Self care is something I’ve really tried to embrace and focus on more in 2017. I truly believe that we need to look after ourselves and treat ourselves with the same level of love, care and respect as you would your partner, parents, pet, house plant – whoever. Of course that’s easier said than done and I’m certainly not the only one who repeatedly punishes themselves when they feel shit or have had a bad day by not eating, sleeping too much, not washing or speaking to anyone. These behaviours are damaging – there’s no two ways about it and we need to try harder to embrace positive actions when we feel bad, rather than negative ones.
So one of my goals for next year is to continue my self-care focus and try and adopt it even more thoroughly and regularly into my life. There’s no excuse not to, really and I think this year has been a good baseline for me to be able to have a good go of it next year. Imagine we have to actually plan to take care of ourselves… what a notion.
Read more
Sigh, how many times have we said this to ourselves? You’ll know by now that books are my one true love. This blog started as a book blog and my entire online business revolves around books and promoting boosk. So you could say.. I love books. But personally, I don’t use books for self-care any more and I neglect them when I’m having a bad time rather than embracing them, which is what I should be doing. Books are there to help you, be your friend when you don’t have anyone and support you when you’re going through shit. That’s what I’m intending to use them for next year and read more.
Do more yoga
2017 was the year of yoga for me. I love it and I’ve been practicing it a lot and regularly. Of course I’m nowhere near where I want to be with it at the moment – that can take years of practice but I want to continue to practice yoga, regularly and slowly up y workouts; the length and intensity and hopefully in the process get more flexible and have a clearer head and better wellbeing for it!
Do more of what makes me happy in general
I suppose reading more books and doing more yoga can come under this umbrella too but I definitely need to start doing more of what makes me happy. Nobody else, just me. I think I’ve embraced this a bit more at the end of 2017 because I’ve been blogging a lot. I’ve been really motivated and inspired with blog post ideas and I’ve been working super hard on them so clearly blogging makes me very happy, so let’s do more of that next year shall we!
Take better care of myself
And by this I mean really fucking simple things like eating better, moisturizing my skin, buying a new toothbrush regularly – like the fucking basics man. Because they make a difference and I used to spend so much time and care on myself when I was in my late teens. Looking back, you could consider it vain but thinking about it now, I just really wanted to feel my best and I’d like to adopt that 18 year old mind set back next year.
Remember to really appreciate things and be grateful
I’ve been keeping a gratitude journal for the past year; just as a little something I wanted to try and keep up, which I did, but I don’t think that’s doing much for me anymore so I need to find other ways to sow gratitude and appreciate things in my life. Even if it’s not a physical thing you can see. Appreciate the little things people!
Go for regular massages
I love going for massages and the woman that does them. she’s really lovely and I always have an amazing session and feel relaxed and rejuvenated. I’m going to keep a separate savings pot aside for massage funds and try and book one at least every 3 weeks as something to always look forward to. It doesn’t matter how many times you go for a massage, you’ll have a different experience each time!
This is great! I think self care gets so neglected when really it should be more of a priority. Yoga and Reading is definitely something I will be focusing on while also focusing on doing more stuff I enjoy. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and a great new year!
Thank you! And yes absolutely self care is so important and I aim to focus on it more in 2018! You too 😘
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Love your self-care goals! 😊
Thank you 😘
This post made me realize how much of a mess I am maybe 2018 will be the year I get my shit together
I’m sure you’re not! That’s what I’m hoping to do in 2018 too!
EDIT: Apologies if this comes up twice!
These are good goals to have! You’ve actually inspired me to come up with my own self-care goals. I’ve never had a massage before, so that’s something that I’d like to save up for and experience semi-regularly in 2018. Also, I should probably start a gratitude diary because I’m always focusing on the negatives and not appreciating what it is that I do have. And, of course, lile you, I’ll be spending a lot of time on my blog! Let’s hope 2018 is a good year for all of us. I really hope it is. x
Alicia | http://www.alifestyleblog.co.uk
Didn’t appear twice, don’t worry!
Awh I’m so glad to hear that I’ve inspired you to make your own. I did a gratitude journal for a year every day from November 2015 to November 2016 but it didn’t really work for me but it does for many people and is a great thing to try (: xxx
Ah, that’s good to hear! I hope it works (fingers crossed!) And I hope that the alternatives work for you instead! Xxx
I completely agree with the reading part. I didn’t even wait for the new year, just started with “How to Influence people and make friends” By Dale Carnegie. It is really good, Reading is so much better than audio books and video tutorials. It lets us use the most powerful graphics card ever built, “Imagination”. Nice post!
Thank you- I’m trying to get back into reading properly now too.
Reading for me (instead for uni) is also a big one on my list! And the basics *deep sigh* they can do so much for you if only you actually do them and not just, like me, think about them. I think I need a stern talk with myself and make a list or something to make the basics a real and regular thing instead of something I think about. Which is also another thing for me. Not necessarily less thinking but, you know, less thinking would be nice (so I can 1. do more of what makes me happy and 2. be more appreciative and grateful). Let’s make 2018 a good year! 😉
Love,
Dominique
http://www.fashionedbypluche.blogspot.com
The basic forms of self care can often be the hardest! We can so easily neglect ourselves xxx
My theory is that we have to feel the urge to the basics the same way we have for the games or traveling or maybe talking to others. Try starting with a book full of analogies and short stories that you can relate to as well and just start it first thing tomorrow. The book will do the rest. Once u start a good book that you can form a connection with, it wouldn’t be much different than a human being with whom you want to talk for hours.
This is such a lovely post and I totally agree, self care is so important and we should take more time for ourselves! Lovely blog hun, followed xxx
Thanks so much! (: xx
That massages one is such a good call! My back has been really troubling me recently so maybe I should take a leaf out of your book?
Go for a massage! It’ll feel amazing – mine always does when I have a bad back in particular (: xx
I’m so pleased to hear that you’re focusing on self-care for 2018. I truly believe it’s just as important to be kind to yourself as it is to others. Definitely go for more massages – they really are the best!
Anna xx
http://www.glass-shoes.com
Hehe I’m planning to book one for next week! xxx
continue therapy, maybe finish this year. maybe.
better basic care. more yoga. remind myself that I’m worth caring for. that’s a big one.
Those are very important goals!
What a great post! I love these goals and reading and yoga is definitely on my 2018 Goals list aswell!
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That’s great! I hope you get on well with yoga! xxx
This is such a fabulous list! Yoga, reading and massages are definitely my favourite things 💕. I treated myself to a hot stone massage last week and it was incredible. Self care is so important, I love that you are focusing on this for 2018 💖 xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
Oh wow I haven’t had one of those! I just tend to go for a back, neck and head de-stress massage and I’m going to book one for the first week of the new year to get it off to a good start! xxx
I am embracing self-care in my life in 2018 because I’ve neglected it a lot in my life in general, I read a lot this year so I’m going to try and top my amount next year. I wish you all the best for 2018!
I’ve definitely neglected it too at times when I really needed it unfortunately! Good luck with your reading goal!
I really need to adopt some self care methods because on days like today it’s been absolutely awful. I’m exhausted, and because of this I haven’t the energy to get out of bed to eat so I just stay in bed and starve which makes me even more exhausted. So one of the first things I’d like to do is each better! I’d also love to spend more time reading books as I used to love doing that. It’s just hard finding the time to do so…
Although doing what your body needs is also important in self care. I try and remember the basics often too so if I’m tired, I’ll nap. And if I feel absolutely dreadful for whatever reason, just making sure I get up to get a glass of water is vital xxx
Funnily enough I decided today that self-care is going to be something I will make time for next year. By which I mean pamper time: painting my nails, masking, having baths (I shower, don’t worry, I’m not dirty 😉) I spend so much time running around after Flora and Alan that I kind of forget I need a bit of TLC too. Great post, Jenny, brilliant timing for me! Xx
Lisa | http://www.lisasnotebook.com
You definitely beed a bit of TLC Lisa! Hope you can find much more time for you in 2018 xxx
I really love these goals and relate to them so much! Honestly, the basics are what I struggle with most… When I was still in college, I would sometimes take a day off (call in sick) to take care of my mental health, but since I’ve graduated I’ve been quite hard on myself. I’m definitely going to try and take better care of myself in 2018. Good luck! ❤
Take care of yourself! We all need a mental health day every now and again xxx
I am adopting reading more, journaling daily, and practicing healthier eating into my self care routine!
They all sound great (: eating healthier is definitely in mine too!
As a massage therapist I can confirm regular massages are a very good idea!! 💓🙌😘 This was a really lovely post to read 😊
Hahaha! I bet 😉 I can’t wait for my next one!
I just bought a book about self care. In this busy world we forget about that so easily
We really do. Hope the book helps!
It’s shocking really that we now have to plan ahead to look after ourselves. When did we get so busy that self-care became something we had to plan for? I plan to read more, have more Lush baths because I freakin’ love them, and not be made to feel guilty for liking things like Nintendogs!
You are SO right Aimee. It’s pretty awful isn’t it? But at least we’re realising that now. They sound like great goals. You should never feel guilty for liking those silly little things that make you happy. I absolutely adore playing Playstation 1 games like Spyro and Crash. Nothing beats it!
Great post! Definitely time to take better care of myself. I love the idea and want to take the time to create a daily gratitude journal.
Hope the gratitude journal works for you!
love this post.. i recently blogged about self care as well, check it out https://messagesofmeaning.wordpress.com/2018/01/09/message-13/
Love these goals 🙂 I’m also trying to do more of what makes me happy as life is too short not to!
Totally agree! Xxx
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Yes! All great, practical and happy-making tips!
Thank you 🙂 xx
I had same goals in 2017 luckily I followed and got results, but as 2018 started I’m losing in motivation need something to keep my self on track. What would you suggest for that
Beautiful tips 🌷🌷