Late night drives:
Something about the windows being down with the sunroof open and the breeze brushing through my silky hair does something to me. My dad and I would always go on late night drives to get frozen custard or just a basic tub of ice cream from the grocery store down the street. I remember listening to old Bollywood music as I stuck my head out in the crisp air. The feeling was always so nice and it made me forget about anything difficult or negative about the day. I still take late night drives with my dad and it is the happiest feeling in the world.
Scorching hot showers:
People think I am absolutely crazy for this, but what is the point of a shower (besides hygiene, of course) if you are not going to completely relax. For me to be completely relaxed, I need boiling hot water on my skin. I feel like it always mentally relaxes me as well. Add a little sugar-scrub and a loofa and your shower routine just got a whole lot better!
The smell of rose water or eucalyptus:
Any candle, hand-sanitizer, body spray or lotion that smells like rose water or even rose water itself brings me so much peace. My mom used to use rose-water as part of her skin-care routine when I was growing up, so the smell is so reminiscent of that. Along with the rose, the smell of eucalyptus is so refreshing to me. Whenever I caught a cold as a kid, I would use “Vicks VapoRub” on my nose and congested areas and it would bring instant relief. Honestly, that stuff worked wonders. I also specifically love the “Stress Relief” scent lineup that they have at B&BW!
Reading books in hammocks:
I just recently tried this out with a couple of friends this past week since the weather was absolutely beautiful, and I must say: I am here for it. Grab a smoothie and your favorite book, and just set up a hammock and read for a little bit. I was overwhelmed with homework, but I decided to take a little bit of time off to read and hammock and it honestly increased my productivity afterwards. I would highly recommend it!
Seasonal drinks:
I don’t like, I LOVE seasonal drinks. So, treating myself to a summer drink during the summer or a winter drink in the winter brings me a lot of comfort. In the winter, I love drinking peppermint mochas or hot chocolates because they just scream “winter holidays” and that warm feeling mixed with the cold air outside is perfect. The same concept goes for summer. I love getting Arnold Palmers, which are just half lemonade and half iced tea drinks. I also really like opening a glass bottle of coca-cola at the pool. Absolute bliss!
Warmies:
If you are someone who gets really bad cramps when you are on your period, I can relate. One thing that has always brought me comfort when I am in pain is a warmie. Warmies are these microwavable stuffed animals that are stuffed with rice, corn or something of that sort. You just pop them in the microwave for a couple minutes and press them gently onto your abdominal area when you are lying down. It makes the biggest difference in the world and suddenly your cramps start feeling a lot better (plus it’s warm and cozy).
Comfort shows:
Friends or New Girl are my two comfort shows. They are the shows I watch when I just need to brighten up my day and don’t want any unnecessary nail-biting stress. I am not lying when I say I have probably watched these shows five times through EACH. I know. But if it’s not these specific shows, find a show that makes you feel comfortable and happy, and cling onto that, girlie!
Brownies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream:
I mean, I love desert in general, but there is something different about brownies and ice cream combined. I think it’s the fact that it pairs something warm with something cold, but I am craving this all the time. It just hits. Pair it with a blanket and a romcom and it is truly the perfect night in.
Going to empty movie theaters:
I know there is nothing particularly comforting about a horror movie, but I really love them when I am watching them in movie theaters. Horror movies, rom coms or mystery movies are my favorite so I love watching them in empty movie theaters with my dad or my friends because it just sets this really cool ambiance. I can’t describe it exactly, but empty movie theaters bring so much peace to me.
Writing to-do lists before bed:
Maybe I am just a chronic list-maker, but I feel like writing to-do lists about everything you want to get accomplished the next day as you are about to go to bed makes you sleep much better. I have been doing this a lot recently and I just feel like it takes this pressure off of me because I know exactly what to expect when I open my eyes the next day.
ASMR:
Speaking of falling asleep, ASMR really helps me do that. I know I have written an article about this previously but I honestly am such a huge fan. People are often judgey about the concept of ASMR but I am a huge believer of “don’t knock it till you try it.” So if you haven’t tried watching ASMR before going to sleep, now is your time!
Petting my dog:
Last but not least, petting animals is the best feeling in the world (especially for a dog-lover like me). Hugging or petting my dog is instant serotonin for me, but honestly petting any furry animal can release good emotions. If you aren’t a pet lover, hug a person. Remember, physical contact is important!
I hoped you enjoyed the list of things that bring me peace and comfort. Hopefully it gave you ideas for finding peace and comfort for yourself. :)