bellflower beauty

I’ve been implementing more things in my life recently that I think could fall under the category of self-care. It has been completely unintentional, but I already feel so much better about the new changes. It seems like these changes have coincided with my move from living in the city in a more urban setting and moving to a smaller town near the city that is a bit slower-paced and more community-oriented. With the change in scenery and living more in peace and nature rather than a concrete jungle, I’ve naturally shifted the daily routines and patterns and choices that I would normally make.

The first shift that I’ve noticed is that I’ve been so much more interested in cooking at home. I have caught myself getting excited about the new seasonal offerings at Trader Joe’s, the idea of trying out a new homemade recipe with items from the regular grocery store, and experimenting with different cocktails and mocktails at home. I have been ordering takeout and through food delivery services less, and it has felt both healthier and more freeing. I also get to be adventurous and try things that I’ve never tested out before, which adds variety to days that can sometimes seem routine. While I still do order from restaurants and visit them for fun moments outside of the house, I don’t feel as confined as when I almost exclusively went out for meals. That sort of lifestyle started to get a little repetitive and restrictive, so it has been fun to branch out and try something new, or even to reach for older recipes that I used to make before I shifted into the habit of mainly ordering out (which was generally due to convenience, living in the city, and not necessarily being near many markets or grocery stores).

Another shift I’ve noticed is my enjoyment in doing my nail care and skin care from home. Getting a manicure and pedicure was part of my monthly routine, and I would frequently rely on nail techs to be responsible for my skin care. Now, I’ve been experimenting with different nail polishes to see which colors look best on me for weeks at a time, which has been nice, since I don’t have to commit to a specific color for an entire month and a half. I also don’t have to worry about sitting in a nail salon for hours at a time. I get to do my nails to my liking, even though they don’t necessarily come out as perfect as they would if I were at the salon. I also feel like the health of my nails has improved since I’m more focused on the health of my natural nails and I’m just doing simple gel nails at home.

Speaking of skin care, I’ve been using different lotions, oils, and gels on my skin in an effort to combat the harshness of the cold New England weather. My skin can get really dry here, so I’ve also been trying different scrubs and exfoliators to see which ones work best to get my skin into tip top shape. I find that it doesn’t actually take anything too intensive or abrasive to get the job done, but I still appreciate the results of a solid pedicure.

Additionally, on the topic of body care, I’ve noticed that I have definitely focused more attention on my natural hair. Over the years, I’ve had different colors and lengths and styles, but now I am more focused on the health of my hair, using less hot tools, and seeing how fast and long I can grow my hair out. I’ve reached out for some tried and true products that I noticed helped my hair immensely in the past, while still trying out some newer, more trendy brands that I’ve seen people rave about on social media and in person. While I do still appreciate the occasional visit to the hair salon, it has been more freeing to rely on myself more for my routine maintenance and regular hair care, rather than going to the hair salon so frequently. This may change in the future, but for right now, I am loving getting to know what works best for me and the health of my hair.

Have you noticed yourself becoming more intentional about instilling self-care practices in your life and routines? If so, what self-care activities do you enjoy engaging in, and do you feel that they’ve benefitted you in any way?