25 Seriously Effective Things We’re Doing to Stay Calm, Healthy, and Present Right Now

This whole year, it’s felt like we’ve been living in an alternate universe. Down is up and up is down. Nothing makes sense and many of us are understandably disoriented and anxious. This is especially true right now when so many of our holiday traditions have been upended and so many of us are feeling far away from our loved ones. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 25 small, but effective ways we’re taking care of our own mental and physical health. Try one, two (or all!) and watch how your body and mind respond. You’ll feel happier, calmer, healthier, and better able to navigate this time with a clear head.

1. Take magnesium. A lot of it. In basically all forms. Try Epsom salt bath soaks from Dr. Teal’s, a food massage before bed with Ancient Minerals magnesium lotion, and this Natural Calm Sleep supplement with GABA, l-theanine, and melatonin.
2. Live for right now. It’s nine months in and we still don’t know when life will return to normal. Be hopeful, yes, but take it one day at a time.
3. Talk (or text) with a therapist. This is a great time to talk to a therapist, especially if you feel lonely or like you can’t get a handle on your anxiety symptoms. You can also try text therapy apps like Talkspace or try texting with a mental health bot.
4. Try lavender essential oil. Place a dab of lavender under your nose or on your wrist and take a nice long deep breath.
5. Treat yourself. Whether it be one of these healthy Instagram desserts, some new loungewear from Aerie, or these Be Bright duo sheet masks from Rael, you’ve earned it.
6. Add some greens (powder) to your diet. Invest in a high-quality greens powder to pick up the slack on any veggies you might not be getting. We like Athletic Greens and this Garden of Life Raw Organic Greens Superfood Powder.
7. Do an intense workout. We’re talking about a holy-cow-my-legs-are-burning and sweat-is-dripping-off-my-nose type of workout, like the ones Sweat440 is sending out to their subscribers. This is a great way to burn off nervous, unsettled energy.
8. Add some heat. To soothe sore post-workout muscles, consider an herbal heating pad, which provides comfort and smells amazing. If you don’t already have one, try supporting small businesses and order one off of Etsy.
9. Get outside. Do this at least once a day, even if it’s only for 10 minutes. Feel the sun on your skin — it will help, we promise.
10. Ground yourself. While you’re outside, try taking off your shoes and walking on the grass, in the sand, or on the bare earth. It’s strangely comforting and might even be beneficial for your immune system.
11. Honor the weekends. You may think you can work on a Saturday but then all of a sudden Monday feels like Friday and you run out of steam.
12. Dance. Seriously, dance your heart out! Join lifestyle blogger Liz Moody’s 3 p.m. dance parties or download this 90’s Quarantine playlist from Serena Wolfe.
13. Add CBD to your water. Add a few drops of CBD to your water while you work; it may help keep you calm and allow you to better focus on the task at hand.
14. Lean into guilty pleasures. Want to watch Pirates of the Caribbean for the third time this week? Binge on the Bachelor from two seasons ago? Read nothing but Nicholas Sparks novels? If it makes you feel good, do it.
15. Stick to a daily routine. During the holidays, it may feel tempting to throw your routine out the window, but maintaining some structure can be beneficial. On the other hand, if your day doesn’t go exactly according to plan, don’t sweat it.
16. Prioritize skincare. Speaking of routine, now is a great time to fine-tune your skincare routine and establish good habits like cleaning your makeup brushes.
17. Do your hair. Wash your face, do your hair, and generally try to feel presentable enough for a Zoom call. But go ahead and leave your sweatpants on.
18. Buy an anxiety blanket. The Napper from Bearby is an investment but it’s also a game-changer.
19. Try 4-7-8 breathing. The 4-7-8 breath is super calming and you can do it while you work, while you cook, or while you watch TV. (Here’s how.)
20. Listen to a True Crime podcast. Try Serial or Dirty John and take a break from worrying about the pandemic and worry about something else instead!
21. Drink herbal tea. Drink it warm with honey or make a large batch and ice it. This way, you have something refreshing to drink that doesn’t have any sugar or take up a ton of space in the fridge.
22. Remember good posture. You may be working from your dining room table, but you can still try to set up your workspace to decrease neck and back tension. (Here’s what you should be aiming for.)
23. Get your vitamin C. Top doctors, like those from the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, have recommended vitamin C as a supplement to support immunity.
24. Sett boundaries with your phone. Find yourself refreshing the news every 15 seconds? Put your phone in another room for an hour.
25. Don’t forget community. If you can’t see friends and family for the holidays, schedule a group Facetime happy hour, play trivia, or just talk on the phone.