Is it just me or has 2020 been one of the most stressful years of your whole life?! The constant worry, the changing rules, remembering masks and hand sanitiser, homeschooling the kids, working from home… The list of additional stressors seems endless. With this in mind, I’ve been trying to do some things recently to improve my self-care, and it’s definitely helping. Here are just a few of my new rituals:
Self-Care Skincare Routine
I’ve never had particularly problematic skin, aside from the odd bit of dryness and the occasional hormonal pimple, so I’ve never paid much attention to a skincare routine before. However, my Mum has AMAZING skin, especially for someone who will be 60 in a couple of years, and that’s because she’s always made sure she looks after it, and I am inspired to do the same.
I’ve started using a hot cloth cleanser with Vitamin C to wash my face, which helps to exfoliate and make my skin look a LOT brighter. I’ve also been using a peptide serum before I moisturise, which seems to make my skin feel super soft. I then use a gel moisturiser, which sits much better on my skin than something oil-based and doesn’t cause spots. I’ve got to say, my skin looks better than it ever has, just by adding a couple of new things to my daily routine.
Yoga and Meditation
When I went on my mad exercise kick back in 2017, one of my favourite things to do was my weekly yoga class. Taking an hour to do something peaceful and relaxing, stretching my muscles and realigning my mind and body was amazing for me.
There would be a ten-minute meditation at the end of the class where we’d lay on the floor with our eyes closed and the teacher would coach us on proper breathing and clearing our minds, and I absolutely loved it. It was probably the closest thing to a tantric massage without being touched! Since lockdown happened, I’ve been doing yoga and meditation at home, and it’s really helped me to keep my mind and body healthy during this weirdness.
Finding a Hobby
Because of my health issues, our family has been isolating constantly since the beginning of March, which has meant that we’ve had a LOT more time on our hands. Obviously, I’m doing the usual working/cooking/cleaning/walking the dog, as well as homeschooling both kids, but that still leaves me with a few hours a day in which I actually have some time to myself.
I’ve taken up a few different hobbies to fill the time, and I actually feel quite fulfilled for the first time in years! As well as the baking and cooking that I’ve been doing a lot of, I’ve also taken up cross-stitch, which I absolutely love, and most recently I’ve started quilling! I’ll be sharing one of my latest creations here on the blog soon, and I’m quite proud of it.
Have you picked up any new hobbies lately? Have you been taking more time for self-care? Leave me a comment below, I’d love to hear from you.
It took me a little under half an hour, from sketching out the final design to everything being done, and I think the overall effect is well worth the effort! What’s more, I really enjoyed making the card and I can’t wait to make a whole load more to send to the special people in our lives. I’m thinking of making a different design on every card, but that might just be a stunning case of me biting off more than I can chew, as usual!
Something I’ve noticed about more modern properties is that they don’t always have an airing cupboard, unlike older houses which needed somewhere to store the bulky water tank. This means that people struggle for places to store things like bed linen and towels which can take up quite a lot of space. That’s why these storage bags make a great gift for someone who’s just moved into a new place – they look great and are the perfect place to store linens, coats and other stuff you don’t need every day.
A laundry basket is often one of those things that people forget to buy when they move into their own place and end up keeping their dirty clothes in an old IKEA bag or something similar! This laundry hamper is not only practical but also looks really nice and would be the perfect thing for any home.
There’s nothing better than receiving something warm and homemade for dinner that a kind friend or family member has made for you when you first move into your own home – and what better to deliver it in than a gorgeous thermal food carrier?! This casserole carrier looks great and is perfect for anyone who loves cooking or does a lot of potluck dinners with friends and family!
Not every kitchen has fitted appliances and purchasing all of your white goods plus a cooker for a new place can cost an absolute fortune. That’s why this double infrared hot plate would be brilliant for a couple, single person or even a student who doesn’t have their own kitchen (check their Halls of Residence rules though, as some don’t allow hot plates). It’s got two rings for cooking and performs just as well as a fitted hob.
This may seem like an odd one, but you’d be really surprised at the amount of people who don’t own a decent ladder. When you move into a new place, a ladder is essential if you want to get into the loft, put up light shades and hang pictures, cleaning gutters or anything else that requires a lift! This telescopic ladder is great because it folds up super small and doesn’t take up a lot of space.
If you’ve got a kid in your family who is dinosaur obsessed, then this remote controlled T-Rex is the perfect gift! 
This remote control car combines the classic RC format with something new and exciting! The stunt car doesn’t just go backwards and forwards – it can flip, spin and do all sorts of exciting stunts. Perfect for girls and boys age 6-12 who love anything a little bit crazy! 
