dolorosa_12 | Friday open thread: nourishment

I'm trying to keep the prompts for these Friday open threads in January fairly gentle and kind — I'll switch things up a bit in February, possibly, but I thought it best to start the year with soft, relaxing kinds of questions.

With that in mind, today's prompt is: what is something you do to provide restful feelings and nourishment for yourself? As always please feel free to interpret the question as broadly as you would like.

My answer is a bit of a silly one: skincare. I haven't worn makeup in years — I never wore it regularly (just in situations where I thought someone might photograph my face), but the pandemic and mask-wearing ended it even then — what was the point of painting my face if it would just rub off on a mask anyway?

Skincare, however, is another matter. At some point in the past three years or so, I fell down a rabbit hole of skincare Youtube videos, and wound up with an elaborate seven- (or eight-)step skincare routine, morning and night. I know on some level the whole thing is a capitalistic placebo designed to sell me ever more expensive containers of nice-smelling unguents — washing your face, and wearing sunscreen are good for your skin, but the rest is all just sales pitches — but it has a soothing, calming effect, and at some point became routine. It takes time, but no effort. It's almost meditative, and draws clear lines between the waking and sleeping parts of the day, and just generally feels psychologically nourishing.

What about you?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

yarnofariadne

I live about a 15-minute walk from the beach, and walking down to spend some time by myself at the beach always helps when I'm feeling a bit raw. I always feel so much better after sitting on the sand and staring at the sea for a while.

From:

dolorosa_12

The sea is so unbelievably restorative, isn't it? How lucky you are to live so close to the beach!

From:

lirazel

I am a bar-of-Dove-soap-and-sometimes-sunscreen person, so I do not relate to this at all, but I like how self-aware you are about it, that you looked at it with clear eyes and said, "Yes, but it makes me feel good, so I am going to do it." I love that it works for you!

I'm strangely having trouble answering this question. This is maybe too simplistic, but having a really, really cozy blanket to cuddle underneath just makes me so happy?

From:

dolorosa_12

A cozy blanket is definitely not simplistic at all! I share your feelings — I can't sleep unless I have weight on me, and a warm blanket or duvet is the best. A few years ago I was having endless anxiety attacks and I bought a weighted blanket, which really, really helped. I don't have anxiety attacks that often any more, but the blanket remains, and is as cozy as ever.

From:

sophia_sol

I love what you say about your skincare routine and why it is good for you, even if it's something I have no interest in!

For me, one of the things that provides feelings of restfulness and nourishment is to go on an errand by bicycle after dark through not-very-busy residential streets. It makes me feel alone in a way that helps me feel connected with the world instead of separate. Idk, it's hard to describe! But it's lovely.

From:

dolorosa_12

I love what you say about your skincare routine and why it is good for you, even if it's something I have no interest in!

That's why I didn't describe it in exhaustive detail! There are Youtube channels for that if people want such things.

I love the atmosphere you evoke in your description of late-night deserted-street bicycle errands. I am emphatically not a night person, so I try to avoid leaving the house at night, but I can really see why such things would feel cozy. (I like doing the reverse, on foot, in the early hours of the morning.)

From:

naye

The skincare routine sounds super soothing.

I don't have anything quite like that? I've just started with embroidery, but I do find it very soothing.

From:

dolorosa_12

I've seen your embroidery work — it looks really cool, and it's good to hear that you find it soothing and meditative. I have a lot of friends who knit or crochet and they describe a similar effect. I'm glad you've found something that works for you!

From:

tetralogy

As soon as I saw the question, I also thought SKINCARE! Everything that you said about it becoming meditative and drawing clear lines in the day/night is exactly how I feel about it, too. It's also just fun? My skin has gotten pickier about what I put on it as I get older, but it's still fun to try out new products (sheet masks, my beloved). New smells, new tactile sensations, etc. Are you into Asian products, or Western products, or both?

From:

dolorosa_12

Amazing, a fellow skincare enthusiast! Everything you describe is exactly the stuff I like about it, although I'm not really one for trying new products — basically I've found the stuff I like, and I don't really deviate from it. I use a mixture of Western products — mostly Aesop and Loccitane, with a handful of things from tiny independent sellers.

From:

mific

A nice cup of tea with my feet up, for me. Herb teas, and English Breakfast, and Earl Grey. Dilmah's, mostly, as I like their company philosophy and their teabags are biodegradable.

From:

dolorosa_12

Tea is the best! I like most kinds of black tea, but my personal favourites are Darjeeling as a regular breakfast tea, and smoky teas like Russian Caravan in the afternoon.

From:

senmut

I make sure that I get at least a couple ten minute walks, just me and a match 3 game, so I can dull out the noise of life.

From:

dolorosa_12

Walks are so fantastic! When I started working from home during the pandemic, my husband and I got into the habit of taking daily walks after lunch — just short ten-minute walks as you say — and we found they were a great way to clear the head, especially if we went somewhere that was pretty to look at. I'm glad they work for you!

From:

eglantiere

i mostly doodle in notebooks - i discovered this zentangle-like kind of doodle when you draw many many many connecting semicircles, and it soothes my brain wonderfully. yoga and meditations are good, but I need to be a certain threshold of anxiety to be able to do them. lately, cooking! the kitchen space is getting sorted out bit by bit and I'm becoming more and more confident in my abilities, so that's good too. my bujo and many, many stickers I can stick in it.

when I feel like I'm ten minutes from nervous breakdown for real, I splurge for a spa center out of town, three hours: they have three pools, one inside and two outside, and a multitude of sauna rooms. i go alone, doesn't talk to anybody, try to check the thoughts in at the door, and it does wonders.

From:

dolorosa_12

I find it very impressive when people are able to experience a meditative state through doodling and drawing — it's impossible for me to turn my brain off in those circumstances, but from the sound of things it works for you.

Cooking and bullet journalling are so great in terms of being calming and psychologically nourishing, and I love hearing about your growing cooking confidence. I've seen your photos of your spice jars, and they are so cheerful and cozy. And stickers are always wonderful!

The spa centre sounds absolutely blissful, although I'm sorry to hear that it's something you only do when things are particularly dire. It definitely does the job, though, from the sound of things.