Welcome to 2024! I am so glad to be back here on the blog after a busy and stressful holiday season.
While I don't do the typical New Year's Resolutions, the start of a new year always seems to be a time when I reflect more on how things are going in my life and what my goals are for the next year.
Over the last few weeks, I realized that some of my habits were slipping due to being busy and because of stress. My focus now is prioritizing the self-care that I know will help me feel happier, healthier, and content.
I've seen the "In and Out for 2024" trend on Instagram and tbh I love it! I thought it would be fun to do a self-care version here.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE
The name of the game for me this year is work-life balance. I work in a place that provides 24 hour care for patients, and it is often way too easy to come in early and leave late. There is always something that needs to be done. Over the last month or so, I have been working on leaving on time rather than trying to finish up "just one more thing". I also turned off my email notifications on my phone- I found over the last week or so that I am able to fully disconnect from work if I am not hearing the constant ping from Outlook notifications.
DON'T SKIP LUNCH!
Another "In" for me this year is eating lunch at work. I am a site director for a large mental health facility, so my Outlook calendar is often jam packed with meetings, and there is usually something daily that I have to make time for. I decided in December that I would prioritize packing my lunch daily so that I can be sure to eat lunch each day. My energy is so much better and I'm also not hangry by the end of the day because I've had coffee and maybe a quick snack.
I knew that I needed to find a few solutions to make this happen. The first was getting a quality lunch box- I had just been borrowing one of my kids' lunch boxes or using any old bag I could find. I really liked this lunchbox because it looked more professional than toting in a box with mermaids, and it had a shoulder strap option- this was a super great feature for me because I don't travel light!
I also invested in some Pyrex glass meal prep containers. I always like glass over plastic because it doesn't stain, and I feel more comfortable microwaving glass than I do plastic. My set came with 5 containers, which is perfect for meal prepping lunches, and they are a great size for the lunchbox I have. I can't find the exact set I bought but these are very similar and pretty affordable for glass!
EXERCISE
Before we moved 18 months ago, I was in a pretty good habit of waking up early to get in a workout. Moving and starting a new job really threw off all of my routines, and I have been working to establish these routines again lately.
I want to exercise most mornings before work because it helps with stress management and has numerous physical health benefits. Since I am getting closer to 40 than 30, I've started thinking about what I want my life to be like as I get older, and being active and in good health is a priority for me.
Gone are the days where we exercise to burn calories or to punish ourselves for eating our favorite foods- In 2024, we are exercising regularly to take care of ourselves!
BOUNDARIES
Y'all, setting boundaries in your life is SO important. I am focusing on prioritizing my needs this year, and setting boundaries is key to this. So many women are people pleasers, and they prioritize their well-being and happiness last. Let's change that this year- let's make 2024 the year that we prioritize what we want and what we need like we would for our kids or other loved ones in our lives.
CREATING A LIFE YOU LOVE
I think one of the most important things every woman should be doing is living her life for herself. Women all too often are willing to settle to keep others happy, and focus on what needs to be done rather than what brings joy to life.
We are often comparing ourselves to influencers on social media, and trying to keep up with others.
In 2024, I want to focus on the things that matter most to me, and try to let the things that don't matter as much fall down on the priority list. I want to travel more, I want to spend as much time as I can with my family, and I want to show up for myself every day.
Focus on what will bring the most joy to your life and DO THAT. Every day. Unapologetically. You deserve to live a life that you love rather than waking up every day feeling like you have to trudge through it and do it again the next day.
So that, my friends, are the 5 ins and outs for 2024. I'm sure I could come up with at least 10 more, but we will keep it at 5 for now. Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter so that you are the first to know when there is a new self-care blog post up! Tell me in the comments what your self-care ins and outs are for this year as well, or hop over to IG and tell me there- m_does_selfcare.
XOXO,
M
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