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In the fast-paced world we live in, it’s surprisingly easy to forget to take care of yourself. Between classes, deadlines, work, and friends, it sometimes takes genuine effort to take a moment and work on number one: you.
As the New Year approaches, it’s a good time to reset and renew. It’s an opportunity to focus, re-energize and re-inspire yourself: mind, body, and soul. After the hectic holidays are over and you’ve completed your yearly obligation to make small talk with your weird cousins, the New Year really is the opportune time to focus on what you want to do — and accomplish — in 2015. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Keep a Journal

Let it all out. Whether you want to keep a physical pen-and-notebook journal or write a blog, it’s cathartic to write your feelings, thoughts, and experiences. You don’t have to share it with anyone if you don’t want to — you can even keep that blog on a private setting — but if you’re the type to over-analyze or over-think, it might be a good thing to organize some of those jumbled thoughts on the paper. Get last year’s stresses written down, to make room for 2015 in your mind and soul.

Put Yourself Out There, Friend-Wise

Making friends is hard. In many ways, making friends can be harder than making a romantic connection. But if you find yourself in a new city without the kind of friend you can call last-minute to grab a drink with and talk, it can be lonely. Approach the friend search with the same zeal you would do anything else. Be proactive. Join a softball league, take an art class, chat up the friendly-looking girl next to you in line at the clothing store. Don’t be afraid to ask for a number or make plans to meet for lunch. If you’re finding yourself having a major friend-crush, it’s likely she feels the same way. So do something about it. Your own well-being will improve when you’re surrounded with positive, like-minded people.

Put Yourself Out There, Dating-Wise

There’s nothing wrong with being single. There’s nothing wrong with wanting someone to casually see. There’s also nothing wrong with wanting a bonafide boyfriend. Find out what you want and go for it. And once you find someone that fits what you’re looking for, tell them. It sounds cliché, but honesty is the best way to get what you want, especially when it comes to relationships.

Find a Skincare Regimen That Works for You — and Stick To it

The variety of skincare techniques, tools, and washes out there is kind of insane. But once you find a skincare system that works for you, stick to it. There’s no worse feeling than that of an oncoming pimple, especially if you know it could have been prevented, had you not been too lazy to wash your face before bed. For great skin in the new year, see philosophy’s recommended products here.

Read More

Reading is one of the greatest joys out there. Losing yourself in a new story can be highly therapeutic and you owe it to yourself to do it more. Borrow books from a friend, stop by a second-hand bookshop, or finally sign up for that library card. And if you’re having trouble figuring out which title you want to start with, here’s a list.

Cook More

After a long day, it’s easy to default to takeout. After all, it’s a whole lot easier than taking the time to grocery shop and prepare a meal for yourself. But when you make the time — and put in the effort — to increase the number of meals you eat at home, you become more aware of what you put in your body and your overall well-being improves. And once you begin to exchange the pepperoni pizza or burrito for a well-balanced, home cooked meal on a regular basis, you’ll be surprised how easily it can fit into your schedule.

Get Inspired


The simple act figuring out your goals — both ones you want to accomplish this week and others you hope to accomplish within five years — can be invigorating. Figure out what you want, make a plan to get there, and do it.