Self-care items for when life gets busy. . .
It’s been a busy fall and I’ve just had some time to reflect on the last few months. When life gets busy, I don’t have time to think. It’s about go, go, go. Thankfully I bought these simple items to take care of myself.
- Memory Foam Pillow! I finally bought a new memory foam pillow after sleeping for a decade on a foam pillow I bought from Ikea. This one is not the prettiest pillow on my bed but it hugs my neck and has different heigh options so I can choose which side I want to use depending on how I feel that night. Now that I’m in my 30s, I truly understand the importance of having a good night’s sleep.
- Foam roller! I was skeptical about foam rollers but my calf muscles have been aching so much, I had to find a solution. Pronto! What I didn’t expect was the miracle that a foam roller could be for my back. I hold a lot of tension and stress in my shoulders and upper back. I didn’t realize how many knots I had until I tried the roller underneath my back. Wow! I could hear the knots cracking. Boy did it hurt, but also in a good way. I could feel the tension release. Now, when I feel tension coming on, I try to roll for a few minutes . To be honest, I have so many knots that it can be quite painful so I can only handle a few rolls at a time. I do it before I go to bed, for a few minutes and I sleep much better. Because I have overexercised in the past, I make sure to do everything — including foam rolling — minimally.
- Enamel pan! The only enamel pans I know of are from Le Creuset and as an artist, I didn’t think I would be able to afford one. Or at least not for a long, long time. Enter Amazon! Where you can buy an enamel pan for $29. Is it the best enamel pan in the world? Probably not but it adds beautiful colors to my stovetop and cooks food, so I’m happy. My pan from Ikea was literally chipping so I decided that it was time to buy a new pan. Food gets stuck on the enamel more than I thought it would but I’m really enjoying the new addition. As a note, it’s quite heavy so I use both hands when I transfer the pan from the stovetop to the sink. It can be a simple way to work out your arms I suppose.
- Cable organizers! Who knew that these colorful cable organizers could improve my life so much? One, they’re super cute and pretty to look at. Two, I no longer have to worry about my cables falling. I can keep them separate and organized. The cables stay cleaner and have a longer shelf life since they’re not rubbing in the dust on the floor. They are also easier to reach when I’m plugging in all of my devices. A six dollar purchase can provide so much joy and organization! I smile every time I see the cute little buttons and I’m so relieved that I don’t have to bend or crouch down on my knees to find my charging cables any more.
- Celimax toner pads! I LOVE these toner pads. It’s a South Korean brand that I heard about from YouTubers. They are so refreshing for my skin and they feel and smell so good that they help me to relax, and start out and end the day on a positive note. They leave my skin feeling so fresh and clean that sometimes, when I’m too tired, I don’t even wash my face — I just use these toner pads. As someone who has been on accutane not once but three times, I’m pretty careful when it comes to beauty products. I don’t wear makeup and I try to let my skin breath as much as possible. These toner pads are good for my sensitive skin and they make me feel as if my skin is breathing and thriving! I also like that once I’m done wiping my face, I can use these on my neck and shoulders. After a few days, I can noticeably see that my skin is clearer.
- Aromatica Rosemary Shampoo! This is the most expensive shampoo I have ever purchased but it’s a very natural shampoo that takes care of my flaky scalp without completely drying it out. Clarifying shampoos usually leave my scalp super tight, which creates more oil and this shampoo doesn’t do that. It smells delicious and takes care of my dandruff or psorasis without leaving a chemical smell or residue. Because it’s so expensive, I don’t use it all the time but I use it from time to time.
- Bamboo comb! As a person with thin, straight hair, I don’t like using regular hairbrushes because they rip out my hair and make it more oily. This bamboo comb is so soothing for my scalp and it evenly distributes the oil that’s in my hair. I can brush my hair now and detangle the strands without ripping them out.
- Anecdote Journal! I love keeping a diary. Usually I buy Moleskines but I’ve recently come across this brand called Anecdote. The cover is more cloth like so it’s durable like a Moleskine but also softer and more gentle. They also have a different color scheme and I really like the light blue one. I like holding this journal in my hands and it’s also slightly more affordable than a Moleskine so win-win! Whenever I grab it, I feel like there’s a gentle friend ready to hold my thoughts.
- Have you ever heard of Eucalan? I haven’t heard of it, until now. I accidentally shrunk a wool sweater and was trying to find a way to deshrink it when I came across a post on Eucalan. Apparently, it’s a washing solution so you can just dip your sweater in and that’s it! I’ve ruined so many sweaters in the past by trying to wash them, either by hand or in the washer. Eucalan also de-shrinks or relaxes wool. I wouldn’t say that it fully de-shrunk my sweater but it did unshrink it a little bit. Either way, I now have a new solution to wash bulky sweaters or the nice cashmere ones.
- The H&M Home section. I kind of don’t want to share this because I don’t want the items to sell out but I love the H&M home line. The items are well fabricated and well designed. They are aesthetically pleasing and well made at a reasonable price. Shipping is usually free. This is my go to online store for home items now. The website is easy to navigate and the products are great for their price. I can’t stand people who are unwilling to share their favorite stores or hair salons — I can finally understand why. The H&M Home section is great. I’m willing to share this secret of mine. Enjoy.
If you have some items that you recommend, please let me know! Little sparkles can make our day.
