As we near the end of the first quarter of 2022 (wasn’t it Christmas just the other day?), you’ll have inevitably encountered hundreds of Instagram posts celebrating love, significant others, spouses, pets – you name it. Some of them were undoubtedly sweet enough to give you toothache and leave you feeling a bit queasy too. If you tend to skip out on Valentine’s Day celebrations and shy away from public declarations of love, we hope you’re at least taking time to focus on the one true love in your life – you.
Whitney Houston sang it best when she sang, “The greatest love of aaaalll, is learning to love yourself” (what a champion of a karaoke song). Single or not, the love you have for yourself is quite possibly the most important kind of love. But loving yourself isn’t always easy – there are days when you feel down, out of sorts, and not quite yourself. And when these days come (and they will!), the best thing you can do is avoid letting them get to you and instead embark on a self-care journey of rituals that will help get you back to feelin’ yourself, just like Ms. Whitney said!
So in the spirit of self-love, we’ve put together a list of our favorite self-care suggestions to help you reconnect with yourself and celebrate all that you have to offer the world.
Soak It All In
When our muscles are tired, whether it be from tough GOFA workouts or from the humdrum of everyday life, few things are more effective at relieving the aches and pains than a good Epsom salt bath. Epsom salts, made from magnesium and sulfate, allow for minerals to be drawn out of the body and remove toxins, which will help bring a sense of balance and relaxation. By sitting in an Epsom salt bath for around 20 minutes, you’ll help eliminate stress, enjoy softer skin and ease muscle soreness and pain.
We love the Dr Teal’s Soothe & Sleep Epsom salt with lavender for pure relaxation.
Sip On That Hot Tea
No, we don’t have a juicy piece of gossip for you, but we do have one of the best teas out there to help keep you hydrated on your journey to Self Care Station. Our favorite one is Yogi Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy tea. It combines Ashwagandha, a herb traditionally used to uplift the spirits, with a blend of Assam Black Tea and Yerba Maté Leaf, both of which are known to help boost energy levels.
This tea also contains tangerine and Lotus flower, which give it a sweet, fruity, floral flavor. It has a strong flavor profile and a small amount of caffeine, making it perfect for a morning pick-me-up.
Mask It
Now that wearing masks has become a vital part of everyday life, it’s important to remember to also treat your hair, face, and skin with masks too! And not the medical-grade kind, the luscious, yummy-smelling, purifying, hydrating kind that you lather up and spread on generously.
Nothing screams “self-care” as much as a home spa day does. So next time you’re in the mood for a bit of pampering, but you don’t want to leave the house, try this Mother Dirt Prebiotic face mask, this Olaplex Hair Perfector mask, and this glorious Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner by Lush. Do them all together or one-by-one for a revitalizing mood lift that will leave you feeling refreshed, energized, and fabulous!
Listen Up!
Sometimes we don’t have the energy to do anything more than just listen, which is why podcasts are great for helping us out of a slump or even just for hyping us up. Thankfully, we’re in an age where there seems to be a podcast for everything from mysteries to astrology, global warming to travel, movies to mind shifts.
We all have different preferences when it comes to what we listen to, but if you love podcasts, you’ll be thrilled at the wide selection of self-care podcasts available on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and SoundCloud.
Add Some Color
Remember those days you spent at nursery school coloring in pictures? No? Us neither, but we do know that we used to love it! There has been plenty of research conducted into the calming effects that art can have on people of all ages, so we suggest having a go at some of the incredible coloring books available from Entrepreneurs Color Too. They even have one dedicated specifically to self-care. It’s filled with coloring pages, motivational quotes, and plenty of blank space for you to use for journaling.
The brand also has its own high-quality color pencils available for purchase, so you can just go ahead and order everything you need for a creative afternoon from one site.
Embrace Your Inner Couch Potato
You can get a lot of shade thrown at you for admitting that you’re a couch potato, but we’re here to let you know that if your self-care ritual involves binge-watching a whole season of Love Is Blind, then we fully support you in that endeavor! Sometimes you just need to chill out in front of the TV, watch your favorite shows – new seasons or re-runs – and escape from the world for a bit.
Our favorite streaming platforms are HBO Max, Disney+, and of course, Netflix. Pro-tip: Be sure to stock up on all your favorite snacks before you settle down for a night in!
GOFA offers a holistic approach to self-love, with a wide range of exercise categories available, as well as guided yoga and meditation practices. Put yourself first by trying one of our home workouts or guided meditation sessions. Download Now!
