It's a New Year and a fresh start. Self-care is a common topic when January rolls around, but it can often insinuate pushing harder at the gym, eating in a calorie deficit, or other actions that ultimately punish and deplete the body.
After such a busy holiday season, turning to self-care can help start 2025 off on a restorative and calm foot, one that sets the mood for putting yourself first.
Gone are the days of running on all fumes and draining the battery. It's time to take care and feel your best. When we feel our best, we perform better at work, we give our friends and family a positive attitude and we feel energized to achieve new goals. Instead of gearing up for more and more, self-care can offer a "less is more" mentality.
Red Light Therapy: Tanning beds are out! If looking to relax under some lights, look for red light therapy treatments. Benefits can range from stress release to improved hair growth and even improved sleep.
Scalp Care: These treatments are popping up everywhere across salons and spas and have gone viral recently across social media. The treatments can range from shorter 30-minute express sessions all the way to 90-minute extended treatments with facial add-ons. These specialized services that focus strictly on the scalp, from massage to steam treatment and hair masks, are so relaxing and leave people feeling zen. Many of the locations offering scalp or "head spa" treatments have special chairs that support the neck and halo-shaped water jets that are uber comfortable.
Stretching: Physical recovery is just as trendy as working out. Gyms and fitness studios have been offering sessions focused on recovery and especially stretching. Giving the body a chance to slow down and lengthen back out after a round of tough workouts can be crucial to the future performance in the gym, especially for runners. Tight muscles can lead to injuries or decreased range of motion, so the time spent giving hardworking muscles some TLC is well worth it in the long run. For those who aren't a yogi, attending a stretching session can offer similar benefits without the learning curve of yoga positions.
Nature Walks: Moving outside, even in the cold, has so many benefits. Using all the senses to appreciate what nature has to offer, feel the fresh air and catch a dose of Vitamin D is preferred for many over indoor machines under fluorescent lights. Follow what the Swedish say when it's cold: "There is no bad weather, only bad clothes."
Sound Baths: If up for something really different, indulge ears in a sound bath. Musical instruments are used to create sound waves that foster a meditative experience. Participants gather around, similar to a yoga setting, to enjoy the relaxing environment and reset from stress or overwhelm.
Digital Detox: The easiest of the recommendations to take care is to just simply unplug. "Airplane mode" is a friend. Taking time, even just 30 minutes, to leave phones behind, placing them in another room or detaching from connections with a power down can help give the peace of mind needed for a quick reset. If feeling bold, take a weekend trip and leave laptops or tablets behind, allowing physical distance from devices that can be associated with stress or work. If this is a struggle, consider a lock box with a timer to help get through the challenge.
Mel Boban
Mel is a St. Louis transplant by way of Chicago. She's been writing for City Lifestyle for a few years as a moonlight contributor, spending her daytime hours as a corporate social media manager. She finds self-care important to balance her fast-paced digital career.