Recently, it feels like the world is way busier than it needs to be. Everything seems to have a due date that’s sooner than I though and it seems like everyone wants something from me — maybe that’s just college.
This is when self-care comes into play. It’s easy to put self-care on the back burner, especially when you’re in college. It’s easy to just keep doing the things you’re doing and not take care of yourself. It might be easier, but it doesn’t help.
Self-care is being indulgent for yourself. It’s a chance to take a breath for your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. I can truly say without self-care, I’d be a wreck. Self-care is bubble baths, candles, binge watching something, having a glass (or a bottle) of wine, saying no when you need to, and knowing your worth.
Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash
When I’m burned out or need to take some time to for me, here are some of my favorite things:
1. Bath and Body Works Candles: Their fall candles are usually my favorite with scents like Autumn or Leaves, but their Midnight Blue Citrus Candle is amazing too. I light a candle and take a few deep breaths. They may be a bit costly but I can get a good deal on these most of the time from email coupons for cheaper.
2. Bath Bombs: Buff City Soap has some great bath bombs that are more cost efficient than the Lush Ones. They also pack a bigger punch. The cucumber melon one is impressive. I also have one that smells like Fruit Loops that I’m excited to try. Taking a hot bath makes everything better — at least for a few moments. They have an online site and you can usually get a really good deal on bath bombs. These are all all-natural and only feature ingredients that soothe, moisturize, and condition skin with like coconut, palm and olive oils.
3. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay + Manuka Honey: Best facial ever! When I get more stressed, my skin usually pays the price. I mix a tablespoon of the clay with a tablespoon of Manuka Honey. Manuka Honey is a powerful healing agent and this makes my skin look a lot better. I usually spend about 25/30 minutes in this mask, but I can last longer on it. If you don’t have Manuka Honey, apple cider vinegar is a great mixer with this mask. It tones your skin more, but burns.
4. Natural Calm: I mix two teaspoons of this in hot water and drink it. Its magnesium based and has a great lemony flavor. They have a few other flavors too, but I’ve deemed lemon to be the best flavor. It’s a good hot drink at the end of the day to help me wind down before bed. This is sometimes hard to find but Amazon, Sprouts or Natural Grocers will carry this.
5. Glass of Wine (for those readers who are 21+): We usually have a couple of bottles in our house at any given time, but a glass of wine after a long day seems to be pretty great.
6. Wild by Cheryl Strayed: I’ve read this book many times. Cheryl Strayed is best known for her trip across the Pacific Crest Trail, hiking alone. She is triumphant and has lived a difficult past, but her story of overcoming one of the most difficult experiences is encouraging and hopeful. If she can watch her mother die and watch her marriage be destroyed before hiking this, then I can get through another day. This book is a difficult read, but a good one.