This past year has been a journey of ups and downs for me – physically, emotionally, and mentally. I’ll be honest – I let myself go a little. Between my kids’ back-to-back baseball tournaments, family commitments, and our big family trip to Japan, life was full in the best (and busiest) ways. I have to admit I let loose with food, didn’t always make the best choices, and definitely didn’t get the rest I needed. Jet lag, travel stress, and just trying to keep up left me running on empty more often than I’d like to admit.
As always, I brushed it off – it’s just life, right? But over time, I could feel the effects. My Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) pain started flaring up again, worse in the last few months. And when that pain hits, it’s not just physical – it takes over everything. It was like my body was screaming at me to slow down and check in. It became a wake-up call. I realized I hadn’t truly been taking care of myself. I was frustrated with myself for letting things slip after doing so well. I’d been running on autopilot, pushing myself aside, and missing the signs my body was sending. So for 2025, I’m shifting focus. I’m not chasing perfection or quick fixes. I’m leaning into something gentler: mindful, balanced living.
Physical Health: Nourishing Without Obsessing
This year, I’m focusing on treating my body with more kindness. That means embracing a Mediterranean-inspired way of eating—simple, wholesome meals that taste good and leave me feeling even better. Beyond food, it’s about tuning into my body’s cues for true well-being. Sometimes that’s a quiet moment, a refreshing walk, or simply a deep breath to reset.
Movement is key, but only in ways that genuinely feel good. I’m choosing walks outside, gentle stretching, or slow yoga flows—anything that brings me back into my body without burning me out. My goal is to listen to what my body needs and move in ways that are truly nourishing, letting go of any pressure for intense workouts.
Emotional Health: Embracing My Feelings
Emotionally, I realized I’d been in survival mode for too long. I was so busy getting through the day that I stopped checking in with how I was really doing. There were moments I felt disconnected—like I was floating through life without truly being present. That numbness? It was my sign that something needed to change.
So this year, I’m creating more space to feel. Whether that means crying when I need to, laughing more often, or simply taking a quiet moment to breathe, doing things I once loved or enjoyed—I’m giving myself permission to slow down and sit with my emotions, not just power through them.
One of the biggest changes I’m making is cutting down on social media. I realized how drained and distracted it often left me. So I’m setting intentional “off” times—no scrolling during certain hours, more face-to-face connection, more time to just be.
Choosing Presence Over Pressure
Worrying has always been my thing—especially when I feel like I’ve lost control. But I’ve learned the hard way that stress only makes things worse, especially with chronic pain. This year, I’m choosing to pause. To breathe. To use tools that ground me, like journaling or simply stepping outside for a moment of calm.
I’m reminding myself that I don’t need to do everything or be everything. I just need to show up—with intention, with love, and with the awareness that healing happens in small, everyday choices.
Mental Health: Creating Space for Calm
Mentally, I’ve learned that I need to simplify to feel clear. Last year, my mind felt like a never-ending storm—constant worries, endless to-do lists, and distractions pulling me in every direction. This year, I’m working on letting go. Letting go of perfection. Letting go of pressure. And embracing the idea that progress—no matter how small—is enough.
Life rarely follows a neat plan, and I’m slowly embracing that. I’ve realized I don’t need to have it all figured out. Instead, I just need to show up, breathe, and take things one step at a time. I’ve started focusing more on joy—finding it in the little things like a quiet cup of tea, a good laugh, or just being fully present with my kids. And each day, I make an effort to find one thing to be grateful for. It’s a small practice, but it’s made a huge difference.
I’m also craving simplicity in my surroundings. Decluttering my home, clearing out the mental noise, and sticking to routines that support me instead of drain me. I want to create space—physically and emotionally—for calm, clarity, and more ease in my days.
Relationships and Self-Care: Pouring into What Matters
Something else I’m holding close this year is connection. I want to deepen the relationships that matter most—by being more present, having real conversations, and saying yes to people who lift me up (and no to things that don’t). It’s not just about spending time together—it’s about showing up with intention and care.
And through it all, I know I can’t pour into others if I’m running on empty. That’s why self-care is front and centre for me now. Not bubble baths and face masks (though those are great too)—but the real kind of self-care: rest when I need it, sleep that actually restores me, movement that feels good, and time to just be.
This year, I’m choosing a more holistic kind of health. One that honours every part of me—body, mind, and heart. I’m not chasing perfection. I’m choosing balance, compassion, and listening inward.
Your Turn
If you’re thinking about your own health goals for 2025, ask yourself: What do you need more of? What do you want to let go of? How can you be a little kinder to yourself this year?
Because when we give ourselves the space to slow down, heal, and grow, we’re not just doing it for ourselves—we’re doing it for everyone we love, too.