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Self Care in a New Year

Wellness goals for 2021

By Lisa StewartPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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2021 is a year in which we are all hoping for transformative change, and let’s face it- the bar is set pretty low. So there’s a good chance that we can set some achievable goals and fulfill them, because after the dumpster fire of 2020, it feels good to want to feel good. A fresh start sounds amazing, and since this is a time where stereotypical New Year's resolutions are set (and often discarded) it might be a good time to consider a new approach to fresh start goal setting for 2021.

One thing that I found solace in during this pandemic was self care. What was once important became critical. What self care means for one person can differ from what it means to another. But generally, self care consists of maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself, giving yourself the care you need to be able to continue on being you.

We have all seen the memes or heard the expressions about only being able to care for others if we care for ourselves first...or that we can not pour from an empty cup... and these sayings are true, regardless of what you do in life.

Self care activities can mirror resolutions, which makes the goal of continued self care align nicely with the new year. Practicing mindfulness, prioritizing sleep, focusing on a healthy body, healthy diet- all forms of self care that can also fall under the umbrella of goals we can set with the emergence of a new year.

It’s more important than ever to improve our physical, mental and emotional health right now. A healthier lifestyle with increased self care can help our immune system, and be a protective factor for our mental well being. It can also result in achieving a healthier relationship with food and consequent weight loss and better overall health.

If we focus on cooking healthy foods as a form of self care, preparing meals in a meaningful way, we can enjoy the process and nourish our bodies. If we live with family, we can spend time together cooking and eating, savoring the new ways that we approach mealtime and togetherness since the pandemic changed our views. Mealtime can be savored, stretched out and enjoyed to the fullest. Even better if we can incorporate healthful inclusions such as rainbows of vegetables, complex and delicious oils and miniscule yet divine dark, dark chocolate nibbles.

Anxiety is a particularly savage beast, and the pandemic has wreaked havoc on a lot of people who already struggled. By practicing mindfulness, we can help get through these rough times by meditating, practicing breathing exercises and being kind to ourselves. Exercise in the form of a brisk walk can do wonders for anxiety- I know because it has saved me from my worst panic in the past months. Being out in the fresh air, moving, appreciating nature- all lower cortisol and reduce stress.

Taking the time to breathe, feel gratitude for what we have (including some extra time cuddling with our pets) are ways we can practice self care throughout the day without even thinking about it. This new gift of time, slowing down and approaching our environment from a new lens can all help facilitate a renewed sense of appreciation and joy in meeting ourselves exactly where we are, and taking the opportunity to bask in all we have surrounding us.

Whether or not I would be making changes in the new year was less important than the awareness that self care is an ongoing practice that can be picked up anytime and can be life changing (and saving) even if done in small steps. Just being open to acts of self care is an amazing resolution, and I hope others embrace it as we move toward a brighter future.

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About the Creator

Lisa Stewart

Lisa is an emerging author and MFA candidate at Emerson College. She writes experimental fiction, poetry and dabbles in the supernatural realm. She was born and raised in Central NY, but her heart belongs to no earthly place.

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