The year 2023 is coming to an end and it is time to take stock of our successes, our difficulties and our desires for the year to come. Among the good resolutions we can make for 20th, there is one that should be at the top of our list: taking care of yourself.
Taking care of yourself means listening to your needs, your emotions, your body and your mind. It’s also about respecting yourself, valuing yourself and giving yourself time and attention. Taking care of yourself finally means treating yourself, rewarding yourself and doing yourself good.
But how do you take care of yourself every day, without letting yourself be overwhelmed by obligations, stress or routine? Here are some tips and ideas to help you take care of yourself in 2024.
- Develop positive self-talk
Inner speech is the voice that speaks to us in our head, which comments on our actions, our thoughts, our emotions. This voice can be caring or critical, encouraging or discouraging, depending on how we perceive and judge ourselves.
To take care of yourself, it is important to develop positive self-talk, which values us, motivates us and supports us. To do this, we must learn to identify negative thoughts that harm us, such as generalizations, comparisons, demands or guilt, and replace them with more realistic, nuanced and positive thoughts.
For example, instead of saying to yourself "I'm useless, I can't do anything" you can say to yourself "I'm having trouble doing this task, but I can ask for help, look for solutions or give myself more time". Instead of saying to ourselves “I don’t deserve to be loved” we can say to ourselves “I am a unique person, with qualities and faults, and I can be loved for who I am”.
- Do sports regularly :-)
Taking care of yourself also means taking care of your body, which is the vehicle of our life. Practicing regular sporting activity is beneficial for health, but also for morale, because it releases endorphins, the hormones of well-being.
Physical activity does not need to be intense or strenuous to be effective. We just need to choose an activity that we like, that suits us and that adapts to our pace. This can be walking, cycling, swimming, yoga, dancing, or any other sport that makes us feel good.
- Cultivate your creativity and passions
Taking care of yourself also means taking care of your mind, stimulating it, nourishing it and entertaining it. Cultivating your creativity and passions is a great way to have fun, relax and flourish.
Creativity is the ability to produce something new, personal and meaningful. This could be art, writing, music, cooking, crafts, gardening, or any other activity that engages our imagination and expression.
Passions are the activities that make us vibrate, that make us forget time and worries, that make us feel alive. It can be a sport, a hobby, an area of knowledge, a cause or any other subject that interests and motivates us.
To take care of yourself, it is important to set aside time to practice your creativity and passions, without putting pressure on yourself or judgment. It's about having fun, discovering yourself, challenging yourself and rejoicing in your achievements.
- Feel good with our The Little French Store creations :-)
Taking care of yourself also means doing yourself good, rewarding yourself and having fun. There is no harm in treating yourself from time to time, as long as it remains reasonable and does not harm our health or our budget.
One way to treat yourself is to give yourself or someone you love a gift that you want, that highlights you or that reminds you of a memory. For example, you can buy earrings from The Little French Store, a French brand that offers unique, elegant and quality jewelry.
The Little French Store earrings are handmade in France with sustainable materials, such as stainless steel, polymer clay, pearls, natural stones. They are inspired by nature, culture, history or travel and they are suitable for all styles and all occasions. By purchasing The Little French Store earrings, you are doing good for yourself, but also for the artisan who makes them and you are supporting a small local business.
Happy New Year, see you soon
Daniela
