It’s January, again! We firmly believe in starting the New Year softly. Don’t get it twisted, there is nothing wrong with setting ambitious goals and working towards those resolutions. However, we like to take baby steps and ease into the transition of the new year. If for nothing else, our own mental-health. This time of year can be a lot, for anyone. We grind through the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and then dive right into what’s supposed to be our most transformative time of the year. You always hear “start the year off strong” but what about the strength in being soft and easy on yourself? If you’re looking for where to begin on your own self-help journey, or even just looking to ease into your new year, we’ve offered a few helpful tips below!

Journaling

Write, write, and write some more. This can be anything from needing to get your thoughts and feelings on paper to possibly organizing and prioritizing your day, without feeling overwhelmed. Try to stay intentional with where your energy and efforts need to go throughout the day.

Meditate

Despite where you are in your meditation practice (or maybe have never even tried it), this doesn’t necessarily have to be a long-winded experience. A great place to start is by closing your eyes, bring awareness to your body, bring awareness to your breath and finish this statement ‘I am grateful for…’.

Get outside

Being in nature provides a sense of calm and stillness, and can help to reduce stress and anxiety levels. Walking in nature will trigger the release of endorphins which can reduce stress hormones, but also just being out in nature can boost serotonin levels which can also contribute to an improved sense of well-being.

Stop Multi-tasking

Seriously, stop it. No wonder we’re all mega-stressed when we’re replying to text messages, whilst watching TV and speaking on the phone simultaneously! Not only is multitasking totally inefficient, but it’s also linked to the increased production of stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) that can send your body into panic mode! So chill out and take things one step at a time.

Eat a banana

When we’re stressed out our blood pressure tends to rise but the potassium found in bananas can help to regulate this. Stress can also leave us feeling depleted but bananas give you a replenishing energy boost that is nothing short of a-peel-ing (sorry we had to).

Do some baking

The smell of baking can make people feel calm and comforted. Many people find baking stress relieving and adding decorative touches to your creation can give you a sense of pride, enhance how you’re feeling and therefore boost your self-esteem…so what better excuse to eat cake? It may just be the creative outlet you’ve been looking for.

Organize ‘worry time’

We all know that we can’t just ignore the things we’re worried about. But, we can decide when and how we are going to worry about them. Worrying can occur at any point in the day and release stress hormones into the body that can cause anxiety and lower our immune systems. So be the architect of your day and schedule a 15 minute worry window in your day, where you can write down your worries and work through them. And once the window shuts, don’t open it again!

Dance

Turn up the music and DANCE! Combining music and dance can help build self-esteem, lift your mood and reduce anxiety. Dancing may also help express emotions and experiences that are difficult to communicate in words alone…so go dance like no one’s watching, literally!

Go stargazing

Laying down and watching a starry night is not only awesome but it increases your brain’s alpha waves which rapidly enables you to relax. Cool, huh?

Doodle

You may associate doodling with being bored in class but doing it in your spare time can be a great way to relax. When we’re stressed we can get caught in our thoughts but by doodling you’re engaging the creative upper right side of your brain which will give you the space you need to calm down and find a fresh perspective.

Call a friend

Better out than in. Speaking to a friend can be really grounding. Social connected-ness can reduce stress levels and no doubt the nostalgia will get you smiling and laughing too!

Stretch

Whether you try out your local yoga studio or just need some time to wind down before bed,

Organize your space - Mess can really start to clutter up your mind so clean your room and reorganize your desk. This small task can really help you refocus on what you can control. Tidy room, tidy mind (sorry, we said it).

Visualization

Your mind is a powerful tool. Whether you use it to visualize success, visit a happy place, or embark on an imaginary journey, the technique can help alleviate anxiety and sadness so go get creative in your head!

If you’re in the market for a new self-help book or just seeking some inspiration, be sure to check out our book collection! A few of our faves are You Will Feel Whole Again by Parm K.C., This Was Meant to Find You: When You Needed It Most by Charlotte Freeman, Holding Space for the Sun by Jamal Cadoura, A Gentle Reminder by Bianca Sparacino and so many more!

Wherever you are on your journey, we hope you found these simple tips to be helpful! And in case you need to hear it today, you’re doing better than you think, give yourself some credit and be gentle with yourself. You’ve got this! Wishing you all nothing but the best in 2025!