One New Year’s resolution that is surprisingly hard to keep? Practicing self-care. Sure, it may sound easy enough, but a true path to self-care requires intentionality—and the right partners. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some essential local wellness companies.

Medspa: K Stewart Beauty and Wellness
Start the year fresh and revitalized with a visit to K Stewart Beauty amd Wellness. This Fells Point medspa offers non-invasive beauty-boosting treatments from the inside out, ranging from go-to facials and laser hair removal to hydrating IV therapy. 1310 Fleet St., 443-963-1695

Soaps & Scrubs: Harp Vision
More than skin-deep, Harp Vision body care products were developed with relaxation in mind. Each soap, scrub, and bath tea is formulated with therapeutic natural ingredients, such as eucalyptus, cedarwood, and rosemary, targeted to soothe muscle and joint pain as much as to cleanse the skin.

BEARD CARE: Five O’Clock Co.
There are washes and scrubs, oils and conditioners—a whole routine’s worth of products to keep facial hair soft and skin nourished. Five O’Clock Co.’s artisanal, organic beard care line ensures utmost health and growth for those who want to take their at-home grooming to the next level.

HERBAL APOTHECARY: Stone Row Apothecary
Hand-crafted right here in Charm City, this apothecary’s collection of essential oil roller bottles are designed for on-the-go aroma- therapy, with blends to ease digestion, energize, and more. Be sure to check out their cleaning concentrates—an environmentally friendly solution for maintaining a spotless home.

Why is it so hard to keep New Year’s resolutions? Local life coach Kristin Weaver has some strategies for success—and it starts with really wanting to make the change and celebrating incremental achievements along the way.

What is the first step to creating a change in habits?
Identify your “why.” If your reason for change isn’t deep enough, you will fall back into old behaviors. Short-term reasons lead to short-term outcomes. Dig deeper and be honest with yourself.

What are your go-to tips for setting intentions and goals for yourself?
Set achievable benchmarks to celebrate on the way to your end goal. Sometimes, only looking toward your long-term goal can get discouraging—it seems so far away, and you lose motivation. Checking off boxes on the way to your goal boosts confidence. Celebrate them, no matter how small. In today’s world of instant gratification, that dopamine hit can carry you all the way through the finish line.

Are there any common roadblocks people might experience when enacting change?
I’ve found that fear is the most common: fear of failure, fear of judgment, sometimes even the fear of success. This fear is just a defense mechanism we create in our minds. We create this monster under the bed that keeps us hiding under our covers. Slay that monster. Throw those covers off and start taking action.

How can we achieve lasting success with the goals we set for ourselves?
Self-discipline and consistency are the keys to achieving success with your goals. It’s about striving for progress, not perfection. Get one-percent better every day. Now, that’s going to take 100-percent effort. There will be moments of weakness—you are human. Hold space for the imperfections, learn from them, and move on. You are winning as long as you can say you moved forward when you lay your head down at night.

Are there any daily practices or tools that might help in following through?
Creating your environment for success has proven to be an effective tool. It sets the stage for consistent behaviors to thrive. For example, if you are trying to lose weight, throw out junk food and put fruits and veggies on the counter. If you are trying to read more, take apps off your phone you are inclined to spend time on and place books on the bedside table. By removing obstacles, you can create a space that naturally guides you toward your desired goals. Lastly, get an accountability buddy. My 11-year-old son taught me this. It’s basically having a friend who will hold you accountable if you venture off course. They will help you stay honest with yourself and vice versa.

---

WHAT YOU NEED:

ACCOUNTABILITY: Set up your environment for success and have a friend keep you honest.

SMALL WINS: Take baby steps and celebrate small wins.

CLEAR SPACE: Remove any reminders of old habits from your environment.

So you made a New Year’s resolution to “work out more” but you don’t know where to begin. Look, we know hitting the gym can be intimidating, but it’s all about finding your vibe. The good news? Baltimore is full of fitness programs, whether you’re ready to lift weights, take it slow with yoga, or even try a new sport.

Boutique Fitness Studio at The Mine
Located within the Shops at Kenilworth, The Mine is a complete wellness experience. For workout purposes, there is an open gym with all the necessary equipment and focused studios set up for cycling, barre, yoga, and xformer machine classes. The amenities are state-of-the-art, with an infrared sauna, juice bar, wellness space for IV drip therapies, on-site physical therapy, and even a co-working lounge space should you want to stay a while longer. 802 Kenilworth Dr., Towson, 410-237-0213

Full Gym at Grind
This 15,000-square-foot gym is located inside Power Plant at the Inner Harbor. They’ve got treadmills, machines, free weights, a sauna, personal trainers, and even nutritionists—basically, anything you’d ever need for a gym experience. What sets this gym apart, aside from the incredible city views and overall cool factor, are the expanded studio spaces that include The Cut, a barbershop, and Glackin Physiotherapy, a physical therapy office. 601 East Pratt St., Suite 400, 443-504-8808

Kickboxing at Knockout Fitness
Want a workout that feels more like a hobby? Meet Knockout Fitness’ kickboxing studios, one in Federal Hill and one in Towson. If you’re new, the Boxing 101 class is a great way to learn basic boxing technique (and the first class is free), while Fight Club, their most popular class, includes boxing technique and strength and conditioning. And if you’re in it for the cardio, the Hot Box class is for you. Two locations, including 321 York Rd., Towson

Yoga at Bikram Yoga Works
The slow and mindful movements of yoga have been practiced for thousands of years to engage the body and promote holistic wellness. Bikram Yoga Works, located in the heart of Mt. Vernon, offers traditional classes such as a 90-minute heated Bikram yoga and restorative yin. If you’re looking to up the ante, they also have fitness-forward offerings such as high-intensity interval, hot Pilates, and flexibility classes. 500 Park Avenue, 301-699-1300

There’s something a little daunting about the whole “new year, new you” concept. In theory, it’s great—a time for a reset, a reinvention, an eradication of bad habits and introduction of good ones. Easier said than done, right? It’s exciting to think of the opportunity that change brings, but, for many, the pressure of making change becomes overwhelming. If you’re dreading resolutions, you’re not alone.

So how do we set goals for ourselves that we might, you know, actually accomplish? We asked Andrea Castelhano, PsyD, of Baltimore Therapy Group, for some tips.

How can we approach New Year’s resolutions in a more accessible way?
It’s okay to normalize “saying no” to the idea of setting resolutions. For those who want to set resolutions at this time of year, it can be helpful to ask why you want to make changes—and why now. Be mindful of the why now part. For many people, the holiday season means being out of one’s routine, which can bias the goal selection and change process. This contributes significantly to choosing unrealistic goals and over-focusing on short-term change. Instead, pick a goal that you’ve had in mind [for a while] and one that feels meaningful to you all year round.

How do we keep the motivation beyond the first few weeks of change?
In my experience, loss of motivation happens for a good reason, such as setting unrealistic expectations. Know what is important to you and what is within your control to change. Pace yourself to avoid unnecessary setbacks and unintentionally set too high of a standard for change. Setting small goals along the way can help you stay engaged and feel accomplished throughout the change process. Build flexibility into your goals to avoid feeling demoralized when things don’t go according to plan. Ask others for help or recruit someone to make changes alongside you.

Why can it be challenging to set goals in times of uncertainty?
Goals are future-oriented. When uncertainty leaves us without a clear vision of what lies ahead, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to feel grounded enough to set those goals. In such circumstances, most people find it more feasible to plan for short-term changes or focus on finding ways to cope better with the uncertainty.

What tools or practices might be helpful?
The SMART goals framework is effective for structuring goals. This means that goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. When you’re not sure which area of life to work on, focus first on identifying your personal values and priorities. Once values are defined, rank their relative importance. Working with a therapist on goal-setting and initiating change is another helpful option.

WHAT YOU NEED:

FLEXIBILITY: Give yourself room to make mistakes, experience setbacks, or re-evaluate.

MINDFULNESS: Be honest with yourself on what goal you’re setting and why.

PLAN: Using something like a SMART goal framework can help you build a focused plan for achieving your goals.

Like clockwork, as soon as we begin to settle into the New Year, the dread of setting resolutions creeps up. It seems like the same story every year. First, we concoct a list of must-dos and transformative personal goals. Next, we do our best. We jump headfirst into whatever it is we wish to change about our lifestyle, our relationships, our careers. But before February even hits, we get burnt out and give up. The list that was once looking hopeful suddenly appears insurmountable.

Sure, not buying into the tradition of yearly goal-setting is an option. But, for those who like to use the change of year as a starting point, there is still hope. We talked with Kristen Euell, a life coach at Rejuvenating Lives, and Dr. Natalie Hung at Charm City Psychotherapy on how to tackle this resolution thing once and for all.

THE APPROACH

Get to know yourself. “Your best bet for identifying and achieving something you want is to listen to yourself,” says Dr. Hung. When setting goals, it’s important to be realistic about what you actually want to achieve, what you can mentally and emotionally handle, and what you personally need to be successful.

And then, just do it. “Use what you have now and work your way up,” says Euell. “Don’t allow what you don’t have to stop you from even trying.” Adjust your goals to fit your current daily life. A workout program may not be in your budget right now, but you can still start doing workouts from your own home with free gym apps.

METHODS OF SUCCESS

Setting measurable goals and being consistent is key, according to Euell. For example, she recommends breaking a savings goal into a measurable and attainable system. “Say I want to save $1,000 in six months—that’s the main goal. I know that I will need to save at least $167 a month,” she says. “That number may seem big, so break it up to $84 every two weeks.”

Or, if you’re working toward a lifestyle change, such as incorporating more of a fitness regimen into your day, Hung suggests making your goals meaningful. “In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, it helps people to identify their values, take stock of the extent they are living within those values, and then make goals that close the discrepancies.” So, if you want to get fit but hate working out, perhaps your goal looks like trying one really fun workout a week for one month. At the end of the month, reassess how you feel to refine that goal.

STAYING ACCOUNTABLE

Staying on track and maintaining momentum can be tricky. Sometimes there’s a deeper emotion that creates a barrier. Sometimes we can all become a little too critical of ourselves. Regardless of what’s getting in your way, there are tools to help keep on keeping on.

Hung recommends check-ins with an accountability partner and celebrations for small achievements. “It works best if the person isn’t judgmental, but can instead help you troubleshoot what concrete and emotional barriers might have gotten in the way, and then regroup.”

Hitting a plateau or an emotional barrier is very common. The good news is that it’s temporary. “These emotions subside over time and feelings of mastery come instead,” Hung says. Developing compassion for yourself, rather than engaging in self-judgment, is what will help grow beyond past mistakes and find the next steps. “If you mess up, that’s okay,” says Euell, “but recognize where you went wrong. Try again.” And when you hit your goals, treat yourself.

Remember that progress isn’t always linear. Life gets in the way sometimes, and that’s fine, too. What makes personal goals so great is that it’s all totally up to how you feel, what you want to achieve, and when. You can adjust your timeline, try different methods, or even take a break. The important thing is that you keep trying and never bring yourself down.

“My resolution for life is to try my best to not be a robot.” —Abdu Ali, musician

“Go on a truffle hunt in France, vote for a forward thinking President, teach city kids about gardening (right after I learn how to), drink some old, great Burgundy and be more environmentally responsible.” —Cindy Wolf, co-owner of Foreman Wolf/executive chef at Charleston

“More films and filmmaking in Baltimore.” —Jed Dietz, founding director, Maryland Film Festival

“2016 will be all about ‘lines and licks, prose and punk’ I resolve to turn up my writing another notch and, after thirty years, pick up the guitar again. Watch out Dylan, or at least Paul Westerberg. ‘These go to 11.’”—Gregg Wilhelm, founder and executive director CityLit Project

“I have learned that resolutions can be the perfect ego juice for lazy overachievers such as myself. In 2015, my resolution was to ‘spend less time interacting with people and more time with my iPhone’ which, much to the dismay of all of my loved ones, I totally slam-dunked this year! So much so, that for 2016, I’m stepping up my game and challenging myself to successfully finish a ChapStick. Here’s hoping!” —Deana Haggag, director, The Contemporary

“In my job, I get to throw some of the city’s biggest festivals, and it lets me celebrate everything I love about Baltimore. I’m going to take it to the next level in 2016 by upping my Instagram game: more posts, better posts about living, working, and promoting Baltimore. #goals” —Kathleen Hornig, festivals director, Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts

“I am over New Year’s resolutions. Done. Made too many resolutions that were history by February. I’ve read the articles about how doing a new routine for seven day locks it in as a habit. Nope. Doesn’t work. Maybe I’m a slow learner. Or maybe that habit-forming formula only works for something you’d secretly want to do anyway, even if it wasn’t a good-for-you resolution. Napping, for example. I could probably lock in a napping habit inside a week. A daily dose of treadmill, not so much. But hope springs eternal, so I’ve got a compromise resolution for 2016: Breath. Just breathe. Deep. Let that diaphragm drop, those lungs expand. Don’t wait for choir practice to be reminded. Don’t wait for yoga class to find the groove. Just in. Sloooww. And out. Slooww. Until it’s a habit.” —Sheilah Kast, host of Midday on WYPR

“As a member of the Baltimore City Council, I am lobbied almost daily by email from various constituents, sometimes by scores of emails on a given legislative or policy issue. And we pay attention. The currently muted voices in this culture, however, are those failing to participate in the personal electronic communications in which so much ‘business’ is generated and conducted in this day and age. Not surprisingly, in a recent house meeting with constituents in a proud but cyber-deprived neighborhood, a group of active leaders complained of feeling ‘left out’ and ‘forgotten’ by city government in general. These residents go to community meetings and stay in phone touch with elected officials and community leaders. They are diligent. What’s missing is the ‘buzz’ of back-and-forth electronic communications with each other and the world outside. My resolution to these leaders and to myself: To help promote a critical mass of neighbors in my cyber-deprived neighborhoods to get online (with phones if not laptops) and join the conversations that daily lead to attention and even resolution from city agencies, private service providers, and elected officials. Until then, active residents are foregoing that communication with each other which leads to the concerted impact of their ‘electronic’ voices on the outside world.” —Mary Pat Clarke, city councilwoman, 14th District

“I have resolved to look for the best in each person I meet and for the positive in every situation—and to see challenges as opportunities for growth. I am determined to find the inner strength I’ll need for the work ahead.” —Freeman Hrabowski, president, University of Maryland, Baltimore County