Why Herbs Aren't "Extras" and Self-Care Isn't Selfish
Self-care sometimes gets a bad rap as being self-indulgent or gratuitous. And yes, some forms of might feel that way, but if something you do brings you joy and offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, that’s no one’s business but your own.
Say it with me now: Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s so crucial to staying well that Tara Parker-Pope of The New York Times deemed that phrase “the most important lesson of pandemic life.” She added that it’s going to be a challenge for many of us to keep up with self-care once we’re back to “normal.” Agreed. But let’s make prioritizing self-care one of the things we carry with us into the future.
Whether you care for a pup or a preschooler, one other person or five, you have to fill your own cup first — before you fill the cups of your loved ones. Reminder: Both literally and metaphorically, you cannot fill from an empty cup.
Let’s normalize taking care of ourselves as much as we do taking care of each other! With that in mind, here are a few ways to reinforce that self-care isn’t selfish – and all the things we do to take care of ourselves (including and especially herbs) aren’t “extras.”
1. Exercise.
We choose to work out for a lot of reasons: To challenge the limits of our physicality, to change the shape of our bodies, to forget a bad day, to boost our overall energy, to lift our mood, to help us sleep better at night… the list goes on.
No matter what kind of workout you like to do – from Bollywood dance classes and Pilates to marathon training and tai chi – your body, mind and spirit will benefit. Exercise is an investment in your health today and into the future. That steadiness you learn on the yoga mat while balancing in warrior 3 pose could help you during that next board meeting. Digging deep during the last hill climb of a cycling class could help you weather the ups and downs of returning to office life. And the strength you build by lifting weights could help keep you healthy while you care for your little ones.
2. Sleep.
Can we please, once and for all, stop encouraging people (especially parents) to see how little sleep they can get by on? Rest is imperative for our mental and physical health. By ducking out of the group text to hit the hay early or sleeping in and letting your partner get the kids out the door in the morning, you are starting your day off right. A good night’s sleep is one of the foundations of overall wellness. Adults need at least seven hours a night, and we all know we’re not getting that much uninterrupted sleep night after night.
There’s a saying in personal finance that you should “pay yourself first.” That is, when the money comes in each month, you should prioritize savings whenever possible. Apply that same principle to sleep. You have 24 hours in a day. Pay yourself first by setting aside seven or eight of them every single day. Put it in your calendar. Let that time be “sacred.” From there, decide how to divide up the rest of your day.
And make good sleep hygiene a non negotiable, too. Keep our Hello Dreams™ sleep strips with Melatonin & Calm Down™ herbs on your bedside table so you always have them at the ready. Slip one onto your tongue and feel the cool minty, herbal strip melt away as you drift toward dreamland.
3. Clothing and shoes.
Yes, clothing and shoes are self-care, too. They do not always have to be practical, and they do not have to be the most budget-conscious options either. If these are things that are important to you, then they’re important! Clothing conveys a message to the world and helps prepare us for what we need to do each day. From the perfect power suit to make you feel like you’ll ace that interview to the new leggings for your 5k, clothes can give you a boost emotionally. The same goes for comfy clothes – it’s OK to splurge on a plush robe, a new set of pajamas or, yes, a fresh pair of “work” yoga pants. (We’re all still wearing athleisure over pants with buttons, right?)
Whether it’s a new designer bag to celebrate a milestone or a fun vintage dress from your favorite secondhand shop, lean into clothes as self-care!
4. Skin care.
There are plenty of things we do each day that aren’t essential for keeping ourselves and other living beings alive. But that doesn’t mean they don’t matter. We’re talking about things like face masks (the kind that leave your skin soft not the kind that go over your nose and mouth), cleaning oils and eye creams — all those fun steps in our wellness routine! (Our pick? Use the leftover grounds from your next pod of Good Morning Sunshine™ Coffee + Adaptogens as a DIY body scrub!)
If you’re a minimalist who only needs some SPF and a bar of soap, that’s awesome – you can pack light and travel freely. But if you enjoy the ritual of double cleansing your face, using a scented oil head to toe or weekly protein treatments for your hair, go for it. These things give you time to rest and recharge. Ideally, they also let you unplug. Self-care in the form of skin and hair care let you connect with your senses and pamper yourself a little. For some of us, it might also take the sting out of the term “geriatric millennial.”
5. Herbal “supplements.”
While the herbs we include in our daily routine are officially called “supplements,” it’s OK if you see them as anything but supplemental to your daily lifestyle and healthy habits. We agree with you – and we don’t think herbs are extras. (But it’s totally if you’re a little “extra”!) Herbs can be an integral part of your wellness routine.
However, since most of us don’t have an assistant to help us track our wellness routine, we knew it was important to create supplements that work for your busy modern life. Many herbs (like red ginseng) are intended to be taken over the long term. Plus, Good Morning Sunshine™ coffee pods gives you a way to fight fatigue with more than just caffeine – so you can give your coffee pot a rest!* (The answer is in one pod, not a whole pot!) At the same time, you shouldn’t be expected to sacrifice a lot of time every day to take your herbs.
That’s why our convenient solutions combine ancient herbal wisdom with modern technology. They help you naturally power through your day and get more restorative sleep – and they’re designed to work together. Good Morning Sunshine’s adaptogenic ginseng bolsters the body’s sleep cycles and energy levels over time, while Hello DreamsTM Sleep Strips delivers melatonin and a proprietary blend of herbs to give you the sleep support you need in the here and now.*
Think of the other ways you’ve brought ease to your life. Supplements do the same, and they can be essential to your routine. Let’s shed the stigma attached to rest and taking care of ourselves and instead reward and praise those who invest in their own well-being. We’ll all be better off for it!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.