TOP SELF CARE TRENDS IN 2024 🖤🪩🧘🏼‍♀️

In this post we’ll chat thru…

① My personal perspective on SELF CARE + WHY I believe it’s ESSENTIAL
② The 8 Types of SELF CARE
③ Top SELF CARE TRENDS for each area in 2024

---

Hey Hey SISTERHOOD!!! 👋🏼 One of my FAVE things to teach on is SELF CARE and even though this space is a SELF CARE SISTERHOOD I know I often talk about growth and navigating sticking points…more of the JOURNEY, if you will.

But today I wanted to pop in and talk thru SELF CARE and share what I see TRENDING in this space in 2024. It’s been awhile since I’ve done a post where I talk all things SELF CARE and so this is the perfect time as we kick off a fresh year to give you my framework for all things REAL self care.

I’m sure you've heard the phrase "you can't pour from an empty cup" before. And while that sounds good rolling off the tongue, by showing up and serving others in all your roles each and every day, I imagine we all naturally empty our cups day after day after day...leaving little room to be filled back up. Is this resonating? You wake up with amazing ambitions and want to give your day everything you have. But as the hours roll on, you have less and less to give. In my life this looked like ME always being placed on the back burner and that led to a vicious cycle of stress, burn out, and feeling resentful of the activities + people I loved most.

That's when I started asking a better question.

What if instead of filling your cup and then pouring out...what if you cultivated daily habits that filled your cup so much that it was OVERFLOWING?!

Think about it. If you simply "fill your cup," it will always be depleted by the end of the day with all you give and in all the ways you show up. But if your cup is overflowing to BEGIN with...YOU can then pour out to others from that EXTRA and remain FULL, too. And I get it…self care has this stigma (even still) that it’s a little bit selfish. But REAL SELF CARE is like the oxygen mask analogy and it’s anything BUT selfish. You know the announcement that comes on the airplane PA before you take off?! The airline will always remind you to put on your oxygen mask BEFORE helping others. Self care (and "overflowing your cup") is the same - taking care of you with intention + focus FIRST SO YOU CAN take care of others WELL and show up to the calling I believe is placed on your life.

Alright…so now that we know it’s truly ESSENTIAL to care for ourselves…and we have a fresh perspective that we CAN DO IT in a way that loves + serves + honors what matters most to us, let’s dig in to the different types of self care and some top trends I can see happening in 2024.

THE 8 TYPES OF SELF CARE

We often think of self care as all the physical, superficial stuff. And don’t get me wrong…I love my skin care routine. I’m all for the ‘everything showers’ trend on TikTok. And I love a good bath bomb with a fun mocktail. But if this isn’t what you really NEED…if this is only the SURFACE LEVEL of the issue, then you’re basically putting a band aid on the problem vs getting to the root cause. We do self care a little (or maybe a lot) different in this space. Self care is what area YOU need to give attention to. Self-care can be something that is calming and relaxing. And it can also be a looming task that you've been putting off. Often times it's the areas we've been placing on the back burner that need focus. Therefore, it will not look the same for everyone AND it will not look the same day to day. It's about living with intention + focus so these habits of self care can routinely be sprinkled into your day.

SO WHAT ARE THE 8 TYPES OF SELF CARE?!

• Mental - cultivating + strengthening a healthy mindset through mindfulness and curiosity

• Emotional - taking care of matters of the heart with healthy coping strategies and self-compassion

• Physical - taking care of your body with exercise, nutrition, good hygiene, and proper sleep

• Environmental - taking care of the spaces and places around you and also taking inventory + ownership if a space or place no longer serves the season you are in

• Spiritual - taking care of your soul through activities, practices, +/or communities that provide a sense of purpose, direction, and/or meaning to your life. this doesn’t have to be religious, but for some it is

• Social / Relational - cultivating healthy relationships (intimate, friendships, + even as a parent) and connecting with people who get you

• Recreational - getting back to your inner child with hobbies, fun activities, adventures, and new experiences.

• Financial - taking care of the resources you’ve been given and developing a healthy relationship, mindset, + behaviors surrounding spending, saving, and stewarding money.
  

MENTAL SELF CARE

Mental self care is where we cultivate + strengthen a healthy mindset through mindfulness and curiosity. You might be in need of mental self-care if your brain feels zapped at the end of the day or you’ve been battling negative thought patterns + habits. A few trends I see coming in 2024 that deal specifically with mental self care are:

• Writing in a journal (shout out to the WIN THE AM journal for making this doable!) Journaling has become pretty popular the past few years bc it’s a powerful tool for mental health and personal growth. You can use a journal to process out your thoughts and emotions while working through anxiety, depression and even your dreams and goals. It’s a private way to dump out all that stuff that consumes our mind.

• Take an intentional digital detox. Digital detoxing continues to grow as a wellness trend as more and more people are seeking to get away from constant connectivity.

• Learn a new skill / become a beginner again (like creating a digital course or learning how to flip furniture).

EMOTIONAL SELF CARE

Emotional self care is where we take care of matters of the heart with healthy coping strategies and self-compassion. You might be in need of emotional self-care if…you find it hard to control your emotions, your emotions have been really suppressed lately, or your day is easily ruined or affected by the the emotions of others. I am an emotional being and highly sensitive so this area of self care is a MUST for me to monitor. A couple trends that might help if you need some emotional self care are:

• Schedule virtual or in-person therapy 1-2 times a month. This is by FAR the best way to tend to your emotions with a non biased party. Therapy is the best thing for me to work thru emotions that have been laying dormant and to get to the root cause when I’m in seasons where my emotions are really heightened.

• Cultivate an evening routine where you tend to your self in slow ways. And let’s not over-complicate it…there’s a trend called the “three things” routine, meaning you do one thing for your future self, one thing to connect with loved ones via play or creativity, and one thing for rest and reflection. This isn’t ground breaking and you might already be doing some of these things but I can bet that thru intention, connection, and winding down you can tune back into what YOU need and begin to bring some balance back into your emotional state…esp after a tough day.

PHYSICAL SELF CARE

This is the most common area and the one you might gravitate towards or think about when you think “self care.” This is where we take care of our bodies with exercise, nutrition, good hygiene, and proper sleep. You might be in need of physical self-care if you have low energy, haven’t been feeling your best, aren’t sleeping well, or just know you’re not making healthy choices for your body. In 2024 I think these are going to be the most popular physical self care trends:

• Become ‘sober curious.’ Being ‘sober curious’ is a trend that will continue to go strong in 2024. More people are attempting to change their relationship with alcohol. And mocktails are TRENDING ya’ll and I’ve had a lot of fun in recent months swapping our my alcohol for a mocktail. My fave right now is to take Strawberry Vanilla Olipop, mix it with some tart cherry juice and a dash of powdered magnesium for a night time wind down mocktail that is delicious.

• Add magnesium into your supplement routine. Magnesium has so many benefits. A few of which are:

1. It May Reduce Stress and Improve Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression.

2. It Helps to Maintain Healthy Bones.

3. It May Improve Some Headaches.

4. It Supports Healthy Blood Pressure Levels.

5. It May Improve Sleep.

• Try cycle syncing your workouts, routines, and nutrition. It’s easiest for me to think about the 4 phases of my cycle as seasons - Menstrual (winter), Follicular (spring), Ovulatory (summer), Luteal (fall). Think of things that would feel good in those seasons…for example, winter is a time of rest and going inward so maybe gentle restorative yoga is on the calendar for those days. In the summer it’s high energy so in the ovulatory phase you’d connect into more HIIT style workouts, spin classes, or cardio.

ENVIRONMENTAL SELF CARE

This next area is probably my favorite one to tend to bc it’s all about taking care of the spaces and places around you (like your home, office, classroom, car, etc) but it’s ALSO about taking inventory + ownership if a space or place no longer serves the season you are in or the level you’ve grown to, so this can involve friend circles or even jobs you’ve outgrown.

I love using the example of how we typically nurture and care for a human as they grow. When parents are expecting a baby they prepare a room for it and make sure it has everything the baby needs to be well, but also to grow - a crib, books, soft materials + lights, a rocker, somewhere to change the baby. As the baby grows you remove the crib and swap it out for the big kid bed. The colors might brighten and we swap in new toys + tools that will help them develop. And eventually as they age you remove the “kiddie” decor and turn it into something a little more mature…something that probably matches their interests. Paths aren’t all the same, but in general, we go to college and our dorm rooms and apartments reflect that stage of life with new (and if you’re like me, cheap) kitchen ware, bedding, etc. We start adding in what we’re growing into. Then we graduate and move into our own places and usually at some point we just stop evolving our SPACES.

But one thing I know is that as I grow, my surroundings need to help nurture that level and support me as I grow into the next. Environmental self care is EVERYTHING. You might be in need of environmental self-care if…you can’t focus, don’t feel productive in the space you’re in. It could be for you if your space feels cluttered or unkept. And. You might need environmental self care if you are putting yourself in environments that are draining your spirit…ie social media scrolling or friend circles you’ve outgrown. There’s so much to this area and I think that’s why I love it. Here are a few ideas I think will be on the ride in 2024 if you’re needing some environmental self care:

• Cleaning and organizing is WAY more fun when you call it a RESET.

• Organize your desk + make everything aesthetically pleasing.

• Unfollow Fridays. Unfollow anything on your social that is not making you a better human. If it’s a meh or drains your energy it’s gotta go.

SPIRITUAL SELF CARE

Spiritual self care is taking care of your soul through activities, practices, +/or communities that provide a sense of purpose, direction, and/or meaning to your life. This doesn’t have to be attached to a religion, but for some it is. You might be in need of spiritual self-care if you’ve been lacking clarity, fulfillment, purpose, or direction in life. Here are a few ways I you can weave this into your life in 2024:

• Make a vision board for 2024 on Canva. I have a template HERE if you need help getting started. Having a vision of where you want to go in the coming year and placing it somewhere you can see it regularly does EVERYTHING to help drive us towards a greater purpose. Meaningful pursuits is a KEY HUMAN DESIRE and if you don’t have anything meaningful you’re pursuing, I know it will end up translating like you need a spa day. Maybe you just need something worth getting out of bed for.

• Meditation is TRENDING ya’ll. And for good reason. Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit your mind, body, and spirit. You can also use it to relax and cope with stress by refocusing your attention on something calming. Meditation can help you learn to stay centered and keep inner peace. Turn on a meditation app for 5-10 minutes. I love to use Peloton but apps like Calm and Headspace are also amazing for this.

• Get back to church. A huge trend we’re going to see in 2024 is people getting back into DEEPER CONNECTION. And for me, I feel like there’s no better place for this than church. I know there can be a lot wrong with the church but I believe we were made to life in COMMUNITY with one another. So do your research and find a place that feels like home + helps you grow in your spiritual walk.

SOCIAL / RELATIONAL SELF CARE

Social / relational self care is where we cultivate healthy relationships (intimate, friendships, + even as a parent) and connect with people who get you. You might be in need of social / relational self-care if you feel isolated, lonely, or disconnected from the important people in your life. It’s also important to see this space as one where we learn healthy boundaries with others and where we can push ourselves to be the kind of friend, wife, parent, sister, etc that we truly desire to be. It takes a lot of intention in this space, but I’m here for it. Here are a few ways you can nurture this area of self care in 2024:

• Celebrating INCH STONES is forecasted to be the biggest parenting trend in 2024. Instead of thinking about MILESTONES…what if you celebrated the small markers along the way? Like losing their first tooth or a potty prize jar. And honestly, it doesn’t have to just be for parents. I can get behind this trend, too. The little things are what remind you that you’re growing + making PROGRESS. So celebrate INCH STONES wherever you see them…with others you love and with yourself!

• Pinterest predicts that 2024 will be all about getting vulnerable and forging deeper connections. Gen Z and Millennials will drive this trend, searching for new conversation starters and intimate questions to help couples + friends reconnect. Basically convos are GOING BIG and that simply means deeper connection for those who matter most to you.

RECREATIONAL SELF CARE

Next is recreational self care. This area is where we get back to that inner child with hobbies, fun activities, adventures, and new experiences. This is where we have FUN, ya’ll. Yes. As an adult. You might be in need of recreational self-care if you feel like there’s so much pressure in life or you can’t remember the last time you laughed so hard you almost wet yourself. For me I’ve needed this area in seasons where I’ve felt like work was what I was defined by. And truly this area is KEY if you’re in a season of high stress of battling burnout. Here are some FUN things you can get down with in 2024 if you want to focus on recreational self care:

• Take a SLOW CATION. Basically a vacation where you catch up + focus on rest. This year, Pinterest predicts that people will plan trips that take it extra slow—and help them catch up on some precious z's… basically the opposite of a jam-packed itinerary. Fewer nights out on the town, more lazy mornings in bed. In 2024, there’ll be no shame in your slowcation game.

• Remember what was FUN for you as a kid and bring it back. It’s always fun when a movie or toy you were fond of as a kid comes back out in a new way…like I straight up made my mom drive to multiple McDonald’s last Halloween when they brought back the Halloween pails for Happy Meals. Ya’ll. Find your fun. If you loved going to parks as a kid and swinging…do it. You loved riding bikes…make it happen. You loved reading fiction as a kid…get back into it. Whatever was fun for you as a kid, it’s time to bring it back and make it TREND in your life no matter what anyone says.

FINANCIAL SELF CARE

And last we’ve got financial self care which is one I’ve added into the mix after a year of studying + teaching all things self care. I realized that money plays a HUGE roll in our overall well-being and that I wasn’t taught a lot about being a good steward of my resources. Maybe that’s you too and I’m hoping we can get some good convos started around this area in the coming year. Financial self care is where we take ownership of our finances + take measures to save, spend, and steward our resources wisely. Because this is a newer area I’m not focusing so much on what’s trending in the next year but really what are some things that have worked for me when it comes to my relationship with money.

• Look at your subscriptions and see if there are any you want to cancel and/or forgot to cancel. Are you still paying for that Orange Theory membership even though you haven’t set foot in the studio in months? It might be time to cancel. Didn’t realize that you’re still paying for Disney+ even though you only wanted it for one movie? Make sure to unsubscribe and put that money to use elsewhere.

• Read books like Rich Dad, Poor Dad, You are a Badass at Making Money, or Wealth Habits and give your mindset a makeover when it comes to all things money.

• Create a spreadsheet and a weekly 30 min financial self care date to go over your spending + earning + giving. Each week I do this on Thursday. I open up the spreadsheet and my bank app and fill in any business expenses from the week, life spending, earnings from the week, and then I give back 10% of my earnings to either a church, a cause, or a real life person I can bless. This habit has helped me see where my money is going and allows me to think before I buy each week. It helps me save AND it helps me be a cheerful giver. It’s actually something I look forward to each and every Thursday.

---

You might have like a million light bulbs going off after I shared all of these forms of self care, why you might need them, and some relevant ways to nurture them in 2024. So before we wrap up I want to give you a few action steps to get started. These steps are geared toward helping the busy woman make self-care a woven piece of her day to day life. Burnout. Overwhelm. Constantly feeling low and alone? It’s not serving you, sis. If you’re too busy for self care…you’re too busy. Period. So let’s make 2024 the year that self care becomes a TOOL that helps us show up as our BEST SELF.

…because there are people who are counting on you.

STEP 1: RATE EACH AREA OF SELF CARE ON A SCALE of 1 - 10.

evaluate where you’re currently at (zero judgement!!!)

STEP 2: IDENTIFY YOUR 1 or 2 HIGHEST + LOWEST AREAS

First…celebrate where you’re already rocking it! 👏🏼🎉 This means you have habits ALREADY woven into your life and that’s a BIG FREAKING DEAL. Keep those up if they’re serving you + pause to acknowledge yourself!

And then take a moment and look at what areas may need attention. It’s often the self care that we’ve placed on the back burner that we’re in need of MOST. Your ratings are clues to what you need. Listen to them.

STEP 3: TAKE ACTION

…because DUH…action is the secret sauce, my friends!

Brain storm a few ways you can sprinkle self care into your life in those spaces that need it most. Scroll back up for some examples or follow me over on Instagram for inspo, too! Just like anything else I talk about over here…self care takes INTENTION + FOCUS. Don’t just cross your fingers and hope that it happens. It won’t. Just like anything else that’s important to you…schedule it into your week so that you know it will happen.

BONUS STEP:

And if you need a tangible tool to help you create the habit + show up to your self care each and every day, snag my ✨FREE✨ self care trackers below.

OKAY…LOVE THIS BUT WANT EVEN MORE?!

The SISTERHOOD MEMBERSHIP is a virtual self care community for hard working women who also want to include THEMSELVES on their to do list. The sisterhood’s mission is to provide tools, resources, and community that equip and empower you to take care of YOURSELF (mind, body, + spirit), so you can go out into the world and LOVE + SERVE from the overflow. Every season we dive deep into a fresh + relevant topic to help YOU make progress towards what matters most to YOU. Let’s do the dang thing!

PS…This website includes affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products + tools that I have personally reviewed, love, and/or use. You can read the full statement HERE.