There’s few better feelings than waking up excited to practice a wellness habit. Whether it’s wearing a face mask, taking a bubble bath, or making coffee every morning, small self-care rituals add whimsy to everyday life. Although sticking to a routine is relaxing, adding new habits to a wellness routine is a great way to explore new self-care outlets.
Sunday is globally known as a day of rest, reset, and self-care. There’s almost no better feeling than taking an “everything shower” on a Sunday night, and whipping out favorite self-care practices. These are five activities to add to a self-care routine that incorporate new machines, gadgets, or habits.
- Red light therapy has taken the internet by storm. From full-body red light panels to wands to just face masks, there are many ways people can use red light therapy. Red light therapy uses red and near-infrared light to hit the skin, which stimulates mitochondria production of ATP, which is energy the body uses. This energy boost reduces inflammation, improves collagen production, and reduces oxidative stress. It’s important to read instructions that come with red light panels, as timing and frequency of exposure vary, but it’s both a physically and mentally beneficial practice to pick up.
- A sure way to shake up a routine is to use a standing vibration plate. The oscillation of the plate stimulates muscle contractions, enhances stability, improves balance, improves circulation, and enhances muscle recovery. In addition, Dr. Garbiel Pagnotti states that vibration plates contribute to better bone health: “Mechanical signals or cues are absolutely critical to maintaining your bone and muscle health.” Much like the red light, it’s important to read health guidelines from the manufacturer that include duration and frequency.
- Japanese-inspired wellness habits have recently been trending on social media platforms. One in particular is Kanpu Masatsu, which is a health practice of rubbing the skin with a dry brush or towel. According to a study reported by the National Library of Medicine, Kanpu Masatsu, a mild aerobic exercise, could have an effect on the immune system via the autonomic nervous system. In addition to its potential immune benefits, according to senior Lauren Dumaresq, dry brushing acts as an exfoliate: “Ever since I started dry brushing, I’ve noticed my skin is much smoother, as the brush removes any dry skin.”
Basket of self-care items (Peyton Triano)
4) Face masks have become a symbol of self-care. They’re relaxing, easy, and offer skin benefits. As convenient as it is to buy a face mask, a fun twist could be to create a custom face mask. There are hundreds of machines that create collagen face masks, such as the DeMoce Face Mask Maker, which lets users add any fruit or vegetable to the machine, and it’ll morph it into a face mask. This is an easy way to receive the skin benefits of a face mask, along with expressing creativity.
5) Although classic journaling is widely popular, creating a journaling station can add a fun twist. The station can include different color highlighters, unique stickers, and decorative attachments like pearls. Taking journaling to the next level makes each entry more personalized and makes journaling an activity to look forward to. Senior Chloe Burcyznski has been journaling since middle school, but only recently created a journaling station. “It becomes repetitive to just simply write about my day. Adding personalized decoration has allowed me to actually look forward to journaling every day.”
The one feeling that many people share is stress. From school work to jobs to relationships, society is constantly surrounded and engulfed by stressors. Creating small rituals that ease the stress helps contribute to better well-being, both mentally and physically.
