Covid Self-Care

Self-Care: 2021 Edition

Well, it’s safe to say that 2020 is a year not be forgotten. In the past year you may have socially distanced from friends and family. Or proudly protested for reform. Or, hey, became a virtual learning assistant for when school is in session.  

And that’s a lot of time to worry, stress, and feel anxious. But we are not out of the woods yet and as we start out this new year let us focus more on self-care as a number one priority. Thankfully, there are some proven ways to practice self-care to help reduce stress and show our bodies and minds some TLC. We’ve listed out three of our favorite options provided by Psychology Today. 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shyness-is-nice/201403/seven-types-self-care-activities-coping-stress

Hot Showers or Warm Baths

 One of the easiest ways to relax is simply taking a long shower or bath with warm water. 

According to LifeHack.org, warm water bathing can increase levels of serotonin, which is the chemical produced by the brain associated with happiness and well being.

So turn the tap on and let the warm water flow. In the shower, we recommend our Mandarin Creme Wash which features Sicilian red mandarin oil and that not only revitalizes and brightens skin, but it has an uplifting, citrusy scent to boost your mood. If you’re in the tub, try our Soothing Oatmeal Bath Powder which is free of soaps, dyes, and preservatives and full of organic colloidal oatmeal powder (to soothe), milk powder (to moisturize and protect), and marshmallow root powder (to soften and nourish.)  

Once you’ve stepped out of the shower or tub, follow with Daily Essential Face & Body Lotion. Since you’ve spent extended time in warm water, your body’s moisture levels need to be replenished. This is a lightweight option that was developed to be exceptionally pure for kids’ skin, but is an amazing hydrator for all bodies. 

https://www.lifehack.org/381960/10-scientifically-proven-health-benefits-taking-bath

https://mambinoorganics.com/products/mambino-organics-mandarin-creme-clarifying-body-wash-shea-coconut-12-fluid-ounces

https://mambinoorganics.com/collections/baby-kids/products/mambino-organics-soothing-oatmeal-bath-powder-milk-calendula-6-ounces

https://mambinoorganics.com/products/mambino-organics-daily-essential-face-and-body-lotion-coconut-primrose-5-fluid-ounces

At-home massage

As if the typical daily rigors of life aren’t enough to give you occasional muscle tension, we’ve noticed our back getting extra tense after long sessions sitting in a make-shift office chair while working from home. A few things have helped: remembering to get up and move around the house every hour or so, doing online yoga classes, and practicing self-massage. 

Heathline.com recommends laying on top of a tennis ball to relieve tension, but we also like their recommendation for an easy massage: 

• Sit on the floor with legs crossed and your back straight
• Place your thumbs on each side of your sacrum (that wide, triangular bone at the base of your spine)
• Move thumbs in a circular motion, pausing on tense areas

To help our fingers glide easily over our back, we like to use either the citrusy Moisture Me Nourishing Body Oil or the lavender-infused Nurture Me After Bath Massage Oil. (It also depends on our mood—the organic sweet orange oil in Moisture Me is a happy, joyful scent, and the lavender chamomile combo in Nurture Me is divine before bedtime. And for those that don’t want any fragrance, our unscented Calming Ultra-Sensitive Baby Oil is a great option with all the great benefits of a nourishing massage oil.  

https://www.healthline.com/health/self-massage#back-pain

https://mambinoorganics.com/products/mambino-organics-moisture-me-nourishing-body-oil-pomegranate-shea-butter-4-fluid-ounces

https://mambinoorganics.com/collections/baby-kids/products/mambino-organics-nurture-me-after-bath-massage-oil-calendula-chamomile-5-fluid-ounces

https://mambinoorganics.com/collections/baby-kids/products/mambino-organics-calming-ultra-sensitive-baby-oil-jojoba-primrose-5-fluid-ounces

Take a walk outside

In our house, one of the best ways to change the mood and lighten things up is to just take a walk. Change the scenery, get our bodies moving and just enjoy the fresh air. With the winter weather in full-swing, we still be must be cautious about  being sun-safe and loading up on sunscreen. The SPF 30 Pure Mineral Face & Body Sunscreen is a natural, safe sunscreen that we don’t have to worry about using on the kiddos.

And if we’re staying outside in our backyard, or going on a walk through a park or doing a hike, we’ve been applying Anti-Bug Repellent Spray to avoid bug bites. Its fine mist doesn’t make skin feel sticky, and the organic lemongrass, citronella and witch hazel not only protect against stings, but smell great. 

https://mambinoorganics.com/collections/sun-outdoor/products/mambino-organics-spf-30-pure-mineral-face-sunscreen-zinc-oxide-raspberry-1-7-fluid-ounces

https://mambinoorganics.com/collections/sun-outdoor/products/mambino-organics-anti-bug-repellant-spray-lemongrass-citrnonella-2-7-fluid-ounces

We’d love to hear how you will been maintaining your sanity and focusing on YOU this coming year. What’s your favorite way to unwind and chill out? Drop us a comment below!