The holidays are over. The gifts have been unwrapped, the holiday cookies eaten, the eggnog tippled and the cheerful holiday lights taken down and returned to storage.
New Year’s Eve came … and went. Welcome 2026.
Now what?
Many people enjoy the arrival of the new year and see it as a time of rebirth, growth and as a chance to start anew and make a serious commitment to self-improvement goals. For others, the new year is just another date on the calendar.
If you are seeking to try something different in 2026, a change from failed New Year’s resolutions or the “new year, new you” workout ethos, why not try practicing self-care?
Why Self-Care?
For many, the world today seems relentlessly stressful with politics, an increased cost of living and a relentless barrage of demands on our time, all-consuming in our waking hours.
Experts recommend regular doses of self-care that can save our sanity and our health.
The key benefits of self-care include the following.
Reduces Stress and Burnout Helps manage daily pressures, lowering anxiety and preventing exhaustion.
Boosts Mental Health Improves mood, self-esteem, resilience and overall emotional well-being.
Increases Physical Health Linked to lower risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, better energy and improved sleep.
Improves Productivity Taking breaks and recharging actually makes you more effective, in your career, your job and in all aspects of life.
How to Start
Start small. Even 5-10 minutes of a relaxing activity can make a difference. Be intentional, schedule it like any other important appointment.
Listen to your needs, identify what you need in the moment, whether it’s rest, connection or stimulation.
Andrea M. Slominski, Ph.D., a women’s midlife coach, speaker and author with a practice in Santa Clarita, said self-care is important physically and mentally.
“Every week we all need to take time to unplug, turn off the television, put down the phone, get off the computer. One of the easiest things you can do is go outside,” she said. “Go for a walk. Move your body, move your thoughts. Even a half-hour walk can change your state of mind.”
Walking not only allows time for the mind to calm, but also for the body to move. Moving is important to prevent stiffness and to keep joints healthy.
Nature
“Being in nature is a way to refresh yourself,” said Slominski. “Be mindful and watch the change in seasons. It might not be as obvious in the SCV compared to other locales, but you can observe the blooms and the buds on the trees.”
In the Santa Clarita Valley, access to nature is extensive and free. The city offers more than 100 miles of trails and paseos for various outdoor activities like walking, jogging and biking.
Plus the city has 40 parks where you can picnic, play games and enjoy various outdoor activities.
The county offers free access to the Placerita Canyon and Vasquez Canyon Natural Areas. Castaic Lake Recreation Area charges an entry fee for cars.
Towsley Canyon has several popular trails with options for free or paid parking.
Sleep
Slominski said one of the most important self-care activities is sleep.
“If we don’t get enough good sleep, it can cause a host of physiological and psychological problems,” she said. “Sleep is important for our body and mind to be able to renew itself, heal itself. The foundation for all self-care is sleep.”
Among the reasons why your body needs sleep:
Sleep organizes and strengthens new information, integrating it into long-term memory.
The brain’s glymphatic system clears out toxins that build up during the day.
Adequate sleep improves attention, problem-solving, creativity and decision-making skills.
Sleep is essential for tissue repair and for your immune system to help fight infections.
Touch
Suzette Sinclair, a Certified Massage Therapist in the Santa Clarita Valley, said regular massage offers a host of positive self-care benefits.
“Regular massage therapy offers both mental and physical benefits,” she said. “It is an important part of any self-care routine. Benefits include reduced stress, anxiety and pain by improving circulation, flexibility and muscle tension, aiding in recovery, sleep and overall mood and energy levels.”
Smell
Smell is an often-overlooked area of self-care. Think about the smells that trigger happy memories or feelings of safety and comfort.
Realtors for years have used the trick of warming a pan of vanilla in the oven to give a home the scent of fresh-baked cookies.
Use scent to infuse everyday activities, from morning routines to bedtime, with specific aromas. It helps signal your brain to shift states, promoting mindfulness, calm, or motivation.
In addition to what you smell, the practice of daily deep breathing, a relaxation technique using slow, full breaths, will calm your nervous system, reduce stress and improve focus.
Deep breathing is done by inhaling deeply through the nose (feeling your belly rise) and exhaling slowly through the mouth.
Nurture
Slominski said each individual has their own unique blueprint for self-care and special ways to nurture themselves.
“Find time to do what brings you joy,” she said. “I think as adults we forget to play. Play is something you do for the sheer joy of it.”
Play comes in all forms, Slominski said.
“You can just sit in a small nook and read, enjoy a craft, visit the beach, window shop, anything that you enjoy that is out of your routine that makes you lose track of time,” she said.
Play allows the brain to enter into the flow state and gives it a chance to rest from constant overstimulation.
Now is the time to implement your 2026 self-care plan.
