In this stressful, hyper-stimulated life we live, we cherish the tiny (albeit regimented) moments when we can slow down and give ourselves a little TLC. We combat the stress and strain with baths, intuitive healers, solo dance parties, all the workouts, and even some diamond shopping. This is how the Coveteur editors practice self-care.
Laurel Pantin
Editorial & Fashion Director
The one thing I do on a regular basis to better care for myself is take a bath. It sounds stupid and like a minor thing, but taking an hour every night to totally unwind and soak in Epsom salts and bath oil makes me feel 1,000 percent less stressed. When I’m at home in New York, it’s part of my nighttime routine, and I rarely skip it.
When I really want to either reward myself for hard work, celebrate something, or need a reminder of the fact that I’m a grown-ass woman with a grown-ass job, nothing beats a little retail therapy—specifically buying jewelry. I love to buy new charms for the necklace I wear every day, especially antique diamond ones. I’m always on the search for new diamond pieces to buy myself, because truly, there are few more pleasantly “adult” moments than taking possession of something so rare and beautiful and being able to buy it for yourself.
Hannah Baxter
Assistant Editor
I’m a serious beauty junkie, and even though so much of my job revolves around testing products, I really love taking time at the end of the day to cleanse my skin and give it some TLC. We all deserve a little more pampering, in my opinion, especially working in a place like New York, so I’ll use a mask at least every other day and incorporate cleansers, serums, and moisturizers that make my routine feel especially luxurious. Why should I skimp when it’s my face?
I also love taking a yoga class once or twice a week, more for the mental health benefits than anything (although I do dream of perfectly sculpted yoga arms). If I’m supposed to be concentrating on a physical task and my mind starts to wander, it’s incredible to have an instructor remind you to come back to center, be present, and breathe. I try to practice this sort of clarity and focus in the rest of my life, and it truly does make a difference.
Noah Lehava
Senior Editor: Health and Wellness
I travel a lot for work, and while it’s one of the most rewarding parts of my job, it’s made me appreciate time at home that much more. I always make sure to go out for a nice dinner with friends or hole up in one of our homes with takeout and lots of wine. That time to catch up and break out into belly laughs is essential for my healthy state of mind. Weekend mornings at home are always spent taking Walter, my dog, out for a long walk by the lake—it’s right by my condo, and I try to soak up every day of good weather before the Canadian winter hits. I always leave my phone behind so I can truly disconnect. It’s really one of my favorite times of day.
The gym for me is essential to my health, both physically and mentally. I’ve been working with a personal trainer at Equinox, and I feel exponentially better when I get a workout in first thing in the morning a couple times a week. I’ve also overhauled my eating habits and credit the Pure Change program for my reset. My diet is now focused on real, whole foods, eating more vegetables and less dairy and meat, and drinking loads of water. When I’m on track with all the above is when I feel like I really have it all together.
Samantha Sutton
Editor
While no two days are alike for me, plenty of hours have been spent in front of the computer, answering emails, writing posts, and trying to stay on top of deadlines. It’s easy to let the stressful parts of my job get the best of me, which is exactly why most nights, I make sure to laugh—along with my sketch comedy group, Sunday School Dropouts. Aside from the fact that being a member means I get to use my writing in a new, different kind of creative way (think SNL-type skits), I’ve never left a rehearsal or performance without multiple deep-belly cackles, aka something that’s good for the soul. We’ve also formed such a tight bond over our shared love of laughter that they’ve become my go-to group message for every happy, awful, or weird thing I experience and totally help me stay sane(ish).
Katie Becker
Beauty Director
First and foremost, I am really hooked on acupuncture. Once I started going—I see Sandra Lanshin Chiu at Treatment by Lanshin—a lot of my other self-care routines stemmed from there. Sandra’s the first person who taught me that self-care is about what makes you feel good, not about what you’re supposed to do. That’s when I switched from coffee to green tea to lessen my anxiety, confessed to myself that the only workouts I actually want to do are yoga and running, and started taking hella salt baths. I also started working with intuitive healer Mashell Tabe. All of these practices combined make for a happy, relaxed Katie, but only if I make the time, which can be very hard to do. I usually schedule my workouts and acupuncture sessions for the end of the day, so I can go home relaxed, sleep well, and wake up refreshed, recalibrated, and ready for a delicious cup of sencha green tea.
Jodi Taylor
Assistant Editor
The biggest thing that I’ve learnt about myself over the last few years is that I absolutely love and need my alone time. Every single week I make a point to leave at least one or two nights free so that I can chill on my lonesome, doing whatever the hell I want. During these times I’m typically reading a book, doing a face mask, getting my nails done, catching up on laundry (which I oddly love doing), or simply lying in the hammock on my patio. Whatever the case may be, I look forward to these lax nights more than anything (and get pretty cranky without them, TBH).
In addition to these chill self-love nights, I keep myself in line and feeling good by making sure I go to the gym and/or steam room a few times a week, take my vitamins (probiotics, C, and D) on the daily, drink a healthy amount of water and tea, and get at least six hours of sleep every night. All of these things may sound simple, but I’m certain that if I didn’t do these things for myself that I would go nuts. Self-awareness and love is so important, guys. Find what makes you happy and keeps you sane, and run with it.
Leah Faye Cooper
Features Editor
Do you ever see someone wearing headphones and dancing unabashedly, totally in their own world? That’s me. I love to go out and dance for fun, but it’s also my favorite way to zone out and de-stress. About three times a week, I have what I call a “dance party for one” in my studio apartment. As soon as I get home from work, I take my shoes off, cue up iTunes on Apple TV, and dance hard to one or two songs. Selections range from Janet Jackson’s “Miss You Much” to Gucci Mane’s “Lemonade,” but my go-to is “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers. I always feel great afterwards, so while it may not be a typical self-care routine, it works for me.