Here at Oh My Garden!, we are massive fans of self-care. Just like with skincare, we believe self-care is about more than just maintaining good looks. It’s about maintaining a ritual of self-love. Dedicating a portion of your day -or week- to practicing self-care allows you to put the focus back on yourself and take a few minutes to thank and appreciate everything that you are and everything that you do.
We know life gets busy, but self-love shouldn’t be a luxury. To help even our busiest friends maintain a healthy self-care routine, we put together a few quick and simple methods you can use to enjoy self-care in a matter of minutes.
1. Journal
Journaling is an excellent way to focus on your internal thoughts and reflect on your emotions, and it only takes a matter of minutes. Journaling can help you organize your thoughts by getting them out of your head and putting them down on paper. For many of us, our minds are running a million miles a minute and it can be hard to find relief from our thoughts when we don’t provide them with an outlet.
Journaling can help you clear your mind, set intentions for the day, remind you of reasons to be thankful, gain a new perspective and more. Remember, self-care is about maintaining a healthy mental state just as much as it is about maintaining a healthy physical state.
2. Put on a hair mask
Deep conditioning your hair will help bring nourishment and moisture back into your luscious locks. By setting aside some time (even just 5 to 10 minutes) per week to deep condition, you can help give yourself healthier, shinier and more radiant-looking hair. For an eco-friendly, natural treatment that provides a wide range of benefits we recommend using our Tea Tree & Grapefruit Hydrating Conditioner Bar.
Take it one step further! While your deep conditioner is sitting in your hair, enjoy a few extra moments of “me time” by enjoying a small, personal luxury such as reading a book, listening to music, meditating or giving yourself a scalp massage (now we’re jumping ahead to step 3!)
3. Give yourself a scalp massage
We definitely just gave this away in tip #2, but we are huge fans of using scalp massages as a tool for self-care. Scalp massages are excellent for two reasons:
They help alleviate stress and tension
They increase blood flow and circulation to your scalp, which promotes healthier hair growth! Look good while you feel good? Now that’s an offer we can’t refuse.
Scalp massages can be tailored specifically to your individual preference. Don’t know where to get started? We put together a simple tutorial on how to give yourself a simple, yet effective scalp massage:
4. Enjoy a glass of….whatever!
For this step, we simply mean take some time to relax and decompress. We often find it’s easier to wind down with a beverage in hand as it provides a simple cue of purpose (i.e. “I’m going to sit down and enjoy this cup of tea before I take on any other housework.) So pour yourself a smoothie, a cup of tea, coffee, wine, lemon water, or whatever you like and relax! It’s your self-care time, make it about you and what you enjoy.
5. Go for a walk
Sometimes the best way to refocus and recentre is to step outside of your regular environment. During the pandemic, many of us have found ourselves stuck inside our homes a lot more than usual and it’s been tough for our mental health. Go for a short (or long) walk and allow yourself to nothing but just be in the present moment. Allow yourself to enjoy the scenery, the weather and the fresh air without having anywhere to be or anything to do. For those who are not comfortable visiting the gym during the pandemic, walking can be your new go-to for getting exercise and relaxation all at the same time.
6. Enjoy your skincare routine
The best way to build a new habit is to attach it to an existing one. If you don’t have time to carve out any additional self-care in your day, try adding just a few extra minutes to a part of your routine that already exists! A simple step is to incorporate a quick face massage while you apply your facial oil or moisturizer. You’re already taking time to apply the product to your face, all you’re doing now is massaging the skin slightly longer and deeper than usual. Simple right?
We whole-heartedly believe in the importance of self-care and want to erase the misconception that self-care is a luxury. Self-care and self-love are necessities for a holistic healthy lifestyle. No matter your schedule, remember even the smallest amount of self-care can have incredible benefits to your health, and you’re worth it.
