Photo: Alizee Marchand from Pexels
Staying focused is not easy when you’re working from your living room and haven't left the house in weeks. It’s easy to feel drained and distracted, even the bliss of working in pajamas is old news. Self-care is needed now more than ever, but you may not always have time for yoga or a bubble bath.
Luckily, our editorial director, Sacha Strebe, and our managing editor, Megan Beauchamp, compiled the products they swear by for a quick mental health break. These products will add a little peace to your workspace, make you feel better, and you can use them while answering emails or sitting on Zoom calls.
Take a pause, scroll on, and do something for yourself. You deserve it.
True Botanicals Stress Relief
“When you work at an events company there is always work to do. Long hours prepping the show at my desk are followed by long days ensuring the show runs smoothly on-site. When I need a little stress-relief, I reach over and roll this oil on my wrists and sometimes a little on my neck behind my ears too. It smells so good with tarragon and frankincense, both of which have been used for centuries to ground and stabilize moods.” —Sacha Strebe
$36
The Beauty Chef Well Spray Inner Beauty Support
“When you’re on-the-go and stress has the cortisol levels rising, your immune system can be compromised. I love The Beauty Chef’s Well Spray (their Gut Primer is also a favorite) because it isn’t another vitamin to swallow and in just a few sprays I know I’m boosting and protecting my body. The ingredients are a combination of bio-fermented superfoods including pomegranate, elderberry, olive leaf (I swear by the olive leaf pills for immune defense), sage, calendula, and selenium—a mineral essential for normal immune function.” —Sacha Strebe
$29
Hum Raw Beauty Green Superfood Powder
“I have been a big fan of Hum nutrition for a long time (I swear by their Skin Heroes probiotic) and this superfood powder is a must-have at work. I always forget to take my pills or drink my green juice on the weekend because I’m out of routine. But this all-in-one powder makes it easy. There are more than 30 superfoods here with antioxidants, adaptogens, enzymes, probiotics, fruits, and vegetables. It also has a delicious mint chocolate chip flavor. I find myself reaching for it mid-afternoon for a boost and to stave off those unhealthy snack temptations.” —Sacha Strebe
$39
The Nue Co. De-bloat and Prebiotic
“I try to move around my home office as much as possible but I’d be lying if there aren’t more days than not where I’m sitting at my dining table come makeshift desk all day long. Naturally, not moving my body can often lead to bloating so when that happens, I make a warm tea with The Nue Co. de-bloat and prebiotic powder. It tastes great and it really works.” —Sacha Strebe
$37
iS Clinical Copper Firming Mist
“This isn’t essential to your self-care desk but as a skin enthusiast, I need to have a few misting sprays nearby to keep my skin hydrated at home. I like this one because it is packed with antioxidants and the copper PCA regulates mu skin's pH levels and apparently that also stimulates collagen. If anything, a few mists throughout the day just make me feel good and that’s all part of self-care, right?” —Sacha Strebe
$35
Molekule Air Mini
“Air pollution is evident everywhere but even more so in Los Angeles. According to a new report, a lot of the smog actually comes from China. In fact, ”29% of particulates in the San Francisco area came from coal power plants in China." So, I invested in the full-size Moleklule (and a few Dyson air purifiers) for our house but I’m also looking at investing in the mini for my home desk too. Not only does this one clear the air but it also looks chic too. It’s a win-win.” —Sacha Strebe
$399
Crane Drop Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifer
“The air is really dry in LA. Combine that with the drying effects of an air-conditioner on hot days and it's safe to say my skin is feeling parched. A humidifier is a great option in winter and summer to keep your skin hydrated and in all honesty, it just makes me feel good looking at it. I like this humidifier because it adds moisture to the air in rooms measuring up to 500sq ft. My colleague has the Hey Dewy but it’s much smaller and doesn’t have a strong stream of mist that I like but it is a good price. I have also been eyeing off this Objecto for our house.” —Sacha Strebe
$50
Soma Glass Carafe
“I love this glass carafe because it filters out any impurities from the tap water. I also love how it looks on my home dining room desk. Just seeing water in this carafe makes me want to drink it.” —Sacha Strebe
$74
Just Add Watur Motivational Water Bottle
“I am a skin and health nut so it always surprises people when I tell them that I am really bad at drinking water. And when I say bad, I mean really bad. Don’t get me wrong, I drink a lot of liquids. I drink a cup of early grey tea when I wake up, then a coffee, followed by a green smoothie, and then a herbal tea when I get to work (I love the Sakara Detox tea) which I drink throughout the day. But when it comes to water, actual H20, I probably only drink 1 liter. So, I bought one of these motivational water bottles that keeps me accountable. It has the time of day listed so I know how much I need and drink in portions rather than guzzle all at once. So far so good, but we will see.” —Sacha Strebe
$20
Sakara Beauty and Detox Water Drops
“In a bid to drink more water, I keep these drops on hand to flavor the water and enhance it too. Beauty Water is my favorite with its delicious rose scent. Just a few drops deeply hydrate your cells with naturally-occurring trace minerals missing from tap water.” —Sacha Strebe
$39
Sandoval Wood Aromatic Concentrate
“I’m all about creating an atmosphere that feels like home and Sandoval definitely brings a piece of our apartment into my cubicle. Peace is my personal favorite because it has the purifying palo santo with sweet frankincense and patchouli. They basically bottled the quintessential California scent. Spray it in the morning to set your space up for success and creativity.” —Sacha Strebe
$60
An Organized Life Gemini Zodiac Notebook
"I am a sucker for stationary but especially notebooks for journaling, dreaming, and listicles. I always have my diary nearby for all my work notes and lists, but there's something really special about having an additional notebook like this Zodiac one to write down your thoughts, personal achievements, ideas, and wishes for your future. It's been incredibly helpful for me especially during this time.” —Sacha Strebe
$16
Byredo Rinse-Free Hand Wash
“Our hands touch multiple things throughout the day and we don’t always have time to race to the restroom to wash them for every little thing so I like to have this rinse-free hand wash nearby. It smells amazing and looks so stylish on my desk when I’m not using it. But of course, this doesn't compare to actually washing your hands, so please do that too, and stay safe!” —Sacha Strebe
$37
Hilma Tension Relief
“I swear by this supplement for relief when I have head tension, which is pretty much unavoidable after spending hours in front of my laptop. It’s a quick fix without any of the unnecessary or harmful ingredients that can be found in other over-the-counter pain-relief solutions.” —Megan Beauchamp
$15
Have a Nice Day Glass Water Bottle
“Keeping a refillable glass water bottle on my desk is the only way I’ll hit the recommended eight glasses a day. I love this one from Have a Nice Day, which boasts a friendly reminder to keep a positive outlook no matter how many ‘this could have been an email’ meetings you have on your calendar for the day.” —Megan Beauchamp
$18
Avène Thermal Spring Water
“At first, it felt gratuitous to have a thermal spring water mist on my desk, but it’s a luxury that’s worth every penny. A quick spritz here and there goes a long way in helping me feel refreshed and ready to tackle the next task on my to-do list.” —Megan Beauchamp
$14
The Sill Philodendron Green
“Plants can do wonders for your wellbeing. They’ve been proven to reduce stress and anxiety, improve air quality, and even enhance cognitive skills. I love having this low-maintenance plant—complete with a sleek modern planter—from The Sill in my WFH office.”
$55
MegaBabe Hand Sanitizer
“I’m a big fan of this hand sanitizer from MegaBabe. It’s effective without being overly drying. I keep the mini size at my desk and grab it before heading out the door. I also have the large hand sanitizer pump, which I use to refill the conveniently sized mini when it runs out of product.” —Megan Beauchamp
$6
Vitruvi Stone Diffuser
“One of the biggest perks of working from home has been the ability to diffuse essential oils during the workday. I’ve had a Vitruvi stone diffuser for years, and I highly recommend it. The brand’s Boost Blend of bergamot, grapefruit, juniper, and lime essential oils makes for a great midday pick me up when I hit that 3 pm slump.” —Megan Beauchamp
$119
Golde Shroom Shield
“Another product that’s great for powering through the 3 pm slump, Golde’s Shroom Shield has a chocolately taste that’s ideal for adding to that afternoon coffee for a tasty pick-me-up that’s just indulgent enough.” —Megan Beauchamp
$22
Up next: 10 Two-Minute Habits That Will Change Your Life
This story was originally published on July 30, 2020, and has since been updated.
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