April 1st marks the beginning of Stress Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the causes and effects of stress and the importance of managing it for our overall health and wellbeing.  

While stress is a natural part of life, prolonged or chronic stress can have negative impacts on both our physical and mental health. One of the most effective ways to manage stress is through self-care practices. 

Self-care is any activity that we engage in to promote our physical, mental, and emotional health and wellbeing. It’s an essential part of stress management because it helps us to recharge, rejuvenate, and refocus. When we prioritise self-care, we’re better able to cope with stress and its effects on our lives. 

Each year for Stress Awareness Month, PAPYRUS releases its 30 days of self-care calendar. The calendar, which you can find below, encourages people to factor in some time each day to look after themselves and practise some all-important self-care. 

Throughout the month, we will be bringing our social media followers a demonstration of each activity in action over on our Instagram and TikTok channels. Make sure you’re following us on our accounts to keep up to date with the series. 

We’d like to invite you to get involved in the 30 Days of Selfcare challenge throughout the month. If you want to take part this year, don’t forget to tag PAPYRUS and use the hashtag #30DaysOfSelfCare and let us know how you’re getting on. 

Here is how we will be practising self-care across the month:  

#30DaysofSelfCare plan 
  1. Spend time with friends  
  2. Try a new activity  
  3. Go for a walk in nature 
  4. Have a pamper evening 
  5. Enjoy your favourite foods 
  6. Switch off from technology for the evening 
  7. Finally get round to that book you’ve been threatening to read 
  8. Visit your family  
  9. Treat yourself to something new 
  10. Try your hand at baking or cooking 
  11. Make a new relaxation/positivity playlist for your self-care time 
  12. Workout for 30 minutes 
  13. Leave yourself notes of motivation  
  14. Say your daily affirmations  
  15. Meditate 
  16. Plant something new  
  17. Cuddle with a four-legged companion 
  18. Clean your home / tidy your space 
  19. Do something therapeutic – colouring in 
  20. Change your bedding 
  21. Make yourself feel nice – dress up 
  22. Have a lie in 
  23. Perform a random act of kindness for a stranger 
  24. Call a loved one out of the blue 
  25. Buy yourself flowers  
  26. Stay hydrated and be kind to your body 
  27. Put on your favourite feel good album and DANCE 
  28. List everything that has made you grateful this month 
  29. Watch your favourite film  
  30. Take yourself on a date 

While the calendar is designed with April in mind, we have purposely not dated the days, so that you can follow the prompts at your own pace and starting at any day. Download the Self Care Calendar for yourself and remember to follow along on social media using the hashtag #30DaysOfSelfCare. 

Don’t stress in silence, we’re here for you. If you’re aged 35 or under, and experiencing thought of suicide, call HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org Our suicide prevention advisers are available from 9am to midnight, every day of the year. We are also here for anybody concerned for a young person who might be experiencing thoughts of suicide. 

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