A new year always comes with mixed emotions: excitement for the future and new adventures, uncertainty of the unknown, fear that my goals for the year will be left unachieved – a little bit of everything.
But for 2025, there should be a clear set of guidelines to follow.
Daydreaming about wellness in the new year.
This isn’t a guidebook for anyone seeking a new-year-new-you approach.
In the spirit of creating a gift guide - not for others - but for your own self-awareness, physical wellness, and mental health, here’s a breakdown of the areas to focus on for 2025 and the habits, routines, and goals you should try to achieve throughout the year.
CREATE Consistency
With all the stuff life throws at us, from work to family, to unexpected events, it’s easy to get into a cycle of just going through the motions or neglecting the things and the people around you.
Strive to be consistent in your efforts to foster closeness in your relationships.
SHARE Traditions
- Weekly or monthly date nights with your partner
- Regularly planned coffee dates and lunches
- Zoom calls, on the calendar for those far away
- Mini-trips to connect in person
Find a regular tradition with your romantic partner, spouse, or a friend that is low-maintenance and easy to stick with every month.
CONNECTION Points
Connecting, really connecting, with those in your life shouldn’t feel like a burden or chore. Connecting shouldn’t cause you anxiety or make your life less fulfilling. That said, anyone who’s ever had a relationship with any other person knows that conflict, distance, and challenges will arise whether you like it or not.
Can you find the things that do make you feel connected to the person you are experiencing separation from? Can you focus on those things only? Maybe it’s a home project you’re working on with your partner or an update on the grandkids with your mother. Maybe it’s a workout class with a friend. Connect where and when it’s easy and try not to force relationships into a box they just don’t fit into.
In relationships where there is love, but disconnection, try to find and focus on one thing at a time that does make you feel connected to that person.
HEALING Limits
Healthy relationships require limitations. Some people you choose, and some are thrust upon you based on your upbringing or biology. There are expectations, guilt, and bad habits that can grow out of control in relationships, and the only way I have found to maintain health, happiness, and connection is to set limits. You can also call these boundaries, but that word is loaded with negative connotations, so I prefer to think of them as limitations – for your own mental health and the health of others.
Assess the people and factors causing you daily pain, anxiety, and stress. Set one of the following limits on that relationship for at least three months.
- Set a time limit on phone calls - If you know the person causes you to react, or feel unwell after speaking to them, set a limit on how long or how often you will pick up the phone. You are not obligated to be at anyone’s beck and call.
- Choose not to discuss certain topics - Some topics with some people lead to a negative place and should not be discussed.
- Choose when taking a break - It’s easy to make plans or do things that feel forced. If you always feel this way about spending time with another person, maybe it’s time to take a break.
FEED Transparency
In order to take care of yourself, you need to be transparent about what you need, what you can do, and how you will engage with others.
Focus on being transparent with yourself and those around you, so you are not making decisions solely based on guilt and obligation.