It’s January 7th. How are those resolutions holding up?

If you’re like most of us, the grand plans we made on January 1st are already starting to feel… heavy. The gym membership you swore you’d use. The elaborate skincare routine you saw on TikTok. The meditation app that’s been sending you passive-aggressive notifications.

Here’s what I’ve learned after years of making products for Central PA families: the resolutions that stick aren’t the big ones. They’re the tiny ones.

Why Most Self-Care Resolutions Fail

Let’s be honest about what happens every January:

Week 1: “I’m going to do a 10-step skincare routine every morning and night!”

Week 2: “Maybe just morning AND night is too much. I’ll do it at night.”

Week 3: “I fell asleep with my makeup on twice. I’m a failure.”

Week 4: Resolution abandoned. Back to whatever we were doing before.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. The problem isn’t willpower. The problem is that we set ourselves up to fail by making self-care feel like another item on an already impossible to-do list.

The 2-Minute Rule That Changed Everything

Here’s what actually works: If it takes less than 2 minutes, you’ll actually do it.

Not 20 minutes. Not even 10 minutes. Two minutes.

That’s why I keep a lotion bar by my bathroom sink. After I wash my hands (which I do approximately 47 times a day between cooking, cleaning, and life), I take 10 seconds to run it over my hands. Done.

No elaborate routine. No “self-care Sunday” that requires blocking off 3 hours. Just 10 seconds of moisture, warmth, and a moment where I’m doing something kind for myself.

5 Self-Care Resolutions That Actually Last

1. “I will keep one nice thing within arm’s reach”

Put a lotion bar by the sink. A lip balm in your coat pocket. A nice soap by the kitchen faucet instead of the industrial-size pump from the warehouse store.

The goal isn’t to overhaul your life. It’s to make the good choice the easy choice.

Try this: Our Cocoa Butter lotion bar lives by my kitchen sink. Every time I wash dishes, I take 5 seconds afterward. That’s it.

2. “I will take my actual shower temperature down one notch”

I know, I know. Hot showers feel amazing in January. But they’re also stripping every bit of moisture from your skin.

You don’t have to go cold. Just… slightly less scalding. Your skin will thank you, and your heating bill might too.

3. “I will stop apologizing for taking 5 minutes”

This one’s not about products. It’s about permission.

You’re allowed to close the bathroom door for 5 minutes. You’re allowed to sit in your car for 2 minutes before going inside. You’re allowed to use the nice soap instead of saving it for guests who never come.

4. “I will drink water before I drink coffee”

One glass. That’s it. Before the coffee pot calls your name, drink one glass of water.

Your skin is part of your body (shocking, I know). Hydration from the inside matters just as much as what you put on the outside.

5. “I will notice one good thing about my skin each week”

We’re so trained to look for problems. The dry patch. The new line. The spot that wasn’t there yesterday.

What if you looked for something working? “My hands feel softer.” “That rough patch on my elbow is better.” “My lips aren’t cracked anymore.”

Noticing progress keeps you going. Fixating on problems makes you quit.

What This Looks Like in Real Life

Here’s my actual January morning routine (not the Instagram version):

Wake up (already running late)
Wash face with warm water (no elaborate cleanser because I’m tired)
Put on moisturizer while my coffee brews (30 seconds)
Drink water while waiting for coffee (1 minute)
Apply lip balm before leaving house (5 seconds)

Total self-care time: Under 2 minutes.

Is it a spa day? No. Is it sustainable for the next 365 days? Yes.

The Central PA Winter Factor

Let’s talk about something specific to those of us in Central PA: winter here is brutal on skin.

The combination of cold wind outside and dry heat inside creates a perfect storm for dry, irritated skin. Add in the fact that we’re all washing our hands constantly (flu season, anyone?), and it’s a wonder we have any moisture left at all.

This isn’t the time for elaborate routines. It’s the time for simple, effective solutions that you’ll actually use:

Lotion bars melt with your body heat and create a protective barrier
Body butter goes on after your shower while your skin is still slightly damp
Lip balm in every coat pocket, purse, and car cup holder
Vapor Bear Balm for when the seasonal crud inevitably hits

Start Today, Not Monday

Here’s your challenge: Pick ONE thing from this list. Just one.

Put something nice within arm’s reach. Lower your shower temp by one degree. Give yourself permission to take 5 minutes.

Don’t wait until next Monday. Don’t wait until you’ve “failed enough” at your current resolution. Start today, with something so small it feels almost silly.

Because that’s the secret nobody tells you about self-care resolutions: the ones that stick are the ones that don’t feel like work.

What’s your 2-minute self-care habit? We’d love to hear what works for you. Find us at Carlisle Creative Vibes or reach out on Facebook.

From our family in Enola to yours, Stacie, Maddi & Scott

self-care new year resolutions wellness Central PA

New Year Self-Care Resolutions That Actually Stick