Latina’s Guide to Your Self-Care Era in the New Year

The New Year is quickly approaching and in 2025, let’s make sure that we are embracing our self-care era. For many Latinas, prioritizing self-care can feel like an unfamiliar and even selfish act. Within our comunidad, we often find ourselves torn between tending to our needs and upholding our cultural values of caring for our loved ones. But here’s the truth: taking care of yourself isn’t selfish at all, on the contrary, it’s essential. I can definitely admit that the struggle to prioritize our own self-care is real! Our cultural traditions often celebrate selflessness and from an early age, we are taught to put others first – whether it may be serving the men first at the table or having to care for our younger siblings. This commitment to others can be seen as a beautiful part of our culture but not when it’s at the expense of our health and overall happiness.

It’s important to remember that self-care isn’t about neglecting others but instead, it’s about ensuring that we have the mental and emotional energy to show up as our best selves in every space we find ourselves in. When we are taking care of ourselves, we begin modeling healthy behaviors for others around us and it can truly be contagious!

Proactively and intentionally stepping into our Self-Care Era in 2025 can be empowering because:

• We can begin leading by example: When we begin to prioritize our well-being, we are showing the next generation of Latinas that it is okay to invest in ourselves. We are worth it! 
• Continuously healing: When we are not caring for ourselves, we are exposed to burn out. By prioritizing ourselves, we can begin breaking the cycle of burnout and heal generational patterns of overworking and sacrificing ourselves. Your Self-Care Era can encourage you to take back your time and energy, ensuring you are doing things that make sense for you. 

Now that you can see why tapping into your Self-Care Era is important, you might be wondering what you need to do to put things into action. Here are some things that could be helpful. This isn’t an exhaustive list; this is an opportunity to think about what makes sense for you and go with it. If it doesn’t work for you, reevaluate and change things up based on your current needs.

1. Setting Boundaries and Sticking to them: The sticking to them part is important! Practice saying “no” and remember, “no” is a complete sentence. Practice in the mirror or with someone you trust. It’s definitely encouraged to say “no” to commitments that feel overwhelming for you. If it feels uncomfortable, that’s your cue. 

Remember: boundaries create space for rest which is vital for your mental and emotional well-being. 

2. Morning and/or evening rituals: Start your day or end your day with a routine that is focused on you. This can be like journaling, meditation, or simply doing one of my favorites: enjoying a cup of coffee in silence. If this seems like too much, try giving yourself a wake up time and bedtime. The smallest ritual can create a lasting impact. 

Remember: rituals allow you to reconnect with yourself – don’t miss out on that opportunity! 

3. Move your body: physical activity of any sort can do wonders for your overall mood. Keep in mind that physical activity can be anything that makes sense for you. It can be yoga, pilates, dancing, swimming, walking, etc, the possibilities are endless. 

Remember: exercise allows us to reduce stress while boosting our energy – natural endorphins! 

4. Embrace the things you already enjoy doing: what I mean by this is that, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Think about the things that you already enjoy that are self-soothing for you whether it be your abuelita’a tea or your favorite musica para bailar. You can also tap into your creativity if that’s something you already enjoy that help you feel good. A personal favorite for me is listening to music or completing a word search. 

Remember: tapping into the things we already enjoy especially when they’re connected to our culture can provide a sense of comfort. 

5. Put “Me Time” on the calendar: I’m a big fan of the calendar and oftentimes, if it’s not on the calendar, it won’t happen. This includes self-care. Block off time in your calendar for activities that bring you joy. Remember: tap into the things you already enjoy! Even doing nothing during this time is absolutely perfect. 

Remember: You are just as important as any other task on your calendar. Make it a non-negotiable that you make time for you. 

As you think about 2025 and what it can bring, my hope is that your self-care era isn’t just a resolution but a way of life. By putting your well-being first, you’re paving the way for a lifestyle that truly honors your needs. This can begin inspiring others around you to put their own self-care first. Happiness is contagious! 

So as the New Year is around the corner, ask yourself: How can I show up even better in 2025? Whether it’s saying “no” to things that already feel overwhelming, embracing alone time, or celebrating yourself, make this New Year a year where you always choose YOU. 

Redefining what it means to thrive as Latinas allows us to truly embrace each self-care moment that we set out for ourselves. Together, we can create a community of empowered, self-caring mujeres who consistently uplift one another every step of the way.

Here’s to a year of prioritizing you!