Sustainable Self-Care Ideas
Self-care is so important to your health, both mentally and physically. Not only does self-care help with anxiety and depression, it also helps improve concentration, energy, and overall happiness according to this article. For me, it's also been a time to be quiet and check-in with myself. I'm usually going at 100 mph most days so to have pockets of time when I can just be with myself and be intentional about taking care of my body feels like a reset and a recharge to keep going.
I'm sure your life isn't slowing down anytime soon so I hope this list helps you find your pockets of time in the madness as well.
a warm drink:
I always like to start and end my day with a warm drink.
It’s nice to just breathe, observe, and check in with myself. It’s a great way to relax and start the day in a good mental space.
I start my day with warm water and a few slices of lemon followed by black coffee.
I end my day with a cup of tea.
If you’re a coffee drinker, here is a good list on how to brew a more sustainable cup.
Sometimes it’s also really nice to take around 10 minutes to brew a really nice specialty drink just for myself. Maybe a homemade hot chocolate or a matcha latte. Here’s a link to all of my favorite recipes.
A cup of warm tea is one of those physical self-care ideas that I am always on board with! Tea is good for you. It’s comforting too, so it is also great for emotional self-care as well.
face mask:
For me, self-care is simply about taking a few extra moments to indulge. It’s taking a little bit longer to do simple tasks.
It’s about enjoying the slow moments and opening up space in my day to just breathe and be without worrying about what I have to do next. And, nothing puts the brakes on my day quite like applying a face mask — 10 minutes of waiting and pausing.
Bonus points if you combine a few of these self-care ideas together. Maybe throw in a few deep breaths and meditate while it’s working.
Sheet masks are pretty wasteful so I prefer to make face masks from a few simple ingredients that you can whip up in your kitchen, or buy masks that come in small glass jars. The jars can be upcycled and reused.
You can apply these masks with your fingers or a brush if you’re feeling extra luxurious. When you buy a face mask in a jar, you’re saving money in the long run.
Here are a few of my favorite face masks you can give a try.
Seed Phytonutrients Invigorating Face Mask – in a recyclable metal tube
Herbivore Blue Tansy – in a glass pot and one of my personal favorites!
take a walk:
It’s no secret that getting outside and connecting with nature reduces stress levels, so it’s no wonder that it’s one of the best physical self-care ideas out there! If you’re having a hard time, then put on a pair of sneakers and go take a walk.
Check out this post on sustainable and ethical activewear.
take a bath:
I know that everyone thinks taking a bath is just wasting water, but depending on the size of your bathtub and the type of showerhead you have, you might actually save water by taking a bath. A tip is, if you're shaving, you can save water by filling up some of your bathtub,
I only take a bath when I’m feeling super stressed out, which is about a few times a year.
I like to light a candle or two and add in a few bath salts.
Bath salts are incredibly easy to make at home. This is a wonderful recipe that’s easily customizable!
deep clean:
If you’re feeling a little out of control, one thing you can do right now is clean. It’s great to see immediate progress being made in an area that you manage.
Cleaning is on the top of my self-care items list.
I like to make my own household cleaners because it’s better for both my health and the health of the planet.
Plus it’s super easy and cheap!
A lot of conventional cleaning products are irritating to both the nose and throat due to artificial fragrances, volatile organic compounds (the same building blocks that create smog), and other toxic ingredients.
Most conventional cleaners are also packaged in plastic, and many of them aren’t biodegradable — meaning they won’t break down in nature. Here are good recipes for eco-friendly cleaners.
stretch:
Similar to dancing or walking, getting your body moving is a great way to take care of yourself and feel good.
To quote Elle Woods, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t.”
One of my favorite apps is downdog. They offer several different types of movement like HIIT, Yoga, Barre, etc., but their standard yoga is free to use. If you don’t want to download another app, there are plenty of stretching and yoga YouTube videos.
Take care friend.
- Raph
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