Truth: Self care is never not important. But as 2020 has basically dialed up the stress factor by the month, there’s no time like *right now* to stock up on some self-care essentials and tips.

To get a little help from the pros, we teamed up with Nature’s Way® to chat with psychologist Mariel Buqué, PhD, and clinical mental health counselor Tiffany Roe about their self-care routines.

The goal? Avoiding burnout and high levels of stress. “It can certainly be the culprit behind the development of more compromised wellness,” says Dr. Buquè, who conducts mental health workshops across the nation. “So staying healthy means doing what we can to ensure our minds are cared for. Even if the world still needs work, we can simultaneously work on ourselves.”

Still, sometimes it can feel trivial to want to focus on yourself, right? Wrong, says Roe. “If we completely ignore meeting our needs in today’s health and social climate, we will burn out,” she says. “Self care means we continue to nurture ourselves and make sure we’re in this for the long haul.”

Both Dr. Buquè and Roe agree that therapy can be a powerful tool for self care as well. “It’s my favorite type of self care,” Dr. Buquè says. “Having a guide—which is what a therapist is, essentially—to help you navigate life’s challenges takes some of the weight off your shoulders.”

But sometimes, you just need some soothing right now—which is where having a self-care kit with simple practices you can incorporate into your day-to-day comes in. To find those out, keep reading.

Scroll down to learn the self-care essentials that two mental health pros stock up on, and shop them all in the hotspots below.

Meditate First Thing

Roe’s hack for making sure she meditates? Immediately doing a 10-minute guided sesh when she wakes up. “Meditation is a crucial part of my mental health,” she says. “Making time every day to sit and focus on the present moment sets the stage for me to regulate my emotions, be mindful, sleep better, manage stress, run my empire, and be a more patient partner and mom.” Pro tip: Try a cushion to make the process (literally) more comfortable.

MoMA Knot Cushion

Support Your Sleep*

Roe turns to gentle supplements to help support restful sleep.* “Nature’s Way® Silent Night was a mellow and calming part of my wind down routine and felt like a complement to an overall healthy sleep hygiene routine,” Roe says. “The formula really worked for my body and felt like an effective part of my goals for healthy sleep and mental wellness.”

Nature's Way® Silent Night

Opt for a Bath

When all else fails, never underestimate the power of a hot bath to ease into a restful night. “Gimme a bath bomb, some lavender essential oil, and it’s one form of “pampering” that is indeed self-care for me,” Roe says. “It hits so many needs simultaneously including alone-time, relaxation, reflection, warmth, hygiene, mindfulness, and rest—and often my best ideas and creative endeavors come to me during bath time.” 

Lush Twilight Bath Bomb

Write it Down

Journaling can be so much more than just putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). “I am very intentional about setting the stage for how I journal and I take it very seriously, because I know it has the power to restore me spiritually and mentally.” Dr. Buquè says. That means making a cup of tea, lighting sage and candles, and writing based on prompts she’s written the night before.

Anthropologie Moglea Linen Spiral Notebook

Reduce Your Stress*

To reduce stress, Dr. Buquè has been taking Nature’s Way® Ashwagandha.* “I’ve been looking into inviting more adaptogens into my daily repertoire so that I am able to decrease my daily stress,” she says.* “I don’t like to compromise on my self care, so it is important for me to be able to remember to take the things that help me feel balanced, including my supplement.”

Nature's Way® Ashwagandha

Create Ambiance

To get rid of any negative energy after a long day, Dr. Buquè turns to sound bath meditations (pro tip: light some sage or palo santo for some fragrant vibes during the experience).  “Sound baths are ancient curative practices that have helped us cleanse negative vibrational energies from our minds and bodies for centuries,” she says.  And when she needs a midday pick-me-up? Listening to feel-good music works too.

CB2 Skeem Palo Santo Sticks

Sponsored by Nature’s Way®

Top photo: Getty Images/Cavan Images

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.