For many, ringing in the new year means a chance to reset and refresh. The holiday season can be hectic: kids have time off from school, the weather is getting colder, it gets dark outside earlier, and the transition to a new year can bring overwhelming feelings. There are a number of things you can do to take care of yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally. Self-care is important year-round, but this time of year it's especially important to stay healthy and happy throughout the colder months.
Self-care means different things for different things for different people and can be any action that helps maintain a feeling of calm, balance, and wellness. For you it may mean setting boundaries, movement breaks, mindfulness, or self-advocacy. Self-care is important for everyone and doesn't necessarily take an individual approach. We can create self-care routines for ourselves, our families, and our communities.
There are a few different types of self-care that are important for our overall well-being. Individual self-care is any intentional action that is done by an individual to take care of their own mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. Community self-care is intentional actions done by community members to take care of the community they live in by leveraging their privilege to be there for others. A community can include the one in which you reside, or even your school community.
Daily life, especially this time of year can be busy for all and take over the intentions of engaging in self-care. We might think about ways in which we can engage in self-care, but developing a self-care plan can help ensure we follow through and it becomes a part of our daily routines.
Some ideas for self-care for families and youth include:
- Create a family schedule
- Help youth identify what goals they have for the year and what steps they need to accomplish them
- Set up designated workspaces
A new year can bring new opportunities, and engaging in acts of self-care can help us be our best, healthiest selves so we can take charge of the year ahead!