December Is Breaking Women—But This Year, We're Taking Back Control
Can we be honest for a moment? December has become the month where women pour themselves empty.
The statistics are staggering:
- Women’s stress levels spike by 44% during the holiday season.
- Depression rates increase by 38%.
- Emergency room visits for anxiety-related symptoms jump 25% in December alone.
- And here’s the kicker, women spend an average of 84 hours on holiday-related tasks while maintaining their regular responsibilities.
We’re shopping, wrapping, cooking, cleaning, organizing, card-sending, tradition-keeping, memory-making machines. We’re managing everyone’s emotions, mediating family dynamics, and trying to create Pinterest-perfect moments while our own cortisol levels are screaming for mercy.
73% of women report feeling completely depleted by December 26th. Another year of giving everything to everyone but ourselves.
This is WHY the 25-Day Self-Care Advent Calendar was Born!
Your Permission Slip to Put Yourself First (For Just 5-15 Minutes a Day)
Welcome to the 10th Annual Self-Care Advent Calendar Challenge—a science-backed rebellion against holiday burnout.
For 25 days this December, you’re going to receive one simple, research-proven habit that takes just 5-15 minutes. These aren’t bubble baths and face masks (though if that’s your thing, amazing!). These are legitimate, scientifically-validated practices that:
- Reduce cortisol levels by up to 23%
- Increase dopamine and serotonin naturally
- Activate your parasympathetic nervous system (your built-in calm response)
- Improve sleep quality by 40%
- Boost energy without caffeine
- Enhance mental clarity when you need it most
Each daily habit comes with the science to back it up, because you deserve more than wellness platitudes—you deserve practices that actually work.
Here's What You'll Get (Completely FREE):
25 Days of Guided Self-Care
From December 1-25, receive a daily email with:
- Your 5-15 minute science-backed habit
- Exactly HOW it reduces stress (the actual brain science)
- Why it works for your hormones and nervous system
- Research links if you want to geek out on the studies
Examples of what’s coming:
- Day 1: Take a 15-minute walk (reduces cortisol by 20%, boosts endorphins)
- Day 4: Legs-up-the-wall for 5 minutes (stimulates vagus nerve, instant calm)
- Day 8: Dance party to one song (floods your system with feel-good chemicals)
- Day 19: 5-minute journaling (processes emotions, reduces anxiety by 28%)
Over $4000 in Wellness Prizes to Win
This is where it gets really exciting. Local women-owned businesses have come together to spoil you with incredible self-care prizes. We’re talking:
- Spa treatments and massage certificates
- Wellness products and supplements
- Fitness classes and memberships
- Artisan goods and treats
- Coaching sessions and workshops
- And so much more!
Four weekly draws throughout December, every daily challenge you complete is an entry to win. The more you care for yourself, the more chances to win!
A Decade of Impact: What We've Built Together
Over the past nine years, this community has accomplished something remarkable:
The Power of Women Supporting Women
This isn’t just about self-care—it’s about a movement. When local female entrepreneurs heard about this challenge, they didn’t just participate, they SHOWED UP:
- 100+ women-owned businesses have contributed prizes over the years
- Thousands of women prioritizing wellness together
- A thriving Facebook community cheering each other on
- Over $15,000 in wellness prizes gifted to participants
These business owners understand the December struggle because they live it too. They’re juggling their businesses, families, and the holiday chaos—yet they’re donating products and services to help other women thrive. That’s the kind of community we’ve built.
Shop Local
Here’s something beautiful: when you join this challenge, you discover incredible local businesses you might never have found otherwise. Past participants consistently tell us they’ve found their new favorite:
- Yoga studios and fitness spaces
- Wellness practitioners and therapists
- Artisan makers and creators
- Health food and supplement shops
- Spa and beauty services
Your holiday shopping becomes a force for good. Instead of clicking “add to cart” on another mega-retailer site, you’re supporting a woman who’s pursuing her dreams, employing others, and strengthening our local economy.
The Four Pillars of Your 25-Day Journey
Our 2025 challenge strategically targets four essential aspects of wellness:
1. Physical Self-Care
Simple movements that don’t require a gym membership or equipment. Think: morning stretches that release tension, hydration habits that boost energy, or a dance break that floods your body with endorphins.
2. Mental Self-Care
Clear the mental fog with practices like decluttering one small space (proven to reduce mental overwhelm) or spending 10 minutes in nature (decreases stress hormones by 28%).
3. Emotional Self-Care
Learn to process and release emotions instead of stuffing them down. We’ll practice gratitude (boosts dopamine), connection (releases oxytocin), and boundaries (preserves energy).
4. Mind-Body Connection
Integrate practices that unite physical and mental wellness—like box breathing that hacks your nervous system or mindful eating that reduces stress-induced digestive issues.
How the Challenge Works (It’s SO Simple!)
Step 1: Sign Up (FREE!)
Registration opens November 20, 2025. Just enter your email and you’re in!
Step 2: Check Your Inbox
Starting December 1st, you’ll receive a morning email with:
- Your daily 5-15 minute habit
- The science behind why it works
- Simple instructions
- Encouragement from Jo and the community
Step 3: Do the Habit (Whenever Works for You)
No perfect time required. Squeeze it in during lunch, before bed, while coffee brews—whenever you can grab 5 minutes.
Step 4: Confirm You Did It
Either:
- Like the daily post in our private Facebook group, OR
- Simply reply to the email saying “done!”
That’s it! You’re entered into that week’s prize draw!
Step 5: Win Amazing Prizes (4 Chances!)
Weekly draws happen on:
- December 7
- December 14
- December 21
- December 25 (grand finale!)
But Wait, There’s MORE Impact… The Circle of Giving
Here’s where your self-care creates a beautiful ripple effect. While you’re taking care of yourself and discovering amazing local businesses, you become part of an incredible Circle of Giving:
The Circle of Giving – How It Works:
1. Local Women-Owned Businesses GIVE to You These incredible entrepreneurs donate over $300.00 in prizes and gifts for YOU to win throughout the challenge. They’re investing in your wellness!
2. You GIVE BACK by Shopping Local When you discover these amazing businesses through the challenge, you support them by shopping there for your holiday needs. Instead of clicking “buy” on big box retailers, you’re supporting women who are pouring their hearts into their businesses.
3. Together We GIVE to Families in Need Here’s the magic: Every time you make a purchase from ANY of our contributing businesses during December, simply tell me (email, DM, or Facebook), and I personally donate $2 to Edmonton’s Food Bank in your name!
4. The Circle Continues Your self-care → supports local women → feeds local families → strengthens our entire community
It’s THIS Simple:
- Browse our contributor list (coming soon!)
- Shop with these amazing local businesses for your holiday needs
- Send me a quick message saying you shopped with them
- I donate $2 to the food bank for EACH purchase you make
- You get great products/services AND create community impact!
No receipts needed. No minimums. Just let me know you shopped local, and we make the donation happen.
Last year, this Circle of Giving resulted in over $2,600 for Edmonton’s Food Bank.
This year, for our 10th anniversary, let’s make it even bigger!
The Healthful Hamper Food Drive: Your Self-Care Creates Community Care
Here’s something that makes this challenge even more special: The Circle of Giving extends beyond just supporting local businesses—it reaches families who need it most.
When You Care for Yourself, You Care for Your Community
Think about it: when you’re stressed, depleted, and running on empty, you have nothing left to give. But when you take just 5-15 minutes a day for yourself, something beautiful happens:
- You have more patience for others
- You make better decisions
- You have energy to help
- You naturally want to give back from a place of abundance, not obligation
Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s how we sustain our ability to care for others.
The Reality We Can’t Ignore
While we’re working on reducing our holiday stress, there’s another kind of stress devastating our community:
- 43,690 Edmontonians access food bank services every single month
- That’s more than double from just five years ago
- 37% are children under 18
- The average family visits 5.7 times per year—this isn’t a one-time crisis
These aren’t statistics—they’re our neighbors. Families working multiple jobs. Seniors on fixed incomes. Parents making impossible choices between rent and groceries.
How the Circle of Giving Helps Feed Families
Option 1: Shop Local = Automatic Giving Every purchase you make from our contributing businesses triggers my $2 donation to the food bank. Shop for yourself, shop for gifts—every purchase counts!
Option 2: Direct Donation – Make an Immediate Impact Want to help even more? You can donate directly to our Healthful Hamper Food Drive:
Every dollar makes a difference:
- $1 can provide 3 meals
- $10 can provide a hamper of fresh produce
- $25 can provide a week of breakfasts for a child
- $50 can help a family through a crisis week
100% of your donation stays LOCAL, helping Edmonton families.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
The food bank usage at record highs, your help is needed more than ever. While you’re filling your cup with daily self-care, you’re also helping fill a plate with food for those in need this season.
The Beautiful Truth
When we started this challenge 10 years ago, we discovered something profound: Women who practice self-care become MORE generous, not less. When you feel good, you do good. When you’re nourished, you naturally want to nourish others.
You don’t have to choose between caring for yourself and caring for your community. Through this challenge, you do both.
Who This Challenge Is For
This challenge is for you if:
- You’re exhausted from giving to everyone but yourself
- You want to actually ENJOY December instead of just surviving it
- You’re ready for science-backed wellness (not more “self-care” fluff)
- You love supporting local women-owned businesses
- You believe small daily actions can create big changes
- You want accountability and community support
- BONUS: You’d love to help families in need while helping yourself
A Personal Message from Jo
After nine years of running this challenge, I’ve seen what happens when women give themselves permission to prioritize their wellness:
- They stop getting sick every January
- They actually enjoy family gatherings instead of just enduring them
- They have energy left for themselves after the holidays
- They discover local businesses that become year-round favorites
- They inspire their families to practice self-care too
But here’s my favorite part: when women feel good, they do good. Every single year, participants tell me that when they take care of themselves, they naturally want to give back more. Not from obligation or guilt, but from genuine overflow.
This December, you don’t have to choose between caring for yourself and caring for others. You can do both. You SHOULD do both.
The Truth About Self-Care
Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s strategic. It’s revolutionary. And in a world that profits from our exhaustion, it’s absolutely rebellious.
When you commit to these 25 days, you’re not just improving your own health. You’re:
- Supporting women entrepreneurs who are changing our economy
- Modeling wellness for everyone watching you
- Contributing to a movement that says women’s wellbeing matters
- Helping ensure no family goes hungry this holiday season
You deserve to feel good. Period.
Ready to Join Us? Here’s How to Start:
Mark Your Calendar
- November 17th: Registration opens
- December 1-25: Your daily self-care journey
- All December: Chances to win amazing prizes
- Shop Local! & Give Back
Connect With Me
- Follow @rejoicenutritionwellness on Instagram
- Like Rejoice Nutrition Wellness on Facebook
- Email jo@rejoicenutritionwellness.ca with questions
Consider Donating
Even $1 helps feed local families- Click Here for the Secure Donation link
Save Your Holiday Shopping
Watch for our contributor list—these businesses deserve your support!
Let’s Write a New December Story Together
This is your sign. Your permission slip. Your invitation to try something different this December.
Instead of collapsing into January exhausted and depleted, what if you entered 2026 energized and proud of how you cared for yourself?
Instead of rushing through the season in survival mode, what if you had daily moments of genuine calm and joy?
Instead of giving from an empty cup, what if you gave from overflow?
The 10th Annual 25-Day Self-Care Advent Calendar Challenge starts December 1, 2025.
25 days. 5-15 minutes each day. Science-backed habits. Amazing prizes. Local impact. Community support.
This is more than a challenge, it’s a revolution in how we do December.
Will you join us? Much Love! JO