I find it very easy to get so busy in my day-to-day life that I don’t slow down to do self-care. I have learned it is really important to just set some time away for yourself even if it takes 5 or 10 minutes. I have listed items that bring me joy and make me feel like the best version of myself throughout the week. Some things below you may not like but just figure out what you love that doesn’t feel like “work” to do.
Pamper Day
I don’t know if other people do this but I set aside an hour one evening to just get refreshed for the week. Typically I do this on Thursday so I am feeling great for the weekend. I typically light a candle and take a bubble bath.
- Bubble bath and watch a Youtube episode
- Shower
- Hair mask
- Exfoliate upper body
- Foot and nail care routine
- Self tanning
After my shower I use shea butter, foot cream, and a whiten my teeth. I typically put hair oil in my damp hair and sleep in it over night. Making this routine a habit is something I look forward to during the week.
I typically try out one new beauty product each month as well! This month I tried out a new face mask enzyme peel with Beauty Pie. Feel free to check out my post for all my favorite Beauty Pie products.
Teeth Whitening
Every Thursday I love to whiten my teeth. I have extremely sensitive teeth so I have come to love my Lumineux whitening strips. You just place on strip on the top and bottom for 30 minutes once a week. I drink coffee every morning and eat a lot of Indian spices which tend to stain my teeth. I find these work best for me and my smile!
Try Out a New Workout Class
I love to workout about 4-6 times per week. Naturally, I always go for running as my exercise of choice. Recently I have been rotating around to different gyms to try out the classes. I have tried F45, Jane Do, and Boxing. Currently, I go to Jane Do four times per week to step aerobics, dance, and sculpt. I find their classes to be high energy and always changing. I would highly recommend signing up for free trials of different facilities to see what you truly enjoy doing! When I go to a workout class I feel more motivated to lift weights and give it my all. In addition, I feel like my stress melts away because I am not longer thinking of my day to day.
Decorate Kitchen Table
I love a table setting! Every season or holiday I try to decorate and spend less than $100. I know this sounds silly but it really helps be set the tone and get into a festive mood. I typically shop at Target, Homegoods, Amazon, Etsy, and Michaels to find the best products. Every year I decorate for Fall, Diwali, Halloween, Christmas, and Spring/Summer. I typically re-use all of my items but add in one or two new items. In addition, I also like to have a snack readily available on the table. I usually bake on the weekend or visit a local bakery to buy a fresh bread or pastry.
Bake or Make Something from Scratch
As my friends know, I really enjoy baking. If I could quit my job and open my own bakery and coffee shop I would! I also enjoy making as many items as I can from scratch. I just bought a sourdough starter kit from Amazon to give bread making a try. Recently I have made my apple cake, pesto from my kitchen garden, and lavender lattes. I typically scroll through Pinterest and find one item a week to make or experiment with. If anyone has any fun fall or winter recipes please let me know! For my homemade pesto, I put the sauce into an ice cube tray and place in the freezer. The pesto lasts about 6 months when frozen and you can use when you need it!
Schedule a Massage
I recognize that going to a spa is not within everyone’s budget! I will let you in on a secret though. In New Jersey and New York they have walk-in foot massage parlors. I get a one hour foot massage for $35 (+ tip) at least twice a month. If I am feeling in need of more relaxation I get a scalp massage every couple of months. The foot massage though feels so good especially after working all week that it almost puts me to sleep. These places are typically open late at night as well so you can go any time. In Hoboken, I go to Moonlight Spa on Washington Street. They charge $40 for a one hour foot massage. It is a no frills place so don’t have high expectations for a “spa atmosphere.”
Meditation
I know meditation is often a big topic. It is vitally important for my high levels of anxiety. I don’t know if people realize that my anxiety levels get so high I feel like I am having a heart attack or going to pass out. Some days I don’t even want to leave my apartment due to fear of anxiety. I don’t mind talking about it because I don’t think it’s embarrassing. Some people may think I come off as an introvert but it’s typically because I am so anxious. I have found using the ShivYog breathing exercises with Yoga of Immortals to help me. It is a true commitment of time to make sure you are doing the breathing exercises correctly. If I am out in public and I am feeling anxious, I starting naming 4-5 things around me on repeat and breathe deeply.
Other things I enjoy doing include the following:
- Buying a new candle
- Roaming around the TJ Maxx Beauty aisles
- Trying out new workout clothes from Amazon
- Scrolling through Pinterest for ideas on EVERYTHING
- Buying something aesthetically pleasing on Amazon such as a coffee mug or pens
- Try out a new bakery in town
