Updated on Feb. 15, 2023
It's important to take time to give yourself a little love and the TLC that you deserve. Here are some self care health products to help you get some "me time."
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It’s safe to say that we could all use a little more me-time. This is especially true in today’s world, where we’re all still adjusting to the continued difficulties of work from home, schooling at least part-time from home, and negotiating how complicated day-to-day activities like shopping, getting gas, and going to the doctor. It’s too easy to find yourself doing so much for others that you forget about your own needs—and whether you notice it or not, this can actually affect how you show up each and every day. (Here are some signs you’re not taking care of yourself enough.)
“The relationship with yourself sets the tone for everything else in your life,” says Julie Groveman, a licensed psychologist in Manhattan. “This means that it’s essential to dedicate enough quality time to taking care of your needs—emotional, mental, physical, spiritual— so that you can show up fully in other areas of your life.” That could mean taking a mental health day.
“Me time” can look different for each person. For some, it might mean a luxurious bubble bath, followed by a cozy robe, while others might prefer a morning meditation after a long and peaceful night’s sleep. “No matter what your me-time looks like, we all need time for ourselves, to relax and de-stress,” says Rachel Goldman, PhD, clinical psychologist, and clinical assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at New York University Grossman School of Medicine. “Self-care allows us to be our best selves—to de-stress, refocus, be productive, and accomplish our goals. It allows us to protect our physical and mental health.”
If you think taking some much needed “me time” makes you selfish, it’s actually quite the opposite. And not doing so can have some real consequences. “If we do not take time out of our day for ourselves, it can lead to increased stress, illness, and burnout,” says Dr. Goldman. “Many people say they don’t have time to participate in ‘me time,’ but we can all find a few minutes. I recommend we create pockets of time throughout our day. Perhaps while you are washing your hands, you also do some breathwork. Or maybe while you’re showering, you can use that as your ‘me time.'”
If you’re not quite sure how to take a little time to yourself, we asked our experts about products to help! Here are some self care health products for when you need a little “me time.”
$9
If you’re looking to try journaling but you’re not quite sure how to start, this guided option, with daily prompts is a great way to begin. “Journaling is one of my favorite, go-to self-care rituals, as it helps you to process feelings, and to organize your thoughts,” says Dr. Groveman. “Journaling is also a great way to connect with your inner voice and your intuition.”
Her tips for getting into it? Start with writing for just five minutes a day. “It’s helpful to ‘just do it’ and don’t set any expectations for how your journaling ‘should’ be,” says Dr. Groveman. “Just let thoughts and feelings flow.” If you’re a fan, don’t miss the best bullet journals on Amazon too.
$200
Use this handheld device to give your arms, legs, back, shoulder, or neck a mini self-massage. It’s perfect after a long day, or an intense workout, to give your muscles and body some TLC. “Handheld massagers can be good for an individual that finds massages de-stressing and calming,” says Dr. Goldman. “Not everyone can afford a massage, or wants to go for an hour massage either, but having a self-massage tool in your home can be a way to quickly de-stress whenever you need it. Plus, you also don’t need an hour or even a specific set amount of time.—if you sense tension in a particular muscle, just spend a few minutes massaging that area with the handheld massage tool.” (Check out this Theragun review for more details.)
$99
You’ll feel warm and cozy—inside and out!—when you throw on this robe first thing in the morning or post-shower. “Wrapping yourself up in something soft is an amazing way to self-soothe,” says Dr. Groveman. “Intentionally and mindfully curling up in something comfortable and warm helps you to embrace taking a break.”
$7
Let your stress and worries melt away as you drift off deep into the bubbly and aromatic oasis that this bath bomb creates. “A bath of any sort can be great ‘me time’ and a place you can focus on self-care,” says Goldman. “Adding products like bath bombs or bath salts to the water help to make it feel a bit more luxurious and this tends to help people relax even more.” Is there any better form of self-care than that?! You can try making a bath bomb, too, with these recipes.
$210
Remove yourself from your outside environment when you place this multi-sensor meditation band on your head. It can sense and provide feedback on your brand activity, heart rate, breathing and body movements, and provides feedback—calming sounds when you’re in a relaxed state, or stormy sounds to help you bring your focus and attention back to your breath. Connect it via Bluetooth to the Muse Meditation app and let voices take you through audio guided meditations. “Meditation apps can be great because a lot of people report they ‘don’t know how to meditate,’ or they have difficulties meditating,” says Dr. Goldman. “Apps can guide someone through meditation.” And according to the National Institutes of Health, meditation can help to reduce blood pressure, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, depression, and even insomnia. Try these mini meditations to relieve stress, too.
$15
Get lost in a great book, either fiction or maybe consider a self-help book, like this one, focused on ways you can care for and better yourself. It allows you to forget about other stresses in the world and really think about the story, practices, or lessons on the pages in front of you. “Reading helps you to quiet the mind,” says Dr. Groveman, who recommends this title. “It’s essential to dedicate enough quality time to taking care of your needs,” which this book can help with.
$35
Place these vegan hydra-gel pads under your eyes to nourish and give that delicate skin the TLC it deserves. “Face masks and eye masks can feel like you’re having a mini spa day, and for many people, doing something that focuses on their beauty or glow is rejuvenating, and also feels relaxing,” says Dr. Goldman. Bonus: You can put the pads in the freezer before you place them on your skin for an added cooling effect!
$10
Sleep is such an important part of your daily routine, as it’s the time when your body is completely at rest, allowing it to recover from the days’ activities. Therefore, getting good shut-eye is essential in order to be sure you’re caring for yourself in the best way possible and functioning at your highest level. This silky mask won’t let any light in, and it’s soft and comfortable to wear on your face all night long. “It helps your eyes rest, which promotes better sleep,” says Dr. Groveman.
Prices vary
There’s no better time than mid-pandemic to join a wine club. As long as it’s consumed responsibly and not in excess, a glass of wine can be a good way to wind down after a tough day, week, or even month. “Many people turn to wine to feel relaxed,” says Dr. Goldman. “Of course this can be dangerous and problematic if it’s done in excess, but having a glass of wine occasionally to help relax is okay. I tend to recommend we have a toolbox of tools available to us. Wine should never be the only tool someone has for self-care or de-stressing, but rather one of a handful of tools.
$380
The best way to tune out everyone else and really focus on some me-time? Try this pair of noise-canceling headphones. “Depending on someone’s home environment, there may be times that they need ‘me time,’ but don’t feel like they can really get it with the background noise,” explains Dr. Goldman. “In that situation, a good pair of sound-proof headphones may be the only way that individual can truly feel like they had me-time. It can be very difficult to focus on you, especially for instance, if you’re doing breath work or meditating if there is a lot of background noise.”
