While friends are boasting and posting about their new work-out routines or how they’re up leveling their lives this year, you might be feeling lost in a cloud of discomfort. And despite what social media may suggest, you’re not alone.
Here are three ways to do you this year, your way. No fancy work-outs or resolutions required.
Forget the gym. Focus on mindful movement instead.
- What’s that? Whatever you want it to be. As long as you listen to your body instead of the noise on TikTok, you’re doing it right. Trust me: Fitness influencers don’t know what you need as well as you do.
- Mindful movement is about honoring your body, not changing it. When is the last time you asked your body what it desires? You might be surprised by its response.
- Shake your booty, hit the park, or lie down and watch your rib cage rise and fall. Sweaty or still, the trick is to appreciate your body exactly as it is. Do it daily, do it weekly, or don’t do it at all.
- Pro tip: Not working out (with intention!) is a mindful practice in itself. And mindful people are happier and healthier. Fact!.
Cook for yourself. No strings attached.
- Despite what mama may have told you, I think you should play with your food. No strings attached cooking means no pressure to create something beautiful, elaborate, healthy, or even tasty.
- If you’re like me, you have no idea how to use an air fryer. But, some recipes only require stirring, and I can figure that out as well as any toddler could.
- At the risk of sounding corny (all puns intended), cooking for self-care is about the journey, not the destination. Don’t worry about what you make, just enjoy the process of creating something on your own and for yourself. Here’s another cheesy one-liner: You are what you eat.
- Why not eat your self-care? Or don’t, because your sh*t tastes awful. Cooking mindfully creates space to process and enjoy the present moment. The most important thing is to treat yourself with intention. So yeah, go out and grab a burger when you’re done. You do you.
Write down what makes you smile.
- It’s hard to feel down when you’re actively thinking about what lifts you up. It seems basic, but it’s actually transformative (speaking from personal experience!) Grab a pen and paper, and ask yourself one simple question: What makes me smile?
- Anything goes (the theme of this blog post!), but I like to focus my “smiling about” list on the small things. The tangible. The things I know and love and don’t have to aspire to.
- Yeah, world peace makes me smile, but I can’t really feel it. What I can feel is the soft, gooey pleasure of a freshly baked cookie. Can you guess what’s top of my list today?!
- More ideas to spark your creativity: The warmth of your cat when she cuddles up next to you (looking at you, Luna!), the tingle in your bones when you masturbate (yep, I went there), eating cereal straight out of the box (say less), or the simple pleasure of hot coffee in the morning (especially in this January cold).
- There is no way to do this wrong, because your experience of pleasure - what makes you smile - is yours and yours alone. Don’t have a pen and paper lying around? Just close your eyes, and visualize what makes you feel good.
- I bet when you open them, you’ll be smiling. Just saying.
Alright, friends, I hope this list brings some good vibes your way. If you’re like me, this time of year can feel pretty triggering, especially when your hoo ha hurts! Taking a moment to treat yourself can make all the difference.
Lastly, might I suggest throwing a Private Pack into your self-care routine? Wear it while you exercise, cook, create; anytime and anywhere. That’s the beauty of hands-free, no nonsense, wearable self-care. Get yours here. Or don’t! You do you this year.
