Well, here we are at a new year again. What’s more exciting than starting things with a clean slate, am I right? I’ll be ringing this year in on the couch since my body succumbed to the intensity that is numerous back-to-back holiday parties (with a little too much bubbly) and a full week of fast-paced constant travel. Which brings me to why I’m writing this post. Some of you may have seen the hashtag #SelfCareSunday floating around on Instagram, but have you actually thought for a minute about how important (and awesome) this trend is? It really shouldn’t even be a trend. It should be a weekly ritual that we allow ourselves from now until, like, forever.

So many of us don’t give our body the love and rest it needs. It’s something that I’m definitely guilty of as a full time blogger and part time creative director. Often I’ll feel bad for pushing work to the side to take time for myself, but around October, I really started to focus on the importance of it. And you know what? Not only did it help revive my body, it made me more focused on the days I needed to get shit done. But once December and the holiday madness hit, I fell off the self care wagon.

This year, my new year’s resolution is to take one day each week for Self Care. No if’s and’s or but’s (or I-need-to-finish-this-post-because-if-I-don’t-my-life-will-end’s) about it. I hope that all of you will join me in this goal, because our body’s all we’ve got, guys. That’s why I’m sharing what I’ve loved doing so far on Self Care days, to inspire you. If you’ve got some other tips or ideas, share them with me in the comments section!

Sleep In

If you’re like me, and you never sleep past your regular morning wake up time, turn off the alarm! And if you wake up early naturally, spend a little time doing some deep breathing exercises in bed before getting up.

Take A Bubble Bath

I’ll fully admit, I used to hate baths. I thought they were uncomfortable. But after discovering the joy of a bath pillow and inflatable seat cushion, baths have become my most favorite thing ever. If I’m feeling puffy from eating too much salt (or drinking too many glasses of wine) the day before, I’ll use some detoxing bath salts. Otherwise I’ll pour in a ton of relaxing lavender bubble bath. Spa life is real life, y’all!

Wear A Mask

Time to go all Mrs. Doubtfire on this day. Grab a mask that works for your skin type and do it up. I like a purifying one during summer, and for colder months, I gravitate towards a moisturizing and anti-aging one. I love the single use sheet masks that have been popping up at drug stores and Sephora lately. They’re super affordable and make my skin feel like silk.

Throw On Something Comfy

After bathing, I’ll slather on the moisturizer (because I’m terrified of skin scales), and throw on something comfy that I could still run out for a coffee in. I actually find the roominess of a loose skirt much more comfortable than sweatpants, so I’ve been living in this pajama dress from Target (you all know how much I loves me some Terrrget). Now that it’s cold, I’ll top it with a big sweater and some thick wool socks.

Create A Cozy Nook

What’s relaxation time if the spot you’re doing it in isn’t cozy. I bring my fleece or fur throw onto the couch along with a pillow or two, and light a few candles. My puppy Speedy usually joins me for cuddles, which maximizes that comfy factor.

Make Some Tea

Allll about the tea over here. I’ll warm some water in a tea kettle and make a whole pot to sip for a few hours. Since today’s about relaxation, I usually do an herbal blend, but sometimes I’ll go the matcha route. I’m obsessed with Davids Tea fruit infusions. My favorite for summer/spring is Goji Pop, for fall is Apple Cider, and for winter Snow Day.