Our lives can get hectic. Between work, family, and errands, it can be difficult to find time for ourselves. But if you neglect yourself and allow stress to build up, it can have a negative effect on your well-being. That negativity can spread to other areas of your life.
It’s important to pepper little moments of joy throughout your day. There are a few simple ways you can pamper yourself when you’re budgeting time.
Try Aromatherapy
Utilizing aromatherapy can help boost your mood and relieve stress. Scents like lemon and lavender have been shown to uplift one’s mood. Lavender and tea tree oils possess antibacterial properties and can be used to fight mild acne. Lavender can also aid in hair growth.
According to the Mayo Clinic, essential oils can be inhaled directly or can be applied to the skin indirectly. Some people massage the oil into their skin. Before using essential oils on your skin, test them on a small area to ensure you don’t have an allergic reaction. Others prefer using lotions or bath salts. If you don’t have time for a bath, you can fit some relaxation in with a shower tablet.
You can use aromatherapy right at your desk at work to relieve stress. For better sleep, use oil or lotion before bed.
Utilize Your Lunch Break
Take ten to fifteen minutes on your lunch break for a short walk. A short walk helps reinvigorate you and boost your mood, gives you a break from staring at a screen or paperwork, and gets you more active. If you feel the need, take a stroll around the office every hour or whenever you feel unmotivated and groggy.
Walking also reduces the risk of conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure. It can also lead to better sleep and lower stress levels.
Give Your Hair Some TLC
Don’t have time to sit in a salon chair for an hour while someone snips away at your hair? There are quick and easy ways to boost your hair health. A simple trim would certainly take less time, and if you feel comfortable, you can even do it at home. Regular hair trims take care of pesky split ends and maintain hair health by removing damaged hair.
Additionally, try treating yourself to a hair mask during or after a shower. You can buy a mask or make a homemade one. If you choose to make a homemade mask, you have several options that use common household products. Marie Claire recommends a few simple combinations such as olive oil, honey, and yogurt.
Even the simplest acts like taking some time to massage your scalp—in or out of the shower—can help. Massaging your scalp for a few minutes a day increases blood flow and stimulates your hair follicles.
Bring the Spa Home
There are ways to give yourself the spa treatment without having to leave home.
No one can bother you in the shower. You can use that time to give yourself an at-home spa experience. Put a face mask on before you get in. Take a few minutes to exfoliate and renew your skin. After drying off, take a couple of minutes to moisturize and massage your limbs. Alternatively, you can save the face mask for bedtime, so you can sit down with a cup of tea and meditate as you wind down for bed.
If you have a little more time, draw yourself a bath, and light some candles. Sit back and relax with bath oils or a bath bomb and enjoy twenty minutes of bliss.