It cannot be denied that everyday life has some accompanying stresses. Often we carry those stresses to bed and carry them along through the next day as we collect new stresses. With this in mind, it is essential that we take some time for ourselves to sit quietly with our thoughts, to pamper ourselves, or just to relax once in a while.
For many of us, this sounds like a great idea, but it’s hard to put into action. We either can’t seem to find the time to take for ourselves, or a day at the spa sounds great but is not within our financial reach. Regardless, it is important to find the time because prolonged stress can lead to:
-headaches
-fatigue
-insomnia
-restlessness
-inflammation
-depression
-weakened immunity
-irritability
There are many ways to reduce your stress, including eating healthy, exercising, practicing meditation, and finding quiet moments to yourself. One great way is to carve out the time by creating a spa day for yourself at home. And guess what, it doesn’t cost much!
Here are some steps to help you create a relaxing, rejuvenating self-care experience:
Lemon Water
Make yourself a pitcher of lemon water with fresh mint to treat your senses.
Music
Put on your favorite tunes. This might be something calm and relaxing, or it might be that album from high school that you secretly love.
Candles
Candles! Why not? Light a few in your bathroom for your bath. The light of candles is naturally calming.
Foot Soak
A calming foot soak is great before that mani/pedi. And it is as easy as pouring warm water into a bowl with Epsom salt, olive oil, and your favorite sensual oil.
Mani/Pedi
Pamper yourself with a fresh coat of polish on your fingers and toes! Plan ahead and buy yourself a new color.
Mask
Create a natural DIY mask to smooth and soften your skin. Here are some wonderful recipes to try: Link some mask recipes here
Hair Mask
Olive oil is a great hair treatment. Apply it and simply massage it into your scalp and all the way down to the ends of your hair. Leave on for at least 15 minutes, shampoo out, and enjoy your soft, lustrous locks.
Bath Bomb
Elevate your bath with a soothing bath bomb - a dry mixture made to dissolve in water and release essential oils, scents, flowers, or bubbles into the bath. A wonderful DIY recipe follows.
At the end of the day, it is nice to have something relaxing to look forward to. It may not come until after help with homework, dinner, and laundry, but when you can, jazz up your next bath with this DIY bath bomb recipe:
Ingredients
-1 cup baking soda
-½ cup citric acid
-½ cup of sea or Epsom salt
-¾ cup cornstarch
-2 tablespoons of oil (olive, coconut, almond)
-2 teaspoons of witch hazel
-1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
-30-40 drops of your favorite essential oil
Instructions
-Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix until combined.
-In a separate bowl, combine the oil, witch hazel and vanilla extract and stir well. Add essential oils if using.
-Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients a few drops at a time. Mix well with hands.
-The mixture should hold together when squeezed without crumbling. You may need to add slightly more witch hazel if it hasn’t achieved this consistency yet.
-Quickly push the mixture into molds or greased muffin tins. Press in firmly and leave at least 24 hours, or until hardened.
-When dry, remove from molds and store in an airtight container. Use within 2 weeks.
