Self-Care Goals For The New Year (2024)

Setting self-care goals for the new year can be a good step to keeping your peace in 2024. Resolutions are a common thing people do during this time.

There’s a lot of excitement about wanting to make changes that can make us happier. But then there may also be the dread of the work required to keep those resolutions.

With that in mind, it’s a good idea to have some self-care goals to keep yourself from getting overwhelmed. Some examples of habits you can do to care for yourself include getting rest and doing things that relax you.

Doing what you can to keep yourself well may make you more able to succeed with all your other objectives for 2024. Here are some examples of what you can do to help keep yourself well from January to December.

Table Of Contents open

New Year Self-Care Goals (2024)

1. Get the sleep you need

Research continues to show that not getting enough sleep can negatively affect mood, attention, and cognition. All important things you need in your pursuit of success this year.

Of course, sleep isn’t always easy to get for everybody. The CDC offers some great tips for getting better rest, including:

Removing electronic devices from the bedroom
Sleeping in a quiet, dark room
Avoiding large meals before bedtime

Making sleep one of your top self-care goals for the new year will go a long way in keeping you energized to succeed. Forget the all-nighters and stop working late. Start getting the sleep you need daily.

2. Practice proper breathing

According to Scientific American, practicing proper breathing can help with emotion control and stress reduction. Techniques that have been recommended include practicing slow and deep breathing and focusing your attention on your breath.

3. Listen to music

A PsychCentral article notes that listening to music can help reduce stress, improve focus, and relieve pain. Make it a habit to listen to your favorite music when you need to calm yourself or wind down for the day.

4. Enjoy nature

If the weather’s nice, take some time to get outside and breathe fresh air. Numerous studies have proven that being in nature can help relax us.

With so much technology, we’ve become a culture that stays inside more than we need to. Choose to put down the phone, turn off the TV, and enjoy the sounds of the world outside.

5. Make time for laughter

In pursuing success, sometimes, we can get too serious about everything. Sometimes we need to stop and have a laugh about things.

The Mayo Clinic notes that laughing can help soothe tension, increase personal satisfaction, and provide many other benefits. Sit down and enjoy something that you find funny every day.

6. Remind yourself of what you’re grateful for

Gratitude is something we tend to forget in the midst of the daily struggles in life. Studies have shown that being grateful can help us feel more joy in life.

Find things throughout your day that you can be glad about. If you have a hard time knowing what to be thankful for, here’s a gratitude list that can help you.

These past few years have been hard on many of us physically and emotionally. Taking time to care for ourselves is how we can be better able to live the lives we hope for in this new chapter of life.

7. Healthy Eating

Focus on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Set a goal to cook a healthy meal at home several times a week.

8. Regular Exercise

Set a goal to engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day, whether it’s a brisk walk, a yoga session, or a workout at the gym.

9. Personal Hobby

Dedicate time each week to a hobby or activity you enjoy, whether it’s reading, painting, gardening, or playing a musical instrument.

10. Hydration

Set a goal to drink the recommended amount of water daily, typically around 8 glasses, to stay hydrated and support overall health.