Self-Care or Self-Inventory? Rethinking Reflection at Year’s End
It’s that “new year, new me” time again as December draws to a close
The usual suspects make their way to the top of to-do lists: gym memberships, skincare hauls, another gratitude journal.
But what if this year, instead of wrapping up 2025 with bath bombs and overpriced candles, we took a different approach? What if true self-care meant doing the deeper work: taking stock, asking uncomfortable questions, and looking in the mirror with intent, not illusion?
The Illusion of Indulgence
Self-care has been commoditised. Somewhere along the way, it became synonymous with indulgence: face masks, manicures, rose quartz rollers. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with those, they offer temporary comfort, not sustainable transformation.
Psychologist Dr. Laurie Santos, known for her work on the science of wellbeing at Yale University, has warned against the commercialisation of self-care. In her podcast, The Happiness Lab, she says “We often conflate pleasure with happiness. But long-term wellbeing is built on purpose, connection, and growth.”
Self-Inventory: The Real Work
Self-inventory is the underrated backbone of meaningful self-development. It’s not glamorous, but it’s essential. Consider:
- What are your recurring thought patterns?
- How did you sleep this year?
- Are your finances aligned with your values?
- Which boundaries did you uphold and which did you let slide?
Instead of asking, “What makes me feel better today?” perhaps the better question is, “What do I need to confront so I can feel better long-term?”
The Eight Pillars of Wellness
As we plan for 2025, grounding your reflection in the Eight Pillars of Wellness can offer clarity and direction:
- Emotional – How did you cope with challenges? Were you able to cultivate gratitude and self-compassion?
- Environmental – Did your spaces support peace or perpetuate stress?
- Financial – Are you financially empowered or financially avoidant?
- Intellectual – Did you stretch your mind? Learn something new?
- Occupational – Was your work fulfilling? Were you heard, valued, supported?
- Physical – Are you sleeping, moving, and nourishing your body?
- Social – Who are your people? Do your relationships lift or drain you?
- Spiritual – Did you feel connected to meaning or purpose?
From Reflection to Career Planning
If you’re unsure how your personal inventory connects to your professional life, start with our Career Trajectory Plan. It’s designed to help you translate insights into strategy, so 2026 feels less like a dream and more like a direction
Goodbye 2025, here’s to doing the work – no candles, no cucumbers required
See you on the other side
– Team Bloom
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+1 5182808813
