Since growing up as an overachiever and a perfectionist, I can tell you that it's been a journey learning how to find balance with my own goals, and truly take care of myself. I went through school, all the way to completing my Masters and somewhere along the way, I realized I stopped doing things for enjoyment, but out of efficiency. 

After some hospital visits (truly my self care was abysmal), and lots of therapy, I have come a long way. 

I reconnected with my senses and I love being creative. I like quiet time and even realized that rest is productive (not lazy!). 

Whether you're a student, a parent, life's got you down, or work is burning you out, we can all use some extra self-compassion and self-care. This is how one of Le Prix's pillars became fostering self-love. 

I've curated (and even created) some of my favorite self care practices at Le Prix that are also sustainably and ethically made. Plus our partners are sustainable, small, female-led businesses as well.

Here's some inspiration if you feel blocked at where to start, or maybe want to send some loving support to someone who needs it.

Self Care Essentials

1. Find your comfort zone. I use these organic and fair trade cotton tees as my uniform to change my mindset. Think of it also as a signal to the world that it's your "me time". Also, I have fun wearing mine with my friends when we have girl's night. They feel like a hug!

2. Sip health promoting herbal teas. This collection of small family-farm grown in Guelph herbal teas is my self-care time in a cup. They all have their own health benefits from immune supporting to helping you sleep better.

3. Take care of your lips. Maybe you have dry lips or have a bad habit of picking at them, applying lip balm regularly and every day moisturizes and keeps them soft. Perfect for laying under a lip stick. I also like to use a thick layer at night as a lip mask so I wake up with soft lips. This lip balm blend is simply organic beeswax, organic coconut oil, grapeseed oil. 

4. Explore your creative side with positive intentions. Researchers and art therapists alike have touted the calming benefits for over a decade. According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy is a mental health profession in which the process of making and creating artwork is used to “explore feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem.” So basically, it’s similar to good old therapy. (CNN, 2017)

I designed the Positive Affirmation Self-Love Coloring Postcard Deck from my favorite affirmations. Printed on 100% recycled paper with intricate black-and-white interiors and a distinctive uncoated cover, this is a beautiful gift—or a pick-me-up for yourself!

5. Spend some "me time" connecting with yourself. This feels like the spa for me at home. I like to put it on and then a robe and relax for a while to let is truly soak in and calm my nervous system. It's a luxurious blend of moisturizing oils and butters, whipped to a smooth, creamy consistency. This blend of shea butter, cocoa butter, meadowfoam, avocado and coconut oils absorb and lock moisture into your skin without leaving you feeling greasy. Perfect for dry, cracked hands or use all over — a little goes a long way. 

6. Protect your skin. This cozy smelling gentle yet effective lotion is an absolutely favorite. It moisturizes skin the entire day, protects and soothes dry skin and firms and tightens skin (which to be honest I forgot about until I re-read all the benefits). I just like how light it is and quickly absorbs into the skin. I also love that we have a recycling-reuse program for the bottles that you can send us, or drop off in-store.

7. Reframe skincare as self-care. Fall into a raspberry-scented daydream with this face lotion. I cannot tell you how fantastic it smells. My mouth waters, and yet it's not artificially scented. It's gotta be the yummy raspberry and hibiscus tea in the ingredients. It'll also last you a long time because one pump is more than enough. I like to layer this with the rest of our skin care line.

8. Flavonoids in dark chocolate reduce risk of heart disease and mortality, possibly in part by reducing blood pressure and inflammation. If you love chocolate, I cannot tell you how much you'll love this zero waste organic, fair-trade co-operative chocolate brand we carry. It has ruined me for all other chocolates! They melt in your mouth, are incredibly rich and satisfying and work well in baking or melting to make a luxurious hot chocolate or latte.

9. Help improve your health and mood. Aromatherapy is such an underrated practice for me. It iinvolves using essential oils and herbs for therapeutic benefit. It has been around for centuries. When you inhaled, the scent molecules in our blends travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the brain and especially impact the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain. These four variety pocket size aromatherapies make it easy to sniff throughout the day and come with their own mindfulness mini exercises and affirmations to help you stay grounded and centered. Whether you are feeling a little too much chaos, or just want a peaceful moment, these are perfect to throw in your purse.