COMING into 2024, a great way to set yourself up for a happy, healthy, and productive year is to focus on looking after your wellbeing. And a great way to do that is by adopting self-care into your day to day.
Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution, you’re looking to beat the January blues, or you just want to pamper yourself, self-care is so important, but it can be hard to know where to start. To help you get started with your care journey in 2024, here’s a list of basic and easy self-care tasks.
Count those Zs
We all know that seven to eight hours’ sleep is recommended every nght, but we are all guilty of being up late and getting up early when things get busy. Sleep is definitely something I’m guilty of putting on the back burner when the proverbial hits the fan, but it’s vital to get the right amount every night.
Getting into bed a little earlier is definitely something you can ease yourself into in 2024. Having a set time to get tucked in and having a bedtime routine really help create a healthy sleep pattern.
There’s also loads of great smartphone features and apps that will tell you exactly when you need to go to bed and help track or advise on healthy sleep. Now start counting those Zs.
Drink more water
It’s only obvious because it’s so important. The recommended amount of water per day is around two litres. Whenever I stick to actually drinking my two litres per day, I notice such a difference in my hair and my skin, as well as just feeling mentally more alert and capable.
If drinking enough water is something you struggle with, there are loads of two-litre bottles on the market with time stamps on them that will help you track your intake throughout the day.
Get a hobby
All work and no play isn’t good for anyone’s head. A great technique to step away from the daily grind is to introduce in a hobby to your routine.
Taking up a hobby might look like re-embracing something you enjoyed as a kid, like art or reading, it could be pushing yourself to try something you’ve always wanted to do – who hasn’t constantly threatened to take up baking or dancing classes?
Making a little bit of time each week just for you is a great way to practice self-care and grounding yourself. There are loads of adult classes running for all sorts of different things around Limerick and there is nothing you can’t learn on YouTube. Get your you time in 2024.
Getting grateful
There’s been a huge focus on journaling and gratitude over the past few years, and for good reason. Writing your thoughts down on paper is an incredible way to make sense of your thoughts and feelings.
Journalling can seem like a time consuming effort, which can be off-putting in itself, but there is no right or wrong way to journal and checking in on your feelings each day is so beneficial.
Whether it’s your own Carrie Bradshaw style narrative, a mind map, buzz words, lists, or just spewing it all down on the page for a few minutes, it’s all valid.
I also love practicing gratitude every day just to bring a little bit of reflection and positivity in. Try jotting down three things you’re grateful for, each morning or and the end of the day, and see how you feel after.
Getting active
This is the scary, difficult one for a lot of people. Being active is so good for your head and a great form of self-care, but it also takes dedication. Start slow. You don’t need a New Year’s resolution to be in the gym seven days a week, it could be as simple as a five-minute stroll on your lunch break, a little bit of stretching in the morning when you wake up, a walk with a friend at the weekend, or simply adding in a little bit of movement while you’re at your desk. Move at your own pace and build from there.
Solo dates
Take my advice and bring this one in for 2024. Solo dates are a great way to practice self-care and boost confidence. Whether it’s taking yourself out for a coffee, enjoying a meal in a restaurant, or taking in a movie by yourself, there’s nothing wrong with some public me time. While we sometimes might feel a little nervous sitting in a café or restaurant alone, it’s a great way to get out of your comfort zone and treat yourself to something nice.
