I don’t know about you, but the last few months have challenged me find my top quarantine and anxiety tools to keep me sane. There’s so much uncertainty right now. Some days I do great and knock a bunch of things off my to-do list and others, I can barely drag myself out of bed (not that my son or puppy give me much choice!). Something I don’t often talk about is that I also suffer from chronic pain; ten years ago I had a pretty severe case of Lyme Disease and it just feels like I’ve never fully recovered. While it’s not fun having chronic joint pain in my early thirties, here are some things that I’ve found to help both my pain and anxiety. I hope they help you. Please note that some of these are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission. Every single product is something I own and use consistently.
1. Acupressure Mat: https://amzn.to/3gYLch5
What can I say about this except that I’m in love with it! Comparable mats sell for over $200 and this one is less than $20. You might have to work yourself up to using it for longer periods of time and start with a light t-shirt on instead of bare skin, but I promise, it’s amazing. I also find it really helps when I feel tension headaches coming on. I use it before bed almost every night.
2. Magnesium Lotion: https://amzn.to/2Wni7DZ
This is a great option for people who get migraines or athletes. I see a huge difference when I use this post-workout and when I feel a headache coming on. Beware though- it seriously smells like a can of vanilla frosting. My puppy tries to lick it off me every time I use it so next time, I’ll be purchasing a non-scented one. It’s not a bad smell (I like vanilla), but it is pretty strong.
3. Bath Bombs: https://amzn.to/3eqXhda
I love that these are organic and cheap! They come in cute boxes of 6 so they make great gifts too.
4. Epsom Salt: https://amzn.to/3frt13b
I’m not even embarrassed to admit I go through 19 lbs of Epsom salt every few months. Nothing helps my joints feel better than a float tank and this salt is the next best thing. Plus, it’s not like salt goes bad so if you don’t take as many baths as I do, it will last a long time and cost a lot less than what you can buy at the grocery store.
5. Note Cards/Stamps:
I don’t have a link for this one because I usually make my own cards, but nothing helps my mental health like sending some snail mail. I love that it lets friends know I was thinking of them. Besides, isn’t it nice to get something in the mail other than a bill?
6. Probiotic: https://amzn.to/32mF1PU
Did you know that probiotics can help your mental health and some inflammatory joint pain in addition to helping gut health? I can always feel the effects of when I stop taking these. Get the men’s ones because, for some reason, the “women’s” ones are more money (*cough, cough pink tax). Do gut flora actually discriminate between the sexes anyway?
7. CBD Oil:
This one can be controversial, but I find it really helps with anxiety and joint pain. I’m not going to link one because what works for me, may not for you. This is something you should do some research on, but there are a lot of great options!
8. Collagen: https://amzn.to/30bfk1P
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this collagen and I’ve tried a lot of different ones. No weird meat taste- just vanilla. I enjoy adding it to my coffee each morning and have noticed less joint pain since starting it last Fall. I also love the chocolate one too. Can’t go wrong with this brand!
There you have it! The list of my top quarantine and anxiety tools I use for personal care. Taking care of yourself is so important, especially in these stressful times. Things are changing and we have to adapt! Check out this recent blog post for a micro-wedding we recently shot that had to adapt to keep everyone safe but still celebrate this amazing couple’s love!
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