOURTEEN: Breathe life into your bedding

Sleep is one of the seven pillars of wellbeing, so keeping your bedding well aired + fresh can make a world of difference.

During our sleep we exhale and sweat moisture and airing our bedding can help dry this moisture out.

For a daily airing, open the bedroom windows and pull back the covers while you get ready for the day. An hour of airing will freshen things up, and then on a sunny day hang your duvet and pillows outside to get a breath of fresh air (even mattresses appreciate sometime in the 🌞).

Nothing beats a well aired bedroom and fresh sheets for a refreshing night's sleep.

FIFTEEN: Bring the outside in

Pick fresh flowers and bring them inside. What’s blooming right now? Daffodils, magnolias, plum blossoms, alstroemerias.

They all make lovely bunches for bringing natural beauty inside. Mint and rosemary are my favourite ways to add green foliage to a vase. They look beautiful and they smell beautiful.

And that's it my friend ...

The first fifteen days of the Everkind 30-day Spring Self Care Challenge.

The best way to use this challenge is to focus on each day. Pick one care idea and do it. It's okay to pick your favourites more than once. We're aiming for progress not perfection here, and if you feel cared for today that is all that matters!🤗

Enjoy.xx