It’s a little difficult to accept, but as we head into the second half of March, the days are getting shorter and the air a little nippier. Summer is on its last legs, and before we know it, we’ll be trading our beach towels for snuggly blankets. We might still be in the first quarter of the year, but many people are already reporting feelings of burnout and fatigue due to the pressures of everyday life. While there isn’t always much we can do to lessen our responsibilities, there is plenty we can do to protect our physical and mental health. Self-care is one of the best things you can do when feeling tired, overwhelmed or stressed. Looking after your body and mind has significant health benefits – it’s easier than you think! Self-care doesn’t necessarily mean a day at the spa; it can be a nutritious snack, a few relaxing moments in the bathtub or an hour with a good book. Not sure where to begin? Here are a few simple ideas to get you going: Enhance your living space Your home is your sanctuary. You can change the ambience (and your mood!) by incorporating sounds and scents that help you achieve the mindset you’re after, be it relaxation or upliftment. Set the tone with music or sounds that bring a sense of calm into the home. Relaxound Sound Boxes offer a unique way of introducing calming sounds in the home. Rechargeable and sustainably produced, these stylish accessories liven up any space while filling it with the calming sounds of nature. Choose between variants like Oceanbox, Junglebox, Birdybox and more. Bringing scents into your home is another way to create a mood or set the tone. Aromatherapy is not just enjoyable for the senses; it also offers various health benefits. The easiest way to incorporate beneficial essential oils into your daily routine is with a diffuser. The SOiL Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser disperses essential oil into the air via a fine mist. Easy to use and low on energy, it’s a must-have for a beautifully scented space. Not sure which essential oil to use? SOiL has a wide range of blends available that do the work for you. Choose between variants like Sleep, De-Stress or Focus and enjoy all the beauty aromatherapy has to offer. Snack nutritiously Food plays an integral part in our daily lives, and snacking on nutritious foods goes a long way in balancing our minds and improving our health. We all know that a healthy immune system starts in the gut, so it’s essential to maintain good bacteria and to eat high-fibre foods that aid digestion. Cool Stool™ is a tasty 100% raw, high-fibre super seed mix scientifically formulated to boost gut health. Add it to some yoghurt, oats, or a smoothie – it’s tasty, healthy, and a great way to relieve constipation, bloating, IBS, and reflux, or, just keep you regular. Take a bath Showering is a quick and effective way of cleansing the body and hair from oil, dirt and impurities, but there is nothing like an indulgent bath to relax the muscles and revive the senses. Set aside some time to lie back in a warm bath with nourishing bath salts – your mind and body will thank you! Earthsap Mustard Bath Salts draw on a centuries-old formula. The natural, locally sourced ingredients (including Epsom salts, mustard seeds, sea salt and peppermint) treat tired and aching muscles and sore feet while relaxing and reviving the mind and spirit. Treat your crown Most of us are time-poor and rush through our shampoo and conditioner steps in the shower. But how often do you treat your hair to a nourishing mask or home treatment? It may seem like 15 minutes you don’t have, but if you can make the time, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous hair, relaxation, and uninterrupted “me time.” Try Two Oceans Argan Intense Conditioning Mask, a vegan, 90% naturally derived hair mask filled with the goodness of argan oil and vitamins E, F, A & C. This mask is an intensive treatment that may help improve the look and feel of dry or damaged hair. Enjoy a face mask We can’t always make it to the spa for a facial, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the benefits of relaxing with a face mask at home. Once applied, use the time to catch up on your favourite series, read another chapter of your book, or simply lie back and relax. We recommend SKNLogic Charcoal Detox Masque, which decongests and removes impurities with activated charcoal. Skin is left feeling clean, refreshed, and invigorated. Complete body home spa treatment We might not have access to an in-home masseuse, but we can treat our bodies to the ultimate home spa experience with a few simple skincare products. Instead of a quick rinse in the shower, take the time to gently exfoliate your body with a good-quality scrub like Bodylab Hyaluronic Complex Exfoliating Salt Scrub. This scrub gently removes dry and dead skin cells while promoting hydration. Once out of the shower, massage a nourishing body product into your skin to restore moisture and promote soft, smooth skin. Skin Oil From Africa Rosehip Oil Body Cream offers 48 hours of intense moisture thanks to vitamin E, almond oil, shea butter and organic African rosehip oil. Plus, it’s free from colourants, fragrances and parabens, making it a great choice for all skin types. While these might seem like small rituals, self-care needn’t be extravagant or time-consuming. A few stolen minutes every day can go a long way toward helping you achieve lower stress levels, a clearer mind, and a healthier body.
