Self-Care Gift Guide 2020
One of my cousins has this personal tradition that to me always seemed revolutionary — every holiday season she buys a gift for herself. Wild.
Coming from a family that’s so centered on others and never coming in contact with the concept of self-care until I was much older, she was my prime example of how happy it could make you to give yourself a gift. Once I started having more room in my disposable income to treat myself during the holiday season, I took my cousin’s tradition and made it my own.
Gift guides during the holidays lean more towards what you can gift others in your life, below you’ll find a list of wellness products or other suggested acts of self-care that can help round out your own holiday self-care plan. I don’t think you have to put exorbitant amount of money behind a present for it to be meaningful. Treating myself sometimes looks like a coffee, a long walk through Target, and free rein in the $3 section.
Use this list as the starting guide for whatever makes the most sense for you and your needs this season. Mostly, don’t forget about yourself this season. Don’t add yourself to the bottom of the list. Put yourself at the top because you can only pour from a full cup.
Mindalt
Mindalt is a natural deodorant brand made out of essential oils. The angle that makes these different from other natural deodorants is that it is mood enhancing. Once you put it on, the essential oils release throughout the day and work to enhance your mood. They’ve launched with four different mood focuses - more mindful, less anxiety, more energy, and more focus. A good friend is the co-founder of the brand so I was sent the initial four deodorants a few months ago and have been testing them since. I honestly love them. I feel like they really help, the smells are soothing, and the deodorants are effective.
Candlefish
Our home is full of candles. Candlefish is one of our go-to candle brands. They’re hand poured and founded out of South Carolina. I first came across them when I visited and Charelston and have a regular supply of No. 23 and No. 96 at home ever since. The candles burn for a good amount of time and are soy based, so they’re not bad for the environment.
Logitech
I’ve been able to partner with Logitech over on Instagram for the last two months and they’ve been both so awesome to work with and have introduced me to products that make so much sense to my new work-at-home-only life. My current favorite mouse is the M575 Wireless Trackball because it doesn’t require me to be on a specific surface, which if we’re honest allows me to have an ergo mouse when couch or floor work time settle in. A work-setup that puts less strain on your body will ultimately take a load off your mind too, so it’s worth the investment as a self-care gift.
GoodNewspaper subscription
2021 is the year we subscribe to more good news and commit to seeking it out. The GoodNewspaper is dedicated to literally only telling feel good stories. Every month when it lands in my mailbox it makes my weekend a bit brighter.
We Can Do Hard Things
One of my favorite books of 2020 was Untamed by Glennon Doyle. Last year when congregating was a thing my best friend and I actually got to see her live and it was a revelation. For the holidays, she’s launched a “We Can Do Hard Things” product line an I’m obsessed with this print. It can serve as a nice reminder that for as hard as present circumstances may feel we can still do hard things.
Clarice Apple Shop
In other prints that I’m obsessed with, my friend Clarice (the artist behind my #MyHolidays graphics) has a shop for her artwork. Her current “Cool, Cool, Cool” print is on sale and belongs on any and all gallery walls.
Vitamins
I’m trying to be more intentional about my health and a part of that has been finding the right vitamins that work for me. While I don’t feel comfortable just yet vouching for Love Wellness because I haven’t started my own routine, I can say that after reading through reviews, they felt the most aligned for the health goals I was setting for myself. Another brand that is a fan favorite is Ritual. I’m adding vitamins onto those holiday guide because even though it isn’t the “sexiest” gift, it may help reaffirm your commitment to yourself and how much you do have control of.
Plants
Add.them.to.your.home. Studies have found that even having fake plants that look very real can make a difference in boosting moods. We’re spending so much time inside that adding greenery can help make our homes feel a little warmer and inviting of both the outside and inside worlds. I’ve been eyeing The Sill as my go-to plant destination and also trying to find some Portland local spots to shop from.
Coursera
I’ve talked about Coursera before because it’s one of the ways I’m trying to get back to my own creativity, but I think it can also be a good way for distraction that feeds you. If you’re tired of books and Netflix, diving into a new subject and hearing lectures may be exactly what you need to reset.