The Genius Products That Will Help You Change Up Your Routine for the Better
It's always a good idea to take a look at your habits and routines and see if they're serving you and helping you achieve your goals. Sometimes we get so used to them and just go about it without thinking, and then it turns out that perhaps we've outgrown them or they're not exactly aligned with our lifestyles anymore. You might find that you're stuck in a rut—and that's totally normal! Now, it's all about how you can start a new routine, or give your existing one a revamp.
You can read more about how to take stock of your habits, plus what steps to take to make some changes here. We've also compiled a list of some products below that can help you get there, depending on your specific goals for your new routine. And remember, making lifestyle changes—even small ones—can have a learning curve and you might have to edit and re-edit them. Give yourself some slack and keep in mind that’s in an ever-evolving process.
For Productivity and Organization
Our VP of Social, MacKenzie Green recommended this book to us. "The big takeaway from this is to make small incremental changes based on the best version of yourself you're working toward. People try to make massive 180 changes, but this is a good one for learning the power in incremental and compounding change."
A lot of us are so reliant on our phones for planning things out, but why not bring back the paper planners? There's something about actually writing your goals and to-do list down that feels more official than typing them out on your phone.
If your routine is a bit off because you're feeling disorganized, well now's the time to get things in order. Maybe it's creating a new filing system or organizing your everyday essentials—whatever it is, having some organizing boxes or shelving can help.
This productivity journal has prompts and exercises to help you organize your goals and to-do lists. It features daily challenges, a guide to good habits, and self-care and gratitude exercises and thought-starters.
Here's another book rec from Green: "My favorite line from this book is, 'I change best by feeling good, not by feeling bad.' I think this is a good one for the people that think forming better habits is about suffering through sh*t you don't like. I also love the simple habit formula he uses. There's a great free 5-day habit coaching thing he does that inspired me to pick up the book. I also recommend this book to folks that like a more feel-good, less overly academic breakdown."
For Improving Your Sleep Hygiene
This alarm clock is for people who are serious about creating a restful bedtime routine. It truly does it all—it's a sound machine, smart light, bedside reading light, and alarm clock all in one. You can connect it to the Hatch app to create a bedtime routine that works for you—set some soothing sounds or meditations to play before bed, and have it wake you up gently in the morning.
Sometimes (or maybe more than sometimes) you might need a little help getting into a relaxing mood to drift off to dreamland. This pillow spray is the easiest way to fall asleep faster. Just spritz onto your pillow and let some soothing scents calm your body and mind. It contains lavender, vetiver, and chamomile.
The Nue Co.'s all-natural sleep supplement is great because you won't be totally dependent on it, so you can just use it when you need a little extra help getting to bed. It contains valerian root and passionflower to calm and relax, plus catnip and chamomile to help you fall asleep.
For just $20, this machine can help you create the ultimate relaxing atmosphere in your bedroom. It comes equipped with six relaxing and soothing nature sounds and has an auto-off timer. One reviewer wrote, "I suffer from insomnia and this has made an incredible difference in the amount of time it takes me to fall asleep (it was about an hour and after a week of use I'm down to about 20 minutes). I also don't wake up as many times during the night. I love how the volume is adjustable and how the machine offers more than just white noise."
A weighted blanket can be so comforting, like a nice warm hug. This one comes in various weights from five pounds to 30 pounds.
For Your Fitness Routine
Whether you already regularly exercise but feel a bit bored with your current routine, or are looking to get more active, chances are you're going to need a yoga mat. Even if you don't do yoga, these come in handy for all different types of workouts like Pilates, barre, stretching, and even HIIT sessions.
If your goal is to challenge yourself a little more during your workouts, add some ankle or wrist weights to your training sessions. You can even wear them around the house, too.
These bands are so versatile, so they're an affordable pick to add to your workout routine. You can use them for strength training, stretching, or other types of exercise.
If you don't have room or don't want to go all out with your home gym, this set of weights is pretty much all you need. They even come with a stand for easy storage.
I don't know about you, but having a new pair of workout leggings to test out can get me out of bed to do a workout when all I want to do is sleep in. Our readers and editors can't get enough of these Zella leggings, which are both compressive and comfortable.
The same can be said for a new sports bra, too. I fully admit new and shiny purchases will always motivate me! I love that this one from Sweaty Betty is a longline fit so you have extra coverage.
A water bottle is a must-have for any workout. This one has a double-walled vacuum insulation that keeps liquids cold for up to 24 hours and hot for 12 hours.
For Prioritzing Self-Care
This journal is a great way to set aside some time for self-care every day. It features prompts for reflection and positive thoughts.
Using aromatherapy is a great way to unwind at the end of a long day. Just turn this diffuser on and do something relaxing, like a meditation, reading a book, or taking a bath.
And speaking of baths, why not add them to your wind-down routine? These bath salts are infused with ylang-ylang and vanilla to relax and calm the mind.
Sometimes revamping your self-care routine is adding a new hobby to help you de-stress and decompress. Knitting is one hobby that gives your hands something else to do other than doomscrolling or stalking social media.
It can be hard to stay mindful or take a mindful moment throughout the day, especially when you're super busy and stressed. These cards contain prompts and exercises to promote mindfulness. You can pick a card at the beginning of the day to start it off right.
For an easy way to unwind, just light your favorite candle, put on some music that you love, and do something that makes you happy and relaxed—like dancing, vegging out, or taking calming breaths.
Next: 20 Products That Are Key to a Better Night's Sleep
Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions.
Sarah is lifestyle writer and editor with over 10 years of experience covering health and wellness, interior design, food, beauty, and tech. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she attended New York University and lived in New York for 12 years before returning to L.A. in 2019. In addition to her work on THE/THIRTY andBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , she held editor roles at Apartment Therapy, Real Simple, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, and The Bump (sister site of The Knot). She has a passion for health and wellness, but she especially loves writing about mental health. Her self-care routine consists of five things: a good workout, “me” time on the regular, an intriguing book/podcast/playlist to unwind after a long day, naps, and decorating her home.
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