Last updated: October 2026
A wellness advent calendar swaps chocolate for 24 small acts of self-care, one for each day from 1 to 24 December 2026. You can buy one or make your own with simple daily ideas: a morning walk, an early night, a warm drink, a phone-free evening. Here’s a free 24-day plan.
Below: our free, printable 24-day wellness advent calendar for 2026, extra self-care advent calendar ideas, how to make a DIY wellness advent box as a gift, and what to put in it.
Our free 24-day wellness advent calendar
One small thing a day. Most take 10 minutes or less. Day 1 is Tuesday 1 December 2026 and day 24 is Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December 2026.
| Day | Today’s self-care |
|---|---|
| 1 | Get outside in daylight for 10 minutes before 10am |
| 2 | Drink a glass of water before your first coffee |
| 3 | Go to bed 30 minutes earlier than usual |
| 4 | Message a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while |
| 5 | Swap your evening scroll for a book |
| 6 | Take a 20-minute walk without your phone |
| 7 | Make a warm, low-caffeine evening drink: a herbal tea or a healthy hot chocolate |
| 8 | Write down 3 things that went well today |
| 9 | Try 5 minutes of slow breathing with a long out-breath |
| 10 | Cook a meal from scratch with plenty of vegetables |
| 11 | Have a warm bath or shower an hour before bed |
| 12 | Have an alcohol-free evening. See alcohol-free nightcaps |
| 13 | Stretch for 10 minutes |
| 14 | Clear one small space: a drawer, your desk or your inbox |
| 15 | Plan your festive week so nothing lands at the last minute |
| 16 | Turn notifications off after 8pm |
| 17 | Do something kind for someone else |
| 18 | Eat a handful of nuts or seeds. See foods high in magnesium |
| 19 | Massage your shoulders, neck or feet with a balm or oil |
| 20 | Spend time in nature: a park, woods or the coast |
| 21 | The longest night: dim the lights and have a cosy, early evening |
| 22 | Say no to one thing you don’t need to do |
| 23 | Write a thank-you note |
| 24 | Wind down for Christmas Eve. See how to sleep on Christmas Eve |
Our pick: Reishi Cacao is a hot chocolate made with reishi mushroom extract, cacao and maca. It contains a little natural caffeine from the cacao, so it suits earlier in the evening.
Add Reishi Cacao to bag See ingredients and reviews
Vegan and made in the UK. Free UK delivery over £45, 14-day returns on unopened items.
How to print and follow the plan
This is a wellness advent calendar for the UK winter, built around short days and a busy month. To use it:
- Print this page (Ctrl+P on Windows, Cmd+P on a Mac, or Share then Print on a phone) and stick the table on the fridge.
- Tick each day off as you go. Missed one? Do it tomorrow or skip it. There is no catching up.
- Swap any day that doesn’t suit you for one of the ideas in the next section.
- Do it with someone. A partner, friend or colleague makes it easier to keep going.
| Week | Dates (2026) | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tue 1 to Sun 6 Dec | Light, water and earlier nights |
| 2 | Mon 7 to Sun 13 Dec | Wind-down habits and movement |
| 3 | Mon 14 to Sun 20 Dec | Calm, kindness and nature |
| 4 | Mon 21 to Thu 24 Dec | Rest and a calm Christmas Eve |
Day 21, Monday 21 December 2026, is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the UK, so it is a good night for a cosy, early evening.
More self-care advent calendar ideas
Want to swap a day, or write your own cards? Here are more self-care advent calendar ideas, grouped so you can mix and match.
- Body: a 10-minute stretch, an early night, a lunchtime walk, a warm Epsom salt bath, a home-cooked soup.
- Mind: five minutes of box breathing, a page of a gratitude journal, a puzzle, a podcast walk.
- Home: fresh bedding, a tidy bedside table, candles on, screens off by 9pm, in the spirit of hygge.
- People: a phone call instead of a text, a coffee with a neighbour, a card to someone who might be feeling lonely at Christmas.
- Treats: a favourite film, a new tea, a hot chocolate by the window, a lie-in.
For a year-round list, see our 50 simple self-care ideas.
How to make a DIY wellness advent calendar
- Pick a base: 24 small envelopes on a string, a box with 24 compartments, or numbered paper bags.
- Write the daily ideas above on cards, one per day.
- Add a few small treats on weekends: a tea bag, a bath soak, a candle, a sachet of hot chocolate.
- Put the bigger gift behind day 24 or 1.
- Personalise it. For her, him, a partner or a friend, match the ideas to what they enjoy.
DIY wellness advent box (a gift idea)
A wellness advent box is a gift box with 24 small wrapped parcels or cards inside, numbered 1 to 24. It can cost very little if you mix free ideas with a few treats:
- 18 idea cards: copy days from our plan, or write your own.
- 5 small treats: a tea bag, a face mask, a lip balm, a candle, a sachet of bath salts.
- 1 bigger gift for day 24: a full-size hot chocolate, a balm or a book.
Wrap the parcels in brown paper, number them with a pen, and pack them in a shoebox or gift box. Hand it over by 30 November so it is ready for 1 December. For small items to fill it, see our wellness stocking fillers.
Making one for someone who sleeps badly or feels run down? See our sleep gifts and wellness gifts guides.
What to put in a wellness advent calendar
| Type | Ideas |
|---|---|
| Evening wind-down | Herbal tea, hot chocolate, a bath soak, an eye mask |
| Pampering | Hand cream, a massage balm, lip balm, a face mask |
| Mind | A gratitude card, a puzzle, a short book, a journal |
| Move | Resistance band, walk route, yoga video link |
| Connect | A voucher for a coffee together, a handwritten note |
For the big day, a full-size gift works well. Our Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex is a cosy evening hot chocolate, the Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex is a berry bedtime drink, and the CBD Balm is lovely for a shoulder or foot massage. The reishi hot chocolate contains a little natural caffeine from the cacao. See bundles for gift sets, and our Black Friday sale (27 to 30 November 2026) if you are buying the day-24 gift early.
The FSA’s 10mg a day figure is precautionary advice rather than a legal limit, set while longer-term safety research continues. At Evopure we think it is a very cautious figure, and many adults use more. If you go above it, increase slowly, and check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
Buying one: what to check
- Full-size or minis? Check how many items are full size.
- Value: compare the price with the items you’d actually use.
- Ingredients: check for allergies, especially nuts and fragrances.
- Supplements: check doses and that they’re suitable for the person, and avoid giving supplements to anyone pregnant or breastfeeding without checking.
Why December needs it
December is busy: late nights, more alcohol, shorter days and money worries. Small daily habits help you keep sleep, energy and mood on track. See Christmas stress, the winter blues and seasonal affective disorder.
Related guides
- See also our wellness stocking fillers.
- Gifts for someone with anxiety.
- For year-round ideas, see 50 self-care ideas.
- Hygge: making winter cosy.
- If you would rather give one thoughtful present, see wellness gifts for every budget.
- Slot in a hot chocolate day or two: our hot chocolate gifts guide has a homemade jar recipe.
- Prefer one big gift to 24 small ones? Our self-care hamper guide shows what to include and how to post it.
- For small gifts to swap at work, see our Secret Santa gift ideas.
- Making one for him? Our stocking fillers for him list has small extras that fit each day.
- For a cosy door, try a homemade hot chocolate recipe, from a brownie mug to a cherry one.
FAQs
What is a wellness advent calendar?
An advent calendar with a self-care idea or small wellbeing treat behind each door, from 1 to 24 December, instead of chocolate.
What do you put in a self-care advent calendar?
Daily ideas like an early night or a walk, plus small treats such as herbal tea, hot chocolate, a bath soak, a candle or a massage balm.
How do you make a DIY wellness advent calendar?
Use 24 envelopes or bags, add a self-care idea card to each, tuck in a few small treats, and save a bigger gift for the last day.
Is a wellness advent calendar a good gift?
Yes, especially for someone busy or stressed. A DIY one is personal and can cost very little.
When should I start a wellness advent calendar?
On 1 December, finishing on Christmas Eve. Some people start on the first Sunday of Advent, which is 29 November in 2026.
What are the dates for a 2026 wellness advent calendar?
Tuesday 1 December to Thursday 24 December 2026. Day 21, Monday 21 December, is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.
Is there a free wellness advent calendar I can print?
Yes. Our 24-day plan on this page is free: print the page, stick the table on the fridge and tick off one small self-care idea a day.
What are good self-care advent calendar ideas?
An early night, a phone-free walk, a warm bath, five minutes of slow breathing, a gratitude list, a call to a friend, a tidy drawer or a cosy film night.
What can I put in a DIY wellness advent box?
Mix about 18 idea cards with a few small treats such as tea bags, a face mask, lip balm or bath salts, and save one bigger gift for day 24.
Sources
- NHS. 5 steps to mental wellbeing.
- NHS. How to fall asleep faster and sleep better.
- NHS. Vitamin D.
- Royal Museums Greenwich. When is the winter solstice?
- Food Standards Agency. Cannabidiol (CBD) guidance.
Evopure makes the Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex, Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex and CBD Balm. We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and they’re for adults only.
