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By Andrea Bartels CNP NNCP RNT
Registered Nutritional Therapist
08 Jan 2025
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How to Thrive in 2025: Make Self-Care a Priority
The New Year often comes with a sense of renewal and motivation to create positive change. While resolutions like "lose weight," "save money," or "get organized" are common, one resolution that deserves a top spot on your list is self-care. Prioritizing self-care in 2025 can improve not just your mental and physical health, but also your relationships, productivity, and overall quality of life. Doing so can free up more energy for creativity and the brain space to be present for others. Here’s a framework that will help you achieve your personal goals this year, along with some ideas to get you started:
How to Make Self-Care Your Resolution
- Start Small and Be Specific
Instead of a vague resolution like “take better care of myself,” choose tangible, actionable goals. For example, aim to:
- Take your supplements daily, at breakfast time (or other regular time).
- Engage in 10 minutes of stretching each morning.
- Read one book each month.
- Create a Routine
Habits are formed through consistency. Integrate self-care into your daily schedule. Whether it’s setting aside time for a skincare routine at night or scheduling a weekly call with a friend, make self-care a non-negotiable part of your day.
- Set Boundaries
A significant part of self-care is learning to say "no" when necessary. Protect your time and energy by setting boundaries with work, social commitments, and even family. After all, it’ll feel easier to help those we care about if you have the energy to do it.
- Celebrate Small Wins
Acknowledge your efforts, no matter how small. After sticking to your resolution for a week, celebrate by treating yourself to something you enjoy—a favorite snack, a relaxing evening, or simply a moment of gratitude.
- Be Kind to Yourself
Change doesn’t happen overnight. If you slip up, don’t be too hard on yourself. Self-care is a journey, not a destination.
Now that you have some guidelines on how to accomplish your goals, here are a few examples of popular ones with good reasons to choose them:
- Improve physical fitness. Register yourself for a weekly yoga class at your local recreation centre. Practising yoga can release tension, which could help you sleep better, which in turn could make you more productive at work. Alternatively, hiring a personal trainer will give you a customized workout plan and some accountability to reach your strength goals. Having to show up for your session can be key to sticking to your fitness plan.
- Take nutritional supplements daily. Pure Lab’s ThyroPure contains the five essential nutrients for a healthy thyroid - - the gland that sets the pace of your metabolism. Whether your goal is fat loss, healthier skin and hair, better immune function or stable mood, the zinc, tyrosine, copper, selenomethionine and iodine in Pure Lab’s ThyroPure provide the nutrients needed to help achieve these goals.
- Improve resilience against stress. Why? Reaching the end of the week with fuel still left in your energy tank means time for loved ones, and doing activities you enjoy. Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but finding ways to cope with it can make the difference between health and illness. To help you face stressors you can’t avoid, consider using an adaptogenic supplement—which strengthens your ability to cope with stress. Pure Lab’s AdaptaPure contains the herbs ashwagandha, rhodiola and the amino acid l-theanine which support relaxation and resilience as well as stamina. Taken regularly on top of a B complex and quality magnesium supplement, these ingredients fortify your ability to handle whatever comes your way.
- Take care of your gut. Did you eat something that upset your digestive system? Takeout food can have hidden ingredients on your list of food sensitivities, producing gas, bloating, heartburn, or irritable bowel syndrome. Cook your own meals from scratch more often and discover whole food recipes you love. Certain nutrients like L-glutamine are critical for maintaining and repairing the lining of the stomach and intestines. Pure Lab’s L-Glutamine provides free form l-glutamine for digestive, immune and muscle support to those who use it up more rapidly: strenuous exercisers, the immune-compromised, those with impaired absorption or leaky gut syndrome.
- Take steps for mental and emotional self-care. Feeling isolated working from home? Join a community group, volunteer, or reconnect with friends. In contrast, if you’re looking for alone time, turn off your screens, take a bath, visit the spa, start journaling, or simply schedule time in your calendar for hobbies you enjoy.
A Resolution with Long-Term Benefits
Life moves fast, and it’s easy to get lost in the demands of work, family, and social obligations. But neglecting self-care can lead to burnout, stress, and even chronic health issues. Prioritizing self-care means recognizing that your well-being isn’t selfish; it’s essential. When you’re at your best, you can give your best to others.
Making self-care a priority in 2025 isn’t just a resolution for the year—it’s an investment in your future. No matter what always remember why you want to achieve your goal and what it will feel like to accomplish it. By taking the time to care for yourself now, you’re setting the stage for a healthier, happier, and more fulfilled life.
References
Australian Institute of Fitness. “15 Benefits Only a Personal Trainer can Provide”. Accessed online December 18, 2024.
Chawla, Vanika. “How Yoga Affects the Brain and Body to Reduce Stress”. Stanford Lifestyle Medicine. October 2023.
Hughes, Matthew. “Personal Goal Setting”. Mindtools.com. Accessed online December 18, 2024.
Narrative Research. “Nearly one half of Canadians have made resolutions or goals for 2023.” January 26, 2023.
University of Chicago Department of Psychiatry and Behaviour Neuroscience. “17 Easy Things to Do When You’re Feeling Lonely”. March 30, 2020.
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