spa bento

Creative Commons License photo credit: Sakurako Kitsa

This weekend, as I was packing up my cookbooks, I rediscovered a hidden book that I received from a dear friend when I moved away from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2003.

The book is called 50 Simple Ways to Pamper Yourself by Stephanie Tourles. The author encourages you not to feel guilty for wanting to spend quality time dedicated to boosting your own well-being. She welcomes you to think of pampering as a way to preserve your sanity in an insanely paced world. She asks us to think about how busy we are every day. She sees us “buzzing around like worker bees, tending to everyone else’s needs and ignoring our own”.

50 Simple Ways to Pamper Yourself is written for women who need a break. The techniques Tourles shares help us “to catch our breath, to regain our health, to restore our natural rhythms, to enjoy the meaningful moments in life that have gone by the wayside because we’re so busy”. Although the book is titled 50 Simple Ways to Pamper Yourself, the book actually includes over 300 ways to pamper yourself.

Today I give you permission to pamper yourself.

Here are a few pampering ideas that jumped out at me as I read this book.

  1. Use lavender essential oils to relax.
  2. Drink a cup of herbal tea.
  3. Get an herbal facial steam.
  4. Give your skin a drink with natural skin toners.
  5. Dry brush your skin.
  6. Get a foot massage.
  7. Soak your feet.
  8. Eat beans (they are high in vitamin B)
  9. Exercise outside in the fresh air.
  10. Get more sleep.
  11. Drink more water.
  12. Take a milk bath.
  13. Brush your teeth with fresh mashed strawberries.
  14. Put a few drops of lavender or Roman chamomile on your pillow.
  15. Brighten your home with flowers and/or flowering plants.
  16. Mist your face with water to refresh and hydrate your skin.
  17. Use natural odor fighting mouthwash.
  18. Walk barefoot on the grass.
  19. Play in warm summer rain.
  20. Let yourself be playful.
  21. Try yoga.
  22. Turn your bedroom into a private retreat.
  23. Listen to music.
  24. Spray your feet with chilled peppermint for a cooling energy boost.
  25. Trust your natural inner wisdom.

What will you do this week to pamper yourself?
Inspire others by letting us know in the comments section.

Disclaimer –I am not a health practitioner and nothing written in this post qualifies as medical or heath advice. These pampering suggestions are not meant to provide health advice and are for general information only. Seek advice of a qualified health professional. Only use essential oils with knowledge and caution. Learn about warnings for using essential oils (pregnancy, amount, frequency, and application, etc) before using. Do not take essential oils internally. If you are receiving treatment for any condition, check with your healthcare professional before attempting to self-treat with essential oils. Should you have any questions or concerns, please consult with a trusted healthcare professional before taking or using any essential oils. Each person is different, and the way you react to a particular product may be significantly different from other people.

Showing 38 comments
  • Vered - MomGrind

    Just reading this post made me feel better!

    Vered – MomGrind´s last blog post..10 Ways To Hate Yourself As A Woman

  • Gry Dla Dzieci

    Foot massages are awesome! Too bad I’m reading this at work so I won’t be able to get one for the next 6-7 hours at least…

    Gry Dla Dzieci´s last blog post..Odkrywanka

  • Betsy Wuebker

    Hi Stacey – What a great list! The healing powers of lavender and other essential oils are so well-documented, and I keep seeing recipes that use them in a variety of ways. I love making salt or sugar scrub. You mix epsom salts or sugar (depends on the amount of coarseness you want) with an inert non-fragrant oil – grapeseed oil is good – to the consistency you want. Then you add a drop or two of essential oil, like lavender (I’ve used grapefruit and eucalyptus, too). Makes you soft, and a nice gift for someone, too!

    Betsy Wuebker´s last blog post..FROM THE ROAD: INTO THE YUKON

  • Positively Present

    Sounds like a great book and I love the pampering ideas you’ve listed here. This week I plan to pamper myself by spending some time relaxing by the pool.

    Positively Present´s last blog post..trust me: to be happy you need to trust

  • J.D. Meier

    I always get tempted to walk barefoot in the grass, but then I think of the bugs and change my mind 🙂

    Warm rain works for me!

    J.D. Meier´s last blog post..Productivity Personas

  • simply stephen

    Stacey, ahhhh….pamper myself. Well, I always find playing my guitar is one of the most fulfilling things I can do – every day if possible. I try and break down the pampering into a few areas – fun, relax, health. So I’ll try and cook some healthy meals and garden too.

    P.S. Glad to see you are on Twitter, I added you.

    simply stephen´s last blog post..Community Fruit Picking – Not Far From The Tree

  • Avani

    I am already day dreaming – trying to experience each of them in my mind and pick my treat.

    ‘Brush your teeth with fresh mashed strawberries.’ – that’s a new one for me. Curious to know how that feels.

    Avani´s last blog post..Following My Heart

  • Jake | Revive Your Life

    That’s a really great list…I think we all need a good dose of pampering now and then. Listening to music usually does it for me – I can easily forget the worries of the day.

    Jake

    Jake | Revive Your Life´s last blog post..Overcoming the Challenges of Single Parenting

  • Stacey Shipman

    I went away with the girls over the weekend to cape cod. No TV, radio, newspaper or internet. That was pampering.

    so, for me, pampering recently has been less time online and more time offline.

  • Marelisa

    I so need a foot massage . . . and I love the smell of lavender.

    Marelisa´s last blog post..12 Ways to Boost Your Brain Power

  • Tess The Bold Life

    Stacey,
    You had me with the first one. I love lavender. I used to grow it when I was younger. I’ve always had a bush or two somewhere on my property.

    I got excited when I found out lavendar thrives in the dessert. In MI there were two weeks that I picked it and no more till next year.

    I’ve had lavendar in bloom for months here and the more I pick the more it comes back. I’m in lavener heaven and loving it.

    I’ve really not had any new dreams for a while. Today I decided I would like land to plant lavender. Thanks for bringing up lavender today!

    Tess The Bold Life´s last blog post..Dr. Christine Northrup Freebie/Magic Monday

  • Stacey / Create a Balance

    Vered – Just reading your comment made me feel better.

    Gry Dla Dzieci – Foot massages are my favorite pampering activity.

    Betsy – Your oil recipes sound lovely.

    Positively Present – Relaxing by the pool sounds like a pampering dream. Enjoy.

    J.D. – I walked barefoot in the grass last night and I didn’t feel any bugs.

    Simply Stephen – A homemade healthy meal (especially one I did not cook) is a true pampering feast.

    Avani – The next time I buy strawberries I’m going to brush my teeth with them. How succulent!

    Jake – Music feeds the pampering soul.

    Stacey Shipman – A girls weekend retreat! That is pampering at its finest!

    Marelisa – Ahhh, a lavender foot massage sounds so wonderful.

    Tess – Enjoy your lavender heaven. For now, my lavender comes from a bottle.

  • steadymom

    Brush your teeth with strawberries?! That sounds amazing!

    Jamie

    steadymom´s last blog post..Staycation Day Four

  • Robin Wright

    Stacey, thanks for sharing the info about the book and for reminding us that it’s ok to take me time. Too often as women we put ourselves last. But if we can’t take care of ourselves, then we won’t be able to take care of those who depend on us.

    Robin Wright´s last blog post..A Life With a Fresh Start

  • Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills

    Hi Stacey, as a guy it’s interesting to read both the list and the comments from all the ladies who related to it. We all enjoy simple, relaxing pleasures for sure, but I think a list for men would be at least 90% different. Still, I do find it insightful reading. Thanks.

    Jonathan – Advanced Life Skills´s last blog post..Personal Development – Is Your Ego Getting In the Way?

  • Mark Foo | TheBigDreamer.com

    Hi Stacey,

    Here are a few on my list:

    1. Oil Massage
    2. Good Food
    3. TV
    4. Sleep in Late
    5. A Coke
    6. Coffee with a Friend
    7. A Cigarette (I know this is going to put some people off)
    8. Dream my Dreams

    Cheers~

    Mark

    Mark Foo | TheBigDreamer.com´s last blog post..My New Blog Tagline: Personal Development For Big Dreamers

  • Icy BC

    A great list Stacey! I’ll try number 24..spray my feet with chilled peppermint.

    Icy BC´s last blog post..Easy Way to Put Comment Widgets on Your Blog

  • janice

    Hi Stacey,
    Just popped over from Tess’s place to say hello. Loved the list! I have a pot of lavender at my back door so I can sit and twiddle with it when I’m sitting on the doorstep in the sun with a coffee, daydreaming. I pamper myself by using jasmine scented bath and body products (I have jasmine growing around our kitchen door, too) and by using heady floral scented perfume any time I fancy a boost, not just on special occasions. I’m a floral addict!

    janice´s last blog post..Birds, Bees and Blogging

  • Arswino

    Hi Stacey, I usually get a foot massage, listen to music and …. starbucks coffee 🙂
    I will try other things on the list. “Use lavender essential oils to relax”, it sounds good to me.
    Thank you, Stacey.

    Arswino´s last blog post..What Does Love Mean?

  • Davina

    Hi Stacey. Barefoot on the grass — sigh… AND a foot massage. “Put your best feet forward”. Thanks for this list. Not sure about the beans though 🙂

    Davina´s last blog post..Heads Up — Beware of Crows!

  • SmartPumpkin'sMom

    Thank you, Stacey! I am a teacaholic(LOL) but I do forget sometimes about all the wonderful-sounding rest.

    SmartPumpkin’sMom´s last blog post..

  • Stacey / Create a Balance

    Steady Mom – I just bought fresh strawberries and will try brushing with them today!

    Robin – Exactly!

    Jonathan – I think a man’s list would be different too. My husband’s list would include fishing and birdwatching.

    Mark – Thanks for sharing your list.

    Icy BC – Enjoy the chilled peppermint.

    Janice – I love the idea of having a pot of lavender to twiddle w/ in the sun. What a fun image.

    Arswino – Great combination!

    Davina – I will definitely be barefoot on the grass today.

    Smart Pumpkin’s Mom – Cheers to wonderful sounding rest.

  • Joseph Mercola

    Sounds like a great book. You’re list looks good as well. Definitely agree with getting more sleep. Sleep is something most people take for granted when in fact it does a lot to improve our well-being.

    Joseph Mercola´s last blog post..Why Kids Need Krill Oil

  • LisaNewton

    What a great list. I could use a little more pampering in my life. For now, I just plan a trip, grab my camera, and off I go. For me, this is relaxing. But, a foot massage is great after walking.

    LisaNewton´s last blog post..We Built this City

  • chair massage

    Thanks for this list.
    I vote for Massage and sleeping late.
    Can’t wake up in the morning !
    🙂

  • Rebecca

    I like number 20! Its so important to bring out your inner-kid sometimes! I also like to get facials (also helps to bring your youth out!) and going shopping at vintage stores. You can always find something to make yourself feel pretty and girly!

  • krystel@perfume deals

    I agree with number 1 and 6. The two are really relaxing, especially when combined. There is just something about the scent of lavender that, in a way, reduces my stress. It helps me loosen up. Foot massage is heaven for me. I have it at least once a week and it makes me feel so calm.

  • Badger

    Taking a little break is my perfect idea of pampering. There are loads of little spots where we live, just taking the car up onto the Moors is a great way to relax and get a nice little spot of exercise. Failing that grab a boxset of dvd’s and get yourself a tub of icecream.

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