Bedside Things

I'm really into a bedside table. By that I mean the contents on top of it. If the bedroom is meant to be an oasis of relaxation, then one could consider the bed and bedside table to be the pinnacle of this relaxation. There's something very comforting about having specific items within arms reach of your bed no matter where in the world you are. 

I always have something to write in. It's usually just a journal but at the moment I have the "Start Where You Are" journal by Meera Lee Patel which has self-love and self-exploration exercises. I received this as a gift and I love it.

A book. I always read before bed; and as a person who once read a freshly published Harry Potter while walking in the streets of NYC I can't sleep without a book next to me. Currently reading Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier for the second time. It's just as amazing as the first time I read it. Suspense in the most poetic fashion.

Lip balm. Right now I have the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask; whose fancy name should give you a good idea of the price ($17 on Amazon). It comes with a very tiny spatula (why are tiny things always cute?) and envelope to put said spatula in. It's expensive for a lip balm but I have a feeling this will last me forever because you only need the smallest amount - also it smells like bubblegum.

Some sort of aromatherapy spray. Right now I have one from Moon Hollow of Salem, MA which are handcrafted underneath a full moon and sealed with Reiki energy. I take this information lightheartedly; except the fact that the spray I have is "associated with elf magic," which I take very, very seriously. It's called Stork Moon and has lavender, eucalyptus, and geranium essential oils. If I didn't have this I would be using Aura Cacia Chill Pill which is lavender, citrus, and patchouli and smells like yoga studios.

I usually have some sort of hand cream. Right now I have the Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Cream. It's a thick glycerin based gel and is best used with socks. It's very effective, but the smell is half the reason I love it: honey + peppermint.

Eye mask. A contoured eye mask is life-changing. Also perfect for traveling, assuming you don't mind wearing what looks like a small bra on your face on an airplane.

My Top 10 Organizing Tips

I've always had highly organized tendencies. When I was in elementary school I frequently made time-lapse videos of me cleaning my room. I for some reason thought these, and other such short films (a clay-motion saga of a caterpillar), would be really interesting for my friends and family to watch. Blasting music and cleaning has always been a part of my life, and consistently puts me in a good mood. Here are my top 10 tips that keep the space around me organized.

daily:

(1) I make my bed every morning. There's about 30 articles about why making your bed will change your life. That's a bold claim, but it does feel nice to come home to a made bed. Having a nice space also includes (2) putting away clothes or things that have gathered on my desk. (3) I make a to-do list in my phone every day in the Reminders app. It's become a habit to constantly check this list, so I never forget the tasks I've put on it for the day.

weekly:

(4) I also make a to-do list for the week. I love having everything on my mind written out for me. It keeps me on track and reminds me to make time for errands, or schedule appointments. Or take a bath. Because why shouldn't self-care be part of our weekly routine? (5) I clean out my purse every week. I empty it completely, get rid of receipts I don't need, and re-organize it. I almost always have 4 tinted lip balms in my purse by the end of the week. (6) I try to do a quick clean up of my bathroom every week, at the very least wiping down the counter. (7) I wash my makeup brushes at least every two weeks.

seasonally:

This next one, possibly my favorite, I've been doing since high school. (8) I go through my entire wardrobe at the start of every season and get rid of clothes that I don't like, don't wear, or that don't fit anymore. I am sentimental towards certain things, but for the most part I am the opposite of a hoarder. I am a girl who loves to get rid of things. It takes a whole day, and you'll end up pulling out your whole wardrobe and making a huge mess. But when you're done, you'll have a curated wardrobe of clothes you actually wear. I also take this time to re-organize where I put my clothes according to season.

(9) Every few months I do a clutter overhaul in my room. I find that after a few months I end up with a bunch of sh*t stuffed in my drawers that I don't need. Take everything out, throw away what you don't need, and re-organize. (10) Lastly, I go through my bathroom and get rid of old beauty products: expired foundation, sample sizes of serum, and heat protection spray that I never use. As much I love makeup and skincare, when I look at an overflowing amount of products it overwhelms instead of excites me.

I actually get rid of things more than I maybe should because I love the feeling of shedding excess so much. But if you tend to hold on to clothes or have products in your bathroom that are 5 years old, give the clear out a go. It'll feel amazing, promise.