This past year has been a journey of high highs and some very real lows. Life was beautiful but busy—baseball tournaments, family travel, and a big trip to Japan. I’ll be the first to admit I let loose with food, didn’t always make the best choices, and definitely didn’t get the rest I needed. Between the jet lag, travel stress, and just trying to keep up with the kids, I was 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. It was a loud signal from my nervous system that I hadn’t actually been taking care of myself. Honestly, I was frustrated for letting things slip after doing so well for so long. I’d been running on autopilot, pushing my own needs aside, and completely missing the signs my body was sending me.

Physical Health: Nourishing Without Obsessing

This year isn’t about restriction; it’s about kindness. I’m leaning into a Mediterranean-inspired way of eating—focussing on simple, wholesome meals that actually taste good and leave me feeling energized instead of heavy.

Beyond what’s on my plate, it’s also about tuning into what my body actually needs. Sometimes that’s a quiet moment to myself, a walk outside, or just a deep breath to reset. It’s less about following a “plan” and more about finding a rhythm that feels sustainable.

Movement is key, but only in ways that actually 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 my body and move in ways that are nourishing, letting go of the 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 actually doing. There were moments I felt disconnected—like I was floating through life without being present. That numbness 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 taking a quiet moment to breathe and do things I once enjoyed—I’m giving myself permission to slow down and sit with my emotions instead of just powering 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 means more face-to-face connection and 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 practicing a moment of calm outside.

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 constant storm of worries and endless to-do lists. This year, I’m working on letting go—of perfection, of pressure, and of the idea that I need to do it all. I’m embracing the fact that progress, no matter how small, is enough.

Life rarely follows a neat plan, and I’m slowly leaning into that. I’ve realized I don’t need to have everything 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 in the little things—a quiet cup of tea, a good laugh, or being fully present with my kids. Each day, I make an effort to find one thing to be grateful for. It’s a small practice, but it makes a huge difference.

I’m also craving simplicity in my surroundings. I’m decluttering my home, clearing out the mental noise, and sticking to routines that support me instead of draining me. I want to create space—physically and emotionally—for more calm and clarity 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 the people who lift me up (and no to the things that don’t). It’s not just about spending time together; it’s about showing up with intention.

I’ve also realized I can’t pour into others if I’m running on empty. That’s why self-care is front and centre for me now. I don’t just mean bubble baths and face masks—though those are great, too—I mean the real kind of self-care: rest when I need it, sleep that actually restores me, and movement that feels good.

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 finally listening inward.

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

The Salt (The Science): When we feel totally burnt out or “run down,” we’re often dealing with Allostatic Load. This is the cumulative “wear and tear” on the body that happens when we stay in a state of chronic stress for too long. By choosing gentle movement and anti-inflammatory foods, you are physically signalling to your nervous system that it is safe to downregulate. This lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) and allows your body to move out of “survival mode” so it can actually begin to repair and digitize nutrients properly.

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 a project that needs to be fixed; you are a person who deserves to be nurtured.