Fresh Inspiration - January 19, 2026

New Year, new self-care routine!

This is not a suggestion to change yourself, but to add joy to your day. 

The new year always seems to bring on a new energy for change, but sometimes all we need is a little adjustment to what we’re already doing to bring a fresh perspective to our self-care routine. 

When you think about self-care, what ideas come to mind? 

You might get visions of bubble baths or manicures, but that’s not the complete picture. 

Those spa treatments are great, but you probably wouldn’t go to the spa everyday. Self-care can be more powerful when it is practiced consistently. So, what about making a small, simple change in your daily routine to inspire yourself?

You could try out a few different ideas over the course of a week and determine if any of them feel good to you. Decide if any of the new self-care ideas you came across are worth implementing into your personal routine.

You might discover a new tool or task that makes self-care genuinely fun and something you look forward to each day.

Follow Your Natural Rhythm 

Some people swear by early morning exercise routines, but if your natural rhythm is to wake up slow and ease into your day then a 5am run might be the opposite of self-care. 

Consider your natural rhythm throughout the day. 

Do you usually wake up early? Do you have more energy in the afternoon? Are you a night owl? 

What simple self-care tasks can you fit in to your day that would bring you some joy? 

Personally, I like to make art early in the morning when the house is quiet. I make myself a cup of coffee in my favorite mug and let myself play with some art materials in my sketchbook for about 15 minutes. It’s like a meditation and really sets up my day in a relaxed and focused way. 

Try This - Some Self-Care Ideas to Consider:

• Journaling in the morning 
• Doodling with no rules *
• Meditation
• Baking something you’ve never had before
• Listening to an audio book randomly chosen from your library
• Yoga

* Draw a few lines across your paper, letting them randomly cross each other. Shade in the areas that are created by your lines by shading darker every place where your lines intersect, and getting lighter as you move away from the lines. It’s a creative way to practice mindfulness and can result in some really interesting drawings.