Do you want to build a new self care routine for 2025?
If the new year has got you thinking about the importance of your own wellness, you’re in the right place! But why should you learn to start taking care of yourself properly?
Self care is essential, and can help you show up as your best self in all aspects of your life. It’s a key way to relax, recharge and rejuvenate – mentally and physically.
Not only is it an important tool to make you feel better about yourself, but when you recharge properly, you have more energy and focus for other tasks in your life. As such, you can see an overall increase in productivity too.
It also means that you’re showing up in positive ways, rather than taking out any stress, overwhelm or anxiety on your colleagues, friends, or loved ones. It’s a relationship builder.
Building a new self care routine is quite simple – whether it’s from scratch, or off a previous set of ideas. It largely depends on putting yourself first, and addressing your core physical, mental and emotional needs.
How you choose to address these is up to you, but I’ve put together some great starting points below!
Create a new morning routine
A new self care routine starts with switching up your morning routine, and the way in which you start your day.
One of those ways can be getting up earlier. Now, I know as well as anyone how hard it is to get up early. I love my sleep. I’ve covered an entire post on The Benefits of Waking Up Early, so trust me when I say that it can be difficult, but it makes all the difference.
You can expect to have more time for your morning routine, and more time to get things done. Getting up earlier also means aiming to go to sleep earlier, and you’ll often get a better quality sleep because of it.
Whether it’s 10 minutes, half an hour, or an hour, getting up earlier will transform your morning routine, leading to better habits in those productive early hours.
More examples to switch up your morning routine include:
- As soon as you wake up, avoid your phone for at least an hour
- Try some gentle stretches to get your body moving before the day begins
- Take 5 minutes with a hot drink of your choice, to sit and be present before the chaos of the day
Make an effort to get outside
Ensure you’re getting your vitamin D by getting outside and making the most of the fresh air.
Getting out and about in nature can to help reduce stress and anxieties, bringing you a new sense of calm and relaxation.
It can also help to improve your mood, making you feel happier and often more creative – ready to tackle new challenges in the day.
You can also utilise this for the social aspect, by meeting up with friends or family!
Then there are the obvious physical benefits as well. Whether it’s a simple dog walk in the park, or a brisk hike or a focussed run, being active is essential.
Getting outside is especially important during the darker, winter months, when you need to make the most of the sunlight available.
These months can put a real downer on your mood, so make sure your combatting this by getting out whilst you can.
That is why reassessing and adjusting your self care routine in the new year is such a good idea, as it will evolve and change as the year progresses.
Hydrate and nourish your body
Drink enough water and eat enough nutritious, good food.
You often see jokes about it being the new year, and starting day 1 off with glass of lemon water, a strict diet and a new outlook on life.
Now, I’m not suggesting you resort to the leafy diet and cucumber water. But whilst people do joke about this, making sure you’re getting enough water and eating consciously and healthily is crucial.
You need to hydrate, your body needs the fluids. So there’s nothing wrong with adding something like lemon, cucumber or mint to add a new taste.
Many of these can also have benefits in their own right, such as lemon helping with digestion, or cucumber contributing towards good skin.
So the next time you see a jokey post about starting the year with a hot lemon, remember that there is some merit behind it!
Treat your skin
Stereotypical self care is just as important as some of the other points in this post.
After all, when people think of self care, they often think about face masks, candles and bubble baths. But these are essential! Giving yourself that time to relax and chill out is as important as anything else on this list.
Whether it’s a hydrating face mask, a relaxing bubble bath, or a nourishing new body moisturiser, taking the time to treat yourself and your skin is key.
A small treat I’ve also been enjoying for my skin is the Twinings Glow Tea, particularly in the evenings. Anyone who knows me knows I don’t like tea. However, I’m loving this one for its delicate strawberry flavour.
It also includes biotin, which is said to contribute to the maintenance of normal skin and hair. I’m not saying that it’s a scientifically proved fact that it will help your skin, but it’s a nice treat to enjoy in the evenings. Better yet, it helps me to relax.
So take the promises with a pinch of salt, and if anything, simply enjoy the flavours as part of your time to rest and relax, with a nice face mask and a candle.
Practice positive thinking and gratitude
Finish your day with some positive thinking, intentions and gratitude.
Remind yourself of the joys in life by reflecting on your small wins in the day. Journal your intentions and speak your ideal reality into existence.
This will help you to reframe your mind and recognise the great things in your life, rather than focusing on the negatives.
The Five Minute Journal is an incredibly useful tool for daily gratitude – it really does take just 5 minutes, and has helped me reframe my mindset on life completely.
But you also don’t need a specific journal to do so, a plain diary or even your phone notes will do the trick.
The important thing is getting your thoughts and feelings out of your head, so you can reflect and start the next day with a fresh mindset.
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