New Beginnings: 7 New Year’s resolutions you’ll actually want to keep

At Nature’s Journey, we’re less about 'giving things up' and more about finding small ways to add enrichment to your life. So, with that in mind, we’ve pulled together a few super easy long-term goals that will benefit your skin, enhance your wellbeing and improve your overall health. Start now, and you’ll thank yourself when the end of the year rolls around...

Add a facial oil to your skincare routine

If you feel stuck in a rut with your skincare routine or want to switch up the products you use, you can’t go wrong with a facial oil. Facial oils penetrate deeper into the skin, sealing in moisture. After using a facial oil consistently for a few months, you’ll find your skin becomes soft, supple and beautifully radiant.

Our Radiance Facial Oil is the perfect addition to any skincare routine. Enriched with CBD, rebalancing hemp seed oil and antioxidant marula, flaxseed and rosehip oils, it helps reveal a natural radiance while bringing a little calm to your day.

To use it, warm a few drops in your palms and massage it into your face and neck as you breathe in the calming aroma. You can apply the oil every evening to freshly-cleansed skin or as an occasional treat.

Psst, got oily skin? Then read our blog post on how to banish it in 6 simple steps. You’ll find out how a facial oil can really help.

Read more books

Hands up if you love reading but never seem to find the time to get stuck into a good book. Yep, us too!

When life gets crazy, reading is usually one of the first things to come off the agenda. But reading not only reduces stress – it improves sleep and provides your brain with the mental stimulation it craves. To help get you back into the habit, try following these tips: 

• Always have a book to hand, whether you’re at home, travelling to work or on your lunch break. If you don’t want to carry around an actual book, an e-reader may be better suited to you.

• Make reading a regular habit by picking up your book at the same time each day. An hour before bed is ideal, as reading helps rest your mind and prepare your body for sleep.

• Have a list of books you’d like to read in advance and get hold of a copy before you’ve finished your current book. This will stop you from slipping out of the habit when things get busy.

• If you’re not enjoying a particular book, ditch it. Reading isn’t supposed to be a chore.

• If you struggle with consistency, put the book down once you get to a good part. You’ll be itching to pick it back up when you’re ready to start reading again.

Drink more water

Drinking more water is a surprisingly tricky resolution to keep – but the benefits are endless. Water helps improve physical and mental performance, prevents fatigue and contributes towards radiant skin.

If you’re not a fan of how water tastes, try to find ways to make it a more enjoyable experience. Starting your day with a cup of hot water and a slice of lemon is a great idea. The lemon adds flavour while providing essential vitamins to help boost the immune system, clear skin and ease congestion.

You could also add cucumber, frozen strawberries and other fruits to your water to make it taste better. Mix it up as often as you like to keep things interesting – you’re more likely to stick to your goal of drinking more water that way.

As a rule of thumb, aim to drink around half your body weight in ounces every day. For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, 90 ounces of water – which is a little over 2.5 litres – is about right. Feeling overwhelmed? Then start small and build up to this goal over time. There’s no rush!

Spend 15 minutes a day out in nature

We’ve already talked a lot in other blogs about how nature’s a healer – and that’s because it’s so true! Being outside in green spaces – like forests, gardens and parks – for just 15 minutes boosts endorphin levels and dopamine production – AKA those hormones that make you feel amazing.

There are endless other benefits to being out in nature, too. Getting outside:

• Reduces feelings of stress and anger
• Helps you feel more relaxed
• Increases your fitness levels
• Connects you to your local landscape
• Boosts confidence and self-esteem

Plus, when you’re working from home or in a stuffy office, getting outside on your lunch break can help you see things more clearly – especially if you’re having a hard day. If you struggle to find the time, try getting up 30 minutes earlier and treat yourself to a pre-breakfast stroll. We guarantee you’ll feel SO much better for it.

New Year’s tip: Why not set yourself the challenge of getting your 10,000 steps a day? If you’re not much of a walker, start with 5,000 and gradually increase them each week until 10,000 feels like a breeze.

Start deep cleansing your skin

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to say goodbye to dull winter skin, then add our Daily Cleansing Balm into your daily skincare routine. With a combination of CBD, skin-conditioning mango seed and shea butter, and antioxidant broccoli seed and vitamin E, it gently cleanses and exfoliates skin to reveal radiant, healthy-looking skin every day.

The best part is this cleansing balm slots seamlessly into any skincare routine, providing multiple skin-enhancing benefits without much time and effort. In other words, this is a New Year’s resolution you’ll have no problem sticking to.

Massage a small amount over your face, neck and eyes before soaking the organic cotton cloth it comes with in warm water. Wring it out, wipe away any residue and pat dry your skin with a clean towel.

Wear SPF every day

SPF is more commonly associated with summer, which means most of us don’t wear it anywhere as much as we should. Even on cloudy winter days, skin is exposed to harmful UV rays, which can result in sunburn, premature ageing and sun damage.

Opt for a mineral sunscreen over a chemical SPF. Mineral SPFs are generally more effective, less irritating on sensitive skin and, unlike chemical sunscreens, protect against both UVB and UVA rays. If that wasn’t enough, they’re safer for marine life when you use them on holiday, too.

Nurture your relationships

One of the most meaningful New Year’s resolutions you can make is nurturing your relationships. When life becomes a crazy blur of work, sleep, eat and repeat, it’s all-too easy to leave messages unread. But without friendships, life can feel a bit boring.

You don’t need an excuse to reach out. A simple Facebook message, text or phone call to see how your friends are doing is more than enough to keep the conversation going. You could also book in monthly coffee date to catch up on the latest news over a latte and a slice of cake. There’s nothing better than a coffee and a natter. And if you’re feeling really brave, why not give your friend a call rather than a text?

If you’re looking to make new friends, joining a book club or hobby group is a fantastic way to meet people with the same interests as you. It’s only nerve-wracking for the first five minutes, we promise!

This year, find your new beginning with our restoring aromatherapy blends and targeted skincare solutions. Discover the full range here.