It's impossible for everyone to feel happy or content all day, every day. Sometimes you just feel a little sad. A little down. A little under the weather, shall we say? Lately that's how I've been feeling. It was bad and then it got better and then it got bad again. Basically the typical ups and downs of life.

It can be quite difficult to get rid of the negative feelings and I've struggled quite a bit... But something that always helps is some me-time. I've made a post about this before, but I'm doing it again because I believe it's something that shouldn't be underestimated. The last couple of weeks have been so busy that I hardly had any time to myself. And I realized that that might be the very reason I was feeling like, well, absolute shit. So naturally I made some time to have a little pamper night and in case you've also been feeling like, you know, shit, here are some ideas for your own little pamper night. Maybe it will make you feel a little better too... 

Masks galore

Masks have a natural pampering feel about them. I got this hair and face mask for exactly a time like this. Usually I make my own but I found these for an amazing price so couldn't let them go. ( also, I've never used a sheet mask so I was curious and my hair is incredibly damaged from all the straightening )But in case you don't have hair or face masks lying around I've got you covered. 

One of my favorite face masks is cinnamon and honey. Honey acts as a moisturizer and is great for acne treatment as well as prevention. Cinnamon gets rid of bacteria, helps prevent pimples and dries out ones that are already there. I've recently learned to add nutmeg because apparently it reduces blemishes and reduces blackheads.  

As for a hair mask, I usually just massage in some coconut oil, let it sit for a while and then wash it out. I did try a banana mask once but that didn't go so well... In case you feel like trying it out, make sure you blend it so the banana is smooth and chunks of it doesn't get stuck in your hair... It's not pleasant, trust me. You could try mixing up some plain yogurt, honey and olive oil... Apparently that's pretty moisturizing too. Let me know if it's any good. 

A warm shower

A nice warm bath is also a great option but at the time I didn't really feel like it. It's summer here and I didn't feel like lying in warm water, sweating and being alone with my thoughts. So instead I took a shower and played one of my favorite spotify playlists. Showers are also better for washing hair in my opinion. 

Remember to take your time. Wash out your hair mask and wash your hair. Wash your face. Scrub your body. Maybe take some time to shave if you feel like it. Or say fuck it, because shaving is probably totally overrated anyway.

Nails 

You might not be a nail polish person, but I sure am. However, I can't remember the last time I painted my nails... Which just proves how little time I actually take for myself. But I've finally done it. I painted my chubby little toes in lilac and I painted my chubby little fingers in burgundy. Yeah, sure, they don't really match but guess what? I don't care. I love how the lilac looks on my little footies and I simply prefer a darker color on my hands. Deal with it. 

Tea, tea, tea

You can never go wrong with a good cup of tea to calm your anxious heart. There are plenty of different teas out there that are marketed as relaxing. For example, chamomile, lavender, passionflower,... But if you're like me, any tea has a calming effect. Some personal favorites of mine are rooibos, lemongrass, mango and red fruit teas.

Something that complements a cup of tea well is a book. I'd suggest reading something fun and easy, something a lot lighter than Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Not the best book if you want to calm down... But as I have made a promise to myself to read all the Harry Potter books again during the summer, I simply have to keep going. ( Not that I'm complaining, I am head over heels in love with the books anyway and can't seem to put them down )

Movie time 

A book is good but sometimes all you want to do it curl up on your couch with some popcorn and watch a good movie. Something easy. Something funny. Something to lighten that heavy heart of yours. I have some suggestions: The Heat, Magic Mike ( yes, both of them ), Rush hour ( Jackie Chan is fabulous ), The Revenge of the Bridesmaids ( don't judge me ), and last but not least... Fifty Shades of Grey. I mean, everyone has seen it. Let's not lie about it. Go ahead, just watch it. We're not judging here. 

And last but not least, make sure you get to bed at a kind of reasonable hour... Sleep is really important and too easily dismissed. Maybe read a little before you get into bed. Crack a window open for fresh air. Take off your pj's. Sleep naked. Cuddle up in your blankets. 

And maybe, just maybe, you'll wake up feeling a little lighter, a little happier.