My Top 4 Stress-Busting Self-Care Must-Haves
Why I Became a Self-Care Advocate
If you know me, you know how much I advocate for self-care. But for years, I was the queen of sacrificing my time and energy, and it left me feeling completely exhausted. I’m neurodivergent—diagnosed in adulthood, by the way—and I finally gave myself permission to take a deep, outside-in look at my life. I realized my brain processes sensory triggers differently, and I needed to find tools to help lessen my reactions.
Figuring out what my self-care looked like was one thing, but finding time for it? A whole different ballgame. As we head into one of the busiest times of the year, I wanted to share some of the things I was able to easily incorporate into my daily routine that allowed me to multitask and not carve out time I didn’t think I had.
Whether you’re in the early stages of identifying your self-care needs or a seasoned guru, I hope some of my favorites from this list help you achieve your goals.
The Products: How They Help Me De-stress
Just a heads up: A few of the links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them. But please know, I wholeheartedly recommend each of these products and would share them with you regardless! These links are simply the easiest way for me to direct you to the exact items I use and love.
1. NeeDoh Jelly Cube https://amzn.to/466rAUC
I know, a kid’s toy? Seriously, stay with me on this one. This wonderfully squishy cube helps me relieve tension with its firm but pliable texture. I was genuinely amazed at how helpful it is to direct that undirected energy into something tangible. An extra bonus: I’ve discovered it strengthens my hands, too.
2. Weighted Shoulder Wraps https://amzn.to/4nVmuRl
Weighted items are my secret weapon for feeling grounded and centered. I love and use mine when I feel like I am go, go, going and need a reset. While finding a link for mine, I stumbled upon one that can be microwaved—so you get not only the weight, but also some heat to ease tension in your always-tight neck and shoulders. Pure bliss! https://amzn.to/4ptLaBJ
3. Vibrating Heated Foot Rest https://amzn.to/4go0uM2
Okay, this one is kind of hilarious and maybe a little gimmicky looking. I saw it while Christmas shopping and thought it looked cozy, but it wasn’t until my sensory inventory that I knew it was a must-have. I am a serial leg-tucker: I’m never sitting anywhere without having my legs tucked snuggly under my bum. I’ll tell you, not great way to sit if you have hip and lower back troubles but this little gem solved all my problems. The gentle vibration keeps me feeling grounded, and with the added heat in the winter, my office desk is officially my happy place. I’m not going to lie, it can be interesting to get into, but it is SO worth it!
4. Aura App: Here’s a free 30-day guest pass to try Aura: https://aurahealth.io/refer/new/aura-5ge9s?utm_medium=share
I’ve had sleep issues my entire life, and perimenopause isn’t helping. After working with a therapist, I found Aura had CBT-i (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) integrated and started a trial. What I found was a full-fledged mental health wellness app. It has something for just about anyone—from meditation to sleep hypnosis and so much more. This app has truly been a game-changer for me.
Tools to Achieve Your Goals
Are these items going to take away all your stress? Absolutely not. But they are tools, and I’m a firm believer you need tools to accomplish your goals. My main goal in sharing is for you to find even one thing that can make you feel a little cared for, to take a little less stress off your huge stress plate. For me, it started with one small thing that snowballed into me making big changes in my life to give me more peace of mind and less stress. It’s so much easier for me now to show up for myself, my family, and my clients.
This is a two-way street, though! I’d love to hear if you have a ride-or-die, stress-busting technique or product.
Let’s Celebrate!
My birthday is October 22nd, and I’m going to be celebrating with all of you! Sign up for emails and alerts—you won’t want to miss it!
https://cassyk.myflodesk.com/o77tw3e0lo
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