As we come to the end of 2024, we reflect on the year past and look forward to a new year with renewed focus and goals.
A new year is a time to take stock, look at what has been achieved in the last year and consider what has brought joy, wellbeing and contentment.
With all of this considered, we look towards what will prioritize our wellbeing for the new year to come.
- Prioritize Your Health
Physical and mental wellbeing are intrinsically linked so make sure that you put your health at the epicentre of your plans for 2025.
Find some exercise that you enjoy doing and commit to it on a regular basis. This does not need to be hours on a treadmill or long sessions in the gym. Thirty minutes of daily activity can be a great boost to your physical wellbeing. This can be something low impact such as yoga or Pilates, a morning swimming session or a mindful walk in the countryside taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the seasons.
- Cultivate Happiness
Happiness is a muscle that you can train. Take some time to reflect on what makes you happy and do more of that. However, some things that make you happy can be fleeting, so focus on things that build a lasting sense of contentment rather than the rush of a shopping spree or decadent meal out.
Our relationships with family and friends create a sense of purpose and meaning. Build stronger relationships by spending quality time with family and friends. As we start 2025, set goals to connect with people in meaningful ways such as a weekly call or family dinner.
- Invest in Home Comfort
Technology brings convenience and comfort to your home. Robot cleaners, recipe display tablets, voice-controlled appliances and more, all free up time to let you do what you enjoy.
An accessible home is also a future-proofed home – allowing you to enjoy the present without worrying about whether your home will be fit for the future you.
By factoring in devices which reduce bending, stretching or crouching this will pay back dividends, in the same way that installing a home elevator will add a little bit of luxury for the now and a huge amount of freedom for the future.
- Offline Wellness Escapes
With increasing awareness of the negative impacts of constant digital connectivity—such as anxiety, disrupted sleep, and reduced focus—there is a growing demand for tech-free retreats.
Treat yourself to a wellness experience where you can disconnect from screens and reconnect with nature and real-life relationships.
Programs and destinations dedicated to digital detoxes, such as those led by The Offline Club, focus on mindfulness and living in the present, offering a blissful release from the demands of a technology-saturated lifestyle.
- Grounding your body
Grounding yourself barefoot, also known as ‘earthing’, involves direct physical contact with the earth’s surface to harness its natural energy.
To practice, find a surface such as grass, soil, sand, or unsealed concrete, which effectively conducts earth’s electrons.
Focusing on the sensations under your feet can enhance mindfulness, creating a deeper connection with nature and it is suggested that wet surfaces, like dewy grass or sand by the ocean, amplify the benefits by improving conductivity.
Said to balance the body’s electrical charge, this practice is linked to several health benefits, including reduced stress, improved sleep quality, and decreased inflammation. It is also a free and easy way to disconnect from technology and enjoy the many benefits of being in the natural world.