Are you hoping for a calm December this year? This free self-care advent calendar is bursting with ideas to help nurture your needs over the festive season.

This year is set to be a Christmas like no other. Wherever you are in the world, your usual festive plans are likely to be on hold. This time of year is usually stressful enough, but now that you have to take pandemic restrictions into account, trying to please everyone could take its toll on your wellbeing.

To help keep you on an even keel this year (especially when negotiating exactly who is in your Christmas support bubble without treading on any toes!), you need to make sure you find little moments to fill your cup. I’ve created a free alternative self-care advent calendar to help you do just that.

Remember – you can only care for others if you are also caring for yourself.

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Download your free printable version at the end of this post. There are two designs to choose from and each is available with colour and black and white options:

1. Dated calendar: a landscape page with one prompt for each day in December. You can either go through the prompts on the date shown or pick whichever one you fancy each day.
2. Undated prompts: A portrait page with 31 prompts. Choose a prompt for each day and check them off when you’ve done them.

Alternative Self-Care Advent Calendar

Here’s a list of the self-care prompts in a bit more detail…

• Start a self-care journal. Write a list of things that you are proud of.
• Write a ‘to-don’t’ list. Think of all those things about Christmas that stress you out and write them down. Are any of them avoidable? Commit to not doing them this year.
• Ask for help with something.
• Buy a Christmas gift for yourself – you know that little thing that’s been on your Amazon wish list for ages that no one gets you? Wrap it up too!
• Do one thing today just because you want to.
• Get one niggly thing done today that you’ll be glad is out of the way later.
• Indulge in catching up on your favourite TV series or movie.
• Write a list of things that you love doing. Pick one to do today.
• Get creative – make some decorations.
• Book a hair appointment and get a cut that makes you feel great.
• Make or buy your favourite festive treat eat/drink it today. Savour every mouthful.
• Have a family movie night with all mobiles turned off.
• Find time for a short meditation today – I recommend Headspace, which you can try for free.
• Light a beautifully scented candle.
• Listen to a cheesy Christmas playlist and dance like no one’s watching.

• Get the ingredients and enjoy a delicious batch of mulled wine or cider.
• Go to bed early and read or listen to a great book.
• Write a letter to someone you’d love to reconnect with.
• Have a family game night – dig out those board games.
• Wear your favourite outfit.
• Go for a walk in nature.
• Find and cook a new meal you really want to try.
• Take an afternoon nap.
• Write a list of three things that you are grateful for.
• Write a letter to someone who finds Christmas time difficult.
• Reflect on your year and write a list of things you have achieved.
• Do a random act of kindness.
• Order your favourite takeaway for dinner.
• Have a social media free day.
• Plan a night out/Zoom catch up with your favourite people.
• Do a gentle yoga routine in comfy clothes or PJs – I recommend Yoga with Adrienne – she’s lovely!

I hope you enjoy these ideas and that they help you through what is likely to be a very strange month!