Happy new year, friends! I just looked back over my blog and discovered that I published 3 posts in 2023. Three. Ouch. I am still fully committed to wholistic wellness practices, but teaching upper school art at my children’s classical Christian school has required that the blog take a back seat … along with letting go of some of my personal wellness practices unfortunately 🙁 While I am definitely a creative type at heart and absolutely thrive while guiding my students to develop their artistic voices, I also fully believe in natural living to support total body wellness and healing. It simply works. I am committing myself in 2024 to re-adopting a couple of my wellness practices that have fallen by the wayside (specifically oil pulling and dry brushing), so I thought it would be fun to put a list together of some of my favorite self care routines in case you might be looking for one new way to support your wellness in 2024.

Of course, there is no need to begin a new routine if it feels too overwhelming to do so, but there is always something hopeful and exciting about a new year that has me itching to make some kind of change. I am not a believer in huge resolutions that attempt to transform every aspect of a person’s wellness, but I am all for small steps that help to incorporate new routines and habits that lead to wellness. It’s much easier to add in new habits than try to overhaul everything. And “adding in” is more gentle and tends to stick better than eliminating habits you’re trying to kick.

With that in mind, here are a few self care practices to consider “adding in” to your 2024 plans (in no particular order). Start with just one. They may feel like work instead of a day at the spa, but the efforts actually promote wellness and work to prevent sickness.

1. PRIORITZE SLEEP. Research shows that adults need 7-9 hours of sleep each night, but many of us are chronically sleep-deprived. Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to irritability, impaired concentration, increased risk of heart disease, obesity, poor metabolism, mood disturbance, decline in cognition, and impaired insulin sensitivity (the beginning of Type II Diabetes). Oppositely however, proper sleep habits encourage fat metabolism, regulate blood pressure, support immune function and cell regeneration, reduce inflammation, and give our brains a break (slowing cognitive decline). Prioritizing sleep is one of the most immediate ways we can support wellness. And, it’s free!
2. DRY BRUSH DAILY. I know, the response to this idea is usually … “what?” It’s a quick before-shower practice that includes dry brushing your skin to stimulate blood circulation and get your lymphatic system moving (leading to detoxification). The scientific evidence about its effectiveness is scarce, but lots of anecdotal stories share about relief from slow-moving lymph. It also feels amazing and is a wonderful exfoliator.
3. ENJOY A DAILY MATCHA. I added a morning matcha latte to my wellness routine years ago, and I still drink one faithfully every day. I admit I don’t love the taste (I am 100% a coffee drinker), but I love the boost of vitamins/minerals and the antioxidants from the polyphenols. The EGCG in matcha has also been linked to increased energy, metabolism, and detoxification, as well as slowed cancer growth. It’s been touted to boost mood and encourage relaxation, and the L-Theanine in matcha is an important amino acid that aids in cognitive function and focus. Sourcing matters, so make sure you’re getting high quality ingredients if you want to start!
4. SWITCH OUT ONE GROCERY STORE ITEM TO ORGANIC. It can feel overwhelming to transition to an organic diet, and sometimes it is simply too cost-prohibitive to do 100%. But choosing one item to switch that you buy regularly for your family can have an impact. The EWG’s Dirty Dozen/Clean 15 lists are great guides to start making changes. And if you want to make an even more powerful change, consider buying organic meat or dairy from a local farmer. We absolutely adore our local farmers at Grand View Farm and trust them implicitly to provide clean and better-than-organic meat for our family! If you don’t have access to a local farmer, consider an online company like Butcher Box.
5. ADD A DAILY FERMENTED FOOD. This can take some trial and error, but experiment to find an option that you like and add it into a meal. Make sure it’s raw (meaning, not heated or cooked in any way) to take advantage of all the enzymes and gut health goodness. You only need a few bites worth to make a difference! I really like kimchi and sauerkraut, but I also love brewing kombucha. I have had mild success fermenting veggies from my garden (including cucumbers and jalapeños), but I’m still perfecting my skills.
6. START THE DAY WITH WATER. We all know that drinking enough water every day is important, yet so many of us don’t get our daily amount. In fact, it’s estimated that up to 75% of Americans don’t drink enough water. That means that most of us are chronically dehydrated! Water is needed for every body system to function properly, and not getting enough can lead to dizziness, sleepiness, and being unable to think clearly. Starting the day with a 16 oz glass can make a big difference! If you already do that and are looking to step up your water game, consider a filter like Berkey or Clearly Filtered.
7. PREPARE ONE DINNER A WEEK COMPLETELY FROM WHOLE FOODS. Start by picking one recipe that doesn’t have any processed foods in the ingredients to try. Incorporating preservative-free meals without chemicals and confusing labels can go a long way in promoting wellness! One recipe my family really likes is Venison Rainbow Stew, but it can easily be switched to grass-fed beef. Check out my other recipes to see if one might fit your family’s needs!
8. REPLACE TOXIC HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS WITH ESSENTIAL OIL-BASED OPTIONS. It’s no secret that I love essential oils for supporting overall wellness and natural living. Using them for household cleaning is an easy switch to limit chemical toxins, but if you are interested in even more ideas consider your laundry products or these other products to consider ditching. And if you’d like to try a sample of the Thieves Household Cleaner, shoot me an email with your address and I’ll send you one in the mail!
9. OIL PULL. It’s a more unusual one like dry brushing, but oil pulling is a wonderful detoxification routine that can be done while working on other chores. It also only requires organic cold-pressed coconut oil and clove essential oil (if you have it).
10. DEVELOP A SPIRITUAL OR MINDFULNESS PRACTICE. A simple breathing exercise to start the day or end the evening can make a big difference in stress management because of its ability to relax our bodies, revive our brains, quiet our minds, and enhance connection. It only takes a few minutes! Likewise, I personally find that spending time in prayer and Bible study several times a week not only draws me closer to Jesus, but also has a huge positive impact on my mindset and overall resiliency to stress.
11. TAKE A BATH. This isn’t a practice I do often, but it is super relaxing and calming. Making it a detox bath can boost your health and overall well-being, strengthen your immune system, and flush toxins (along with a bunch of other health benefits!). To do that, add magnesium bath flakes and essential oils to the bath, and then hang out for 40 minutes while you read or simply sit in silence.
12. TRY EARTHING AND/OR SPENDING TIME IN NATURE. There is a lot of convicting evidence that being in nature offers loads of health benefits! It is the original stress reliever – not only is it known to decrease inflammation and increase immune function, research suggests it also increase empathy, improves focus, improves mood, increases energy, and improves sleep!

I’d love to hear about your plans for self care and wellness in 2024. Happy New Year, friends!