TEN SELF CARE IDEAS TO DO BEFORE THE YEAR ENDS

My recent post on the busy person’s guide to taking a break seems to have struck a chord. It appears that I am not the only person feeling the stress and strain at the moment. With Christmas and New Year just around the corner, it’s so easy to rush full steam ahead into the festivities that when we get there we are completely wiped out and unable to enjoy the time off. 

In an attempt to make sure that I avoid that trap, using those tips I offered, I have written myself a list of things I want to do over the next week or so. Yes, I know these are effectively extra things on top of the already superbly busy pre-Christmas bustle, with deadlines coming out of my ears and new adventures to prepare for, but I want to make sure I am making an effort to live in the now. These important additions to my to do list will ensure that come this time next week I will feel not only ready, but also good. Feeling good is important!

And I offer my list here by way of encouraging you to join me. It’s a very simple list. Nothing here that’s too taxing or difficult. You may just find that the suggestions help you feel more like you as we end December and start January. I hope I do!

Ten Self Care Ideas To Do Before The Year Ends

01. Get at least one hour outside every day. This isn’t just because it’s my own campaign, although it would seem odd if I wasn’t taking part in it myself, but rather because it is simply and vitally important to my everyday sanity. Spending one hour outside is not about having a big adventure or doing anything particularly strenuous (although it could be…), it is about making sure I have an actual break, go for a walk, breathe some fresh air and get some natural light every day. If you stop reading this post here, then fine, but please do this one thing, it’s worth it.

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02. Read a book. Okay, no, let me be honest; finish reading the book I started earlier this year and haven’t got to the end of yet. It’s Anna McNuff’s The Pants of Perspective, and it’s such a good read, but I rarely sit down to read and, well, I just haven’t. If you’re looking for a great adventure book to finish off your reading list for this year I’d highly recommend it, and I’m sure I will even more when I’ve read the last page!

03. Make some sweet treats share with family and friends. Everyone likes to celebrate with home-made goodness, and while I am no baker, I do love to create simple desserts and delicacies. I could technically tick this one off already as I made some of my tried and tested rocky road last week to share with work colleagues, but I’ve got plans to experiment with a couple of white chocolate bark recipes this week to share with family on Christmas Day; if they work I’ll share the recipes!

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04. Clean my shoes and boots. At least the black ones, they’re so long overdue. Oh, and the hiking boots that are sat in the garage because they’re too dirty to bring into the house. A job that actually doesn’t take very long when you get started, but makes a huge difference, especially when it comes to wanting to wear them next.

05. Have a clear out of my wardrobe. And my underwear/socks drawer. And the miscellaneous outdoorsy clothing drawer under the bed. I need to get rid of all the socks with holes, all the greying pants, and anything else that is worn out or I no longer wear. I don’t know about you, but a tidy wardrobe and easy-to-rummage through underwear drawer makes dressing myself in the morning so much easier! And you never know, I might find that old beanie hat I seem to have misplaced that I’ve been looking everywhere for.

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06. Give my kitchen cupboards, fridge and freezer a “spring” clean and meal plan to use up some of the random things I find. Eating well when you’re busy is way more difficult than it should be; having tidy cupboards and meals planned out in advance helps just a little bit.

07. Take time for a bath, to exfoliate, shave, feel properly clean and relaxed. A bubble bath (with a cup of tea to make me the same temperature on the inside and the outside), is one of my favourite ways to chill out and places to take a few mindful moments, and so including it on my list will make sure I find time to do it and not rush it.

08. Go out for breakfast. We hardly ever cook breakfast at home, but we both love it as a meal (especially if there are fresh pancakes and maple syrup involved…), and we’ve been talking about going to a particular place to eat it for probably a year or more. It’s about time!

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09. Catch up on some writing. Posts here on Splodz Blogz have been sporadic to say the least over the last few months, which is fine really, but the list of blogs to write has gotten so long that it’s actually turned into a bit of a monster that is becoming too difficult to tackle. I would like to head into 2018 feeling a little more organised, with some drafts in the bag. Writing is what I love to do, and I will be making some time for it.

10. Take some time to look back over the last year and acknowledge what I have achieved. It’s all too easy to forget the looking back bit and go straight for the new goal setting. The process of looking back is what will help me plan for the next 12 months. It’s been quite a year, with some amazing experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life, this is my opportunity to take stock and bank a few extra smiles for myself before I move on.

Do you have a self-care list of things to do before the year ends? I’d love to know what’s on yours.