This past year has been a journey of high highs and some very real lows.  Life was beautiful and busy—baseball tournaments, family travel, and a big trip to Japan. 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.

I brushed it off as “just life” until my body stopped asking for rest and started demanding it. My Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) flared up worse than it has in years. 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 isn’t about restriction; it’s about kindness. I’m embracing a Mediterranean-inspired way of eating—simple, wholesome meals that leave me feeling energized rather than heavy—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?

Simply Salt & Soul Tips

The Salt (The Science): When we experience a “flare-up” (whether it’s chronic pain like TN or just total exhaustion), it’s often a sign of Allostatic Load. This is the “wear and tear” on the body that accumulates when we are exposed to repeated or chronic stress. By choosing “gentle” movement and anti-inflammatory foods, you are physically lowering your body’s stress hormones (cortisol) and allowing your nervous system to move from “Survival” back into “Safety.”

The Soul (The Wellness): There is a huge difference between Self-Improvement and Self-Care. Self-improvement often comes from a place of “not being enough,” while self-care comes from a place of “protecting what is precious.” This year, try to view your health goals through the lens of protection. You aren’t “fixing” yourself; you are nurturing the person your family loves most.