The beginning of a new year is always rejuvenating. The excitement of the holidays quiets down, and all of a sudden there is space to breathe and dream. It’s a natural break, a time when a lot of us think about the last year and start to picture how we want the upcoming one to be.

That’s why New Year’s resolutions last. They give you a sense of hope and a chance to start over. But sometimes, even resolutions may be scary, especially when we think they will change our lives completely overnight.

What if this year was about easy resets instead of placing that type of strain on yourself? Little changes. Carefully made decisions. The kind that helps you feel good overall without making life feel like a list of things to do. While you are patient and nice to yourself while you work toward your objectives, they start to feel less daunting and more motivating.

As we roll into 2026, let’s look at some new routines and habits that will help you to feel good—no, great!—about yourself. Start small, and remember: It’s not necessary or possible to do everything all at once. Start with one thing and watch the snowball effect take place.

Reconnect With Yourself by Disconnecting From Social Media

In today’s digital world, many of us spend hours scrolling through social feeds without even realizing it. While social media can be a fun way to stay connected, too much of it can affect our mental and physical well-being more than we think. Doing a little social media detox is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

According to “the Statistics Canada study “Canadians’ assessments of social media in their lives,” among all social media users aged 15 to 64, about one-fifth reported that in the previous 12 months, they had lost sleep (19%), done less physical activity (22%), or had trouble concentrating on tasks or activities (18%) as a result of their social media use. Around one in eight users (12% to 14%) reported feeling anxious or depressed, frustrated or angry, or envious of the lives of others.”

Solid sleep, a good exercise routine, and eliminating anxiety-inducing behaviours are at the top of our list for giving yourself some love mentally and physically. Getting off Instagram, Facebook, etc. is your first step towards those healthy habits that will help you feel better, which results in more energy and a positive attitude towards life in order to embrace what you have and make your life what you want it to be.

Just to clarify, you don’t need to disappear from social media forever.

Just try taking a short break. You’ll start noticing how your energy shifts, how your mind feels clearer, and your mood lighter. That renewed sense of ease will naturally support the other goals you want to achieve this year.

Practice Mindfulness (And Yes, It Really Does Take Practice!)

Mindfulness is one of those concepts that sounds simple but takes intention to truly adopt. It means focusing on the present moment without judgment, distraction, or pressure to rush to the next thing. We often carry the weight of the past or worry about the future, but mindfulness helps us return to what’s directly in front of us.

And we mean practice, because being grateful for everything you have in the moment can be difficult sometimes. We let our past weigh on us and agonize over the future far too often. Doing one thing at a time helps with this. When we are fully engaged with the task at hand, we can even glean more enjoyment from it rather than being torn in five different directions and not accomplishing anything to our liking.

Being right here, right now, will not only help you appreciate more but it’s a cyclical effect: the more you are grateful for, the more you feel you have and less you’ll be looking for outward gratification and approval. And voilà, you’ll be feeling the best version of you in no time.

Why Mindfulness Matter

Being fully present allows you to enjoy more, stress less, and savour the little things that often get overlooked. Mindfulness nurtures gratitude, which in turn creates a cycle of emotional well-being. The more grateful you are, the more abundance you feel. And the more abundance you feel, the less you rely on outside validation to boost your self-esteem.

This calm, grounded perspective is what brings out the best version of you.

Simple Ways to Bring Mindfulness Into Daily Life

You don’t need special tools or long hours of quiet to be mindful. Start with these easy practices:

Give thanks daily whether through meditation, yoga or journaling! Find more tips on practicing daily gratitude for the benefit of health and wellbeing here.

Journaling for perspective, to lower blood pressure, and boost your immunity.

Make little routines for a bigger impact. For example: Don’t hit snooze, try a morning gratitude session to start your day. An nighttime routine that includes turning off all screens at least an hour before bed is another great way to conclude the day.

These little routines give your day structure and help you relax.

Nurturing Routines Can Help You Improve Your Whole Body Health

Being healthy isn’t only about what you eat or how much you work out. It involves everything from your skin to your movement to your emotional health. Here are some routines that support your entire self from head to toe.

Keep Skincare Simple and Supportive

Streamlined skincare with fewer products, but ones that really replenish your skin’s moisture and specific needs. Don’t feel like you need to cover up; rather, accentuate what you’ve got with a carefully curated skincare collection!

Prioritize Good and Quality Sleep

Sleep has an effect on everything, from your mood and memory to your immune system and energy levels. A regular bedtime, comfy bedding that you can’t wait to get into, a mattress and pillow that fit your body and make you feel good, and a soothing routine before bed are all important for a good night’s sleep. Make your bedroom a place where you can relax and sleep.

Get Rid of Things You Don’t Need Often To Clear Your Mind.

When your space is messy, your thinking typically is too. Even cleaning up little places like a bedside table or a single drawer might make you feel more at ease and open. Try to clear one area for just 10 minutes a week. You won’t believe how good it feels!

Read More Books and Reduce “Doom Scrolling”

Stop the doom scrolling right Now! And that includes newspapers!

Reading is reading you might say, but there’s a significant difference between the bite-sized blurbs on social media and constant influx of news that usually isn’t great, and a real book.

Something truly engaging (read: distracting!) with the ability to transport you somewhere entirely different is powerful. Reading a book, one that truly engages you, offers something scrolling never can and that is, immersion. It pulls you into a new world, gives your brain a break from constant notifications, and encourages imagination. Bonus points: make meaningful connections with likeminded souls by creating a book club!

Why Books Are Better for Your Brain

Unlike social feeds or news headlines that can often feel negative or overwhelming, reading offers a calming escape while quietly benefiting your mind. It helps reduce stress, strengthens memory, improves focus, boosts creativity, and sparks joy and curiosity. Even better, choosing a book before bed instead of a screen can help your mind unwind and make it easier to fall asleep.

Do Something Just for You (Regularly)

One of the most powerful habits you can set in the new year is dedicating time, even just five minutes, to something that brings you joy. Whether it’s joining a club or even starting your own! Exercising your brain and your body regularly, treating yourself to a spa service, coffee with a friend, honing a new skill, well, the list can go on and on! You know deep down what brings you joy. Make just 5 minutes a day for it and soon you’ll find that time can stretch a little, or at the very least, it’ll boost you through your To Dos.

What matters is that it fills your cup. You already know what makes you feel alive—this is your invitation to make space for it.

Live Your Best Life, One Small Step at a TimeJoy, in Small Moments

Joy isn’t indulgent, it’s essential. The more you do things that energize you, the more motivated, grounded, and optimistic you become. This positivity then trickles into every aspect of your life.

Just like skincare highlights your natural beauty, building simple, intentional routines helps you recognize and appreciate your strengths, your relationships, your environment, and most importantly, yourself.

You don’t need to make a large promise or write down a long list of things to do. You just need to do small things every day that help you stay healthy. When you know what makes you feel good, you naturally start to live with greater joy, energy, and confidence.

Don’t try to be perfect this year. Instead, be your best self by taking care of the life you already have and making place for the one you want.