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December 18, 2021 7 min read

The past couple of years have definitely been a whirlwind. We think that we all need a little more self-care in our lives since it can improve both our mental and physical health. We understand that it can be hard to find time for yourself, whether it’s because you’re swamped with classes, your work schedule is crazy, or you have a family to care for.

Self-care encourages us to maintain a healthy relationship with our minds and bodies. When we have a healthy relationship with ourselves it allows us to spread positivity and transmit good feelings to others. You cannot give to others what you don’t have yourself. Some misconstrue self-care as selfish; it is far from that.

We here at Doshi really want to stress that you need to find the time to complete some self-care, it can be as complicated or simple as you like.

Not sure what to do? We’ve put together a list of sustainable self-care ideas, you’ll be happy to know that there’s something here for everyone!

1. Go for a Walk

Low shot of a person walking in black leggings and sneakers along a paved path in a park.

Walking is free, great for the planet, and great for you. It allows you to explore and appreciate nature, so get out there and see what you can find!

Walking also releases endorphins; it keeps our minds and bodies happy. There are also studies that suggest people who walk more have less stress. If you’re someone who doesn’t walk often then start by walking for 15 - 20 minutes and slowly build up the amount of time you spend walking.

Ideally, you want to be walking at least thirty minutes a day at a brisk pace. But we can’t recommend walking enough; we all need less stress right now.

2. Take a Hot Bath

A person's feet in a white bathtub. Their toenails are painted orange and their legs are covered in bubbles.

A hot bath is a great way to relax! We always suggest that you take a bath because it’s more sustainable than taking a shower. This depends on how long you stay in the shower, how often you shower, and what kind of showerhead you use but usually, showers use more water than baths do.

Nothing beats taking a hot bath, be sure to incorporate your favorite eco-friendly bath products like bath bombs, bubble baths, and bath salts, etc. EcoTools makes some great biodegradable scrubbers, sponges, brushes, and poufs.Check out their exfoliating back scrubber, bristle bath brush, and body loofah sponge.

If you’re looking for eco-friendly bath bombs then we highly recommend you try out Lush’s products. We recommend the lakes bath bomb, the unicorn poop bath bomb, and the deep sleep bath bomb.

3. Make a Hair Mask with Coconut Oil

A coconut, cracked in half. Water streams onto it from above.

Coconut oil is great for so many things. It can be used to remove makeup, for cooking if you need to cook with oil at a high temperature, to relieve skin irritation, and to protect your hair from damage!

When you use coconut oil in your hair you’re helping your scalp, adding luster and shine, and making your hair softer. If you’re looking to promote hair growth or do any of the previous things listed, we highly recommend using coconut oil. Lather the oil into your hair before you need to take a shower and let it sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes wash it out; that’s it! Easy, right?

There are many kinds of hair masks out there but we recommend at least starting with using a coconut oil hair mask because not only is it super easy and only requires one ingredient but it’s also safe for all hair types. We would like to mention, if you have oily hair, do not apply coconut oil to your roots. Only lather it into the ends.

4. Drink Lots of Water

A woman, out of focus, holds a plain glass full of water, in focus, toward the camera.

Drinking water always seems like a tedious task and arguably, it can be with our busy schedules; but trust us, it’s worth it! Our brains are dependent on water; water keeps the brain going. Drinking water helps our energy levels, concentration, mood, memory, and performance.

You can encourage yourself to drink more water by using an app on your phone or buy a water bottle with times on it to help you stay on track.

It’s best to start with 8, 8 oz glasses of water a day. That translates to 64 oz of water. However, that is just a starting point. Active adults should be drinking more than that amount every day but if you’re someone who’s not a water drinker then 8, 8 oz glasses or 64 oz is a great place to start.

Be sure to avoid disposable water bottles! There are so many great reusable water bottles out there that will keep your water cold while being environmentally friendly. Many people find it easier to drink more water from a pretty glass or bottle. Be sure to shop around and find the perfect option for you!

5. Yoga & Meditation

A woman, silhouetted by the rising sun, sits in a lotus position on a wooen deck, looking out at a forest.

Yoga and meditation increase relaxation and focus. On top of helping your mental health, yoga can increase your strength and balance, while both decrease anxiety and stress.

What we love about mediation is that it can be practiced anywhere: in your home, backyard, local park, etc. Yoga requires space, while mediation requires little to no space. If you’re interested in starting yoga, look for a second-hand yoga mat or purchase an eco-friendly yoga mat that is made from natural materials and free of chemicals.

6. Listen to a Podcast or Some Music

A white iPhone with a pair of white wired ear buds plugged in sits on a wooden countertop.

Music can lift spirits and make us feel good. It’s not uncommon for people to listen to music while they work because it can help with concentration, focus, and boost your mood.

Podcasts can help us laugh, learn, and broaden our minds while we exercise, travel, or just sit down and relax. There are plenty of sustainable podcasts out there, be sure to check them out on whatever podcast platform you use.

Here are some that we recommend:

  • A Sustainable Mind
  • The Slow Home Podcast
  • Conscious Chatter
  • Low Tox Life
  • Brown Girl Green
  • WARDROBE CRISIS
  • How To Save A Planet
  • The Minimalists
  • Green Dreamer
  • The Energy Gang

7. Read a Book

An open hardback book being held on a patterned pillow in someone's lap.

Get your comfy clothes on, grab a warm blanket, find a comfortable place, and enjoy a great book. If you’re a reader, we suggest investing in an e-reader. E-readers don’t require paper, glue, or ink making them more sustainable.

Reading is great for the brain, it stimulates it which is great for mental health, instead of binging tv shows or staring at our phone screens. One of the reasons why reading is an effective self-care method is because it’s an activity that both relaxes us and engages us.

It’s highly recommended that if you have trouble sleeping you read a book before bed. Reading for just 20 minutes before bed can greatly reduce stressful thoughts and increase relaxation. This is also a great alternative to scrolling through your phone, which we’re all guilty of doing. Blue light stimulates the brain so it thinks it’s time to wake up not slow down. 

If you don’t want to invest in an e-reader then the next best thing to do is look for books second-hand. If you can’t find what you’re looking for second-hand be sure to support your local bookshop. Please try to avoid Amazon, if you want to buy online but support local businesses you can use this site here.

8. Relax with a Vegan Face Mask

A woman has a brown face mask applied professionally.

Face masks are great; they make you feel pampered and do wonders for your skin. Don’t do these every day unless the ones you use say it’s okay, though, as it can dry out your skin.

Try to avoid sheet masks since they’re disposable which isn’t good for the environment. You can easily make face masks on your own or you can purchase pre-made cruelty-free and eco-friendly face masks in glass containers. 

9. Start Journaling

Two journals, one marble-patterened and one light pink with the word "Journal" embossed on it, sit stacked together. Two colored pencils sit on top of them.

Journaling is a great way to keep track of your feeling and thoughts. It’s a safe place for you to express whatever you need without having to worry about being judged. You can journal to reflect on your day, write about things you’re grateful for, keep track of your habits, or you can simply write about things you wish to do in your life. The possibilities are endless!

All you need to start is some paper and a writing utensil. We’re sure that you have extra paper or an unused notebook lying around somewhere – use those instead of buying new ones. If you do need a new notebook, consider purchasing one made from recycled paper.

10. Enjoy a Hot Drink

A white ceramic tea cup sits in the foreground of the image on a wooden counter. In the background is a glass milk bottle and some plants.

Sitting down and enjoying a hot drink can work wonders. If you have a busy schedule, this can be a great option since you only need a few minutes.

Grabbing a cup of coffee or tea makes you have to sit down and enjoy it. A quick fact for you: did you know that most teabags contain plastic? You may instead choose to brew loose tea or coffee. If you need tea bags, there are unbleached tea bags that don’t contain plastic.

Self-care is a time to look after yourself. Embrace it and enjoy!

Here at Doshi, we want to encourage and support everyone in supporting the planet and themselves; that’s why we love sharing important topics here on the Doshi blog!

We believe it’s important to encourage self-care, that’s why we put together a list of self-care ideas. We tried to construct a list that offered ideas for everyone. We hope you were able to find an idea or several ideas to try. It’s important to incorporate eco-friendly and sustainability methods throughout all parts of your life including self-care.

For our part, we design our products to be practical and useful; we choose materials and construction methods that are meant to hold up to frequent use, we pay our suppliers for the more difficult work we demand, and we stand behind our goods.

When we set about to make a product, we consider the materials being used, how the product is being made, and look to find ways that we can make the product last. Synthetic materials have made huge strides in minimizing the resources used to create them.  We do our best to find factories that purchase recycled base material and minimize the use of chemicals and solvents when making their materials.

Eco-friendliness and sustainability are a function of how long a product lasts and what materials it's made from. We will continue to push on every frontier until we make beautiful products that are beautiful, last long, and then disappear back into the earth when we are done using them.

For more information on our sustainability efforts, check out our about us page.

Check out some more of our eco-friendly and sustainable articles: 8 Tips for Sustainable Living, Eco-Friendly Holiday Ideas, and Why Go Vegan?


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