The Self-Care Edit
Start 2025 right with everything you need to be the best version of yourself
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The Self-Care Edit
Start 2025 right with everything you need to be the best version of yourself
I love The Gap. Not the clothing brand (although they’re great too). I mean the gap between Christmas and New Year; that delicious stretch of time where everything seems to slow down, waiting for January to begin. Done right, this period can feel like taking a deep breath. An opportunity to retreat into a cosy cocoon, emerging in January as a rested and restored version of yourself. If you need a little help getting into the mood, here are some self-care recommendations to carry into 2025 and beyond.
Sleep
One thing that’s always on my New Year’s resolutions is getting more sleep. And yet, by December, my sleep bank is deep in its overdraft, suffering from months of accrued debt as I continue to wilfully ignore my mother’s advice: that everything is better after a good night’s sleep. Luckily, the run up to New Year’s Eve is the perfect opportunity to make headway on my resolution - just before it’s time to make some new ones.
Re-hydrate
One of the good things about living in London is proximity to Liberty’s Tudor flagship. One of the less good things is the hard water and the dry winter air. These factors often mean that by Christmas, I’m often feeling dehydrated and dull, having let my routine slip as I swap self-care for holiday parties and last minute gift shopping. Luckily for me, I can use the former to cancel out the latter - investing in some unctuous creams and potions from Liberty’s Beauty Hall to replenish the moisture in my face, skin and hair. Not to mention the simplest solution of all: drinking more water (from beautiful Liberty glassware).
Bathe
The ritual of bathing is an ancient one. For thousands of years, the simple act of washing one’s body has been the site of many religious and ceremonial traditions. From the Japanese Onsen to the Turkish Hammams to Ayurvedic bathing, Scandinavian saunas and Russian Banyas, almost every culture has built some kind of tradition around it. Whilst we might rush through the shower as part of our morning routine, use the holiday period to indulge in your own bathing rituals, tapping into the spiritual benefits with the help of fragrant, foaming treats.
Stay Cosy
If you live in a cold climate, then nothing is more comforting than cuddling up inside on a chilly winter day. Enhance the experience with a soft cashmere sweater, a cosy pair of socks, and an elegant porcelain mug of freshly-brewed tea. Finish with a book or film that will send your mind wandering somewhere warm.
Awaken the Senses
Self-care is innately linked to sensuality. There’s a reason why so many meditation practices invite us to drop into our bodies via a body scan, and pay attention to our breath. There’s nothing more grounding than feeling alert and in touch with your physical self - and the best shortcut to this is to awaken your senses. Use the holiday period to reconnect with your intuition by paying close attention to each: which colours make your eyes light up? Can you taste the delicate notes of a herbal tea? Smell in particular has powerful links to memory and imagination. Why not find your signature scent with a Concierge appointment in Liberty’s Fragrance Lounge?
Get Creative
Another way to reset is to get in touch with your inner child. Creativity is a great way to do this - whether that’s free writing in a journal or painting by numbers to recreate your favourite work of art. If possible, try to indulge your creativity away from a screen. You can also take the act of play more literally with a board game, a jigsaw puzzle or a game of cards with a friend.
