Okay, so I have a confession to make: the pandemic has turned me into a bit of an online shopaholic. Luckily for my bank account, my purchases are usually under $35 (save for the occasional splurges), and all directly benefit my well-being in one way or another.
For example, I’m spending pretty much ALL of my time at home right now, and that has empowered me to make my home as comfortable, beautiful, and optimized as possible. A good majority of my shopping has been focused on that goal.
Another significant portion of my purchases have been dedicated to my physical health. In the new year, I’ve recommitted myself to working out regularly at home, so I’ve been slowly building up my collection of fitness equipment.
The last area in which I’ve been investing is self-care, though you could argue that all of these fall under that category. My current favorite things — the ones I’m sharing with you here today, all relate directly to self-care. I’ll explain below just how each item has affected my physical, emotional, and/or mental health.
1. TaoTronics Light Therapy Lamp
I was on the fence about making this purchase, because although I had heard of light therapy lamps before, I was skeptical as to whether they were actually effective. But this was a lightning deal on Cyber Monday, so I took the plunge…and I’m SO glad I did.
I’ve always been prone to a bit of mild seasonal depression during the winter months, and this lamp has truly helped boost my mood during the day while I’m working at my desk — and really, just overall. You can adjust the brightness, though I like having it on the highest setting. It isn’t distracting at all; in fact, I feel like it helps me get into the flow and really concentrate on the task at hand.
The light therapy lamp I chose has a stand and is flat, so it takes up very little space on my desk. It’s about the size of an iPad when closed. Check it out on Amazon, where it is currently $39.99 (and that is before checking the box to receive $8 off).
2. A La Maison Honeysuckle Lotion
I received this lotion as a birthday gift last June, and it has become a daily staple in my morning and nighttime routine. I’ve never been a big lotion person, but I fell in love with this one because of how light and incredibly moisturizing it is. My skin has been drier than usual this winter, so it has been a lifesaver.
Another thing I love about this lotion is that a little goes a long way, so my first bottle lasted up until a few weeks ago. I use it on my entire body (minus my face), and the scent is so delicious without being overpowering. Check it out on Amazon, where it is currently $9.91.
3. Simple Modern 24 oz. Stainless Steel Tumbler
I set the goal to “drink more water” every few months, but thanks to this tumbler, I’m crushing it this time around. That is saying a lot, too, because I’ve never been one for drinking tons of water throughout the day. I first heard about this particular tumbler on a podcast; the host shared that it was helping her up her water intake and that it felt like an adult sippy cup…I was sold.
I have a ridiculous collection of Yeti, Tervis, Hydroflask, and Contigo tumblers at home, but none come close to motivating me to drink up like this much cheaper Simple Modern tumbler (which just so happens to match my phone case!). Check it out at Target, where it is currently $21.99.
4. Zzzhen 15 lb. Weighted Blanket
I’ve been reading and hearing about the magic of weighted blankets for some time now, so when my anxiety was reaching new heights back in December, I decided to give one a try. The magic is real, people. Not one night has gone by since that I didn’t sleep soundly underneath its 15-pound weight.
My husband teases me about how I lay it out every single night, but there is nothing like the feeling of settling into bed with it pulled up to my neck. It’s the perfect amount of heaviness without being too hot; in fact, I use my regular duvet on top of the weighted blanket all night and I’m completely comfortable.
It turns out that my kids like snuggling up underneath the weighted blanket when we’re watching a movie, and it helps them wind down at the end of the day. I have definitely experienced a decrease in my anxiety overall, but especially when I’m trying to fall asleep at night. It almost feels like the weight of the blanket crushes all of the racing thoughts I used to have. Check it out on Amazon, where it is currently $31.90.
That’s it for this round of Favorite Things, but I will tell you that I had to hold back from sharing more with you. Stay tuned! And in the meantime, if you have any favorite things that are improving your well-being during this time of year, I would LOVE to hear about them. Share in the comments or find me on Instagram.
