15 self-care products to improve mental health

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With the dourness of the news, it’s easy to be overwhelmed with sadness and anxiety. It’s important to give yourself a break sometimes and prioritize your mental health and wellness by focusing on both the things you enjoy and activities that are proven to reduce stress.

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We’ve tested and researched many products that are designed to help you relax, whether you’re looking for a spa day or you’re itching to whip up a delicious snack. Here are 15 products that will upgrade your self-care regimen. 

1. An essential oil diffuser 

Essential oils are a great way to relax, as certain scents can help you drift to sleep. If you’re looking for a diffuser, there’s no better option than the best one we’ve tested, the Saje Aroma Om. With high-quality materials, simple operation and an elegant design, this diffuser is sure to be a welcome addition to your home. For a less pricey option, check out our value pick, the Asasuki essential oil diffuser. This quiet diffuser features a simple design and even diffusion. 

$98 from Saje $23 from Amazon

2. A bath bomb 

If you love baths, one way to make them even better is by using a scented bath bomb that will leave you feeling moisturized. Our favorite bath bombs are sold by LifeAround2Angels. They’re moisturizing, pleasant-smelling and colorful. Despite this, they don’t leave a colorful residue on your bathtub. 

$21 from Amazon

3. Epsom salt 

Soaking in Epsom salt is another way to enhance your bath, as it’s been linked to relieving migraines, soothing muscles, alleviating stress and promoting sleep. Dr. Teal’s is a popular brand with over 6,867 five-star reviews on Amazon. Reviewers love how soaking in it leaves them feeling relaxed. 

$23 from Amazon

4. A Buddha board 

A Buddha board offers a fun and innovative way to relax. You dip your brush in water, then paint on the canvas where it will slowly fade away. If the 6,000 five-star reviews weren’t enough, reviewers cite the board as being good for creativity and find drawing on the board to be relaxing and therapeutic.  

$38 from Amazon

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5. A weighted blanket 

Weighted blankets have been found to both reduce stress and improve sleep, so if you’re looking for some R&R, you’ll want to have one. Our favorite weighted blanket is the Gravity Blanket because it’s long-lasting, easy to clean and distributes weight evenly. It costs a pretty penny, so you may want to consider our value pick, the YnM Weighted Blanket, which conforms to the shape of your body and is easy to store. 

$250 from Gravity $53 from Amazon

6. A massager 

There’s nothing more relaxing than soothing the knots in your muscles out with a massage, so a massager might be just what you need to take some well-deserved “you” time. The best neck massager on the market, Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager, is versatile so that it can be used on your calves and arms, too, giving you a full-body massage. Plus, its small size makes it portable. 

A massage gun can go a long way, too. We recommend the Therabody Theragun Elite, the best one we’ve tested. It’s ergonomic and connects to a helpful app that offers various presets and instructions to give you the best massage experience. 

$60 from Amazon $375 from Amazon

7. A foot spa  

You can enjoy the relaxation of a spa day from the comfort of your home with a quality foot spa. The best one we’ve tested is the Ivation Foot Spa Massager, which features adjustable heating, massage rollers and a splash guard that doubles as a handle for carrying. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly spa, we recommend our value pick, the Conair Foot and Pedicure Spa. This no-frills spa is easy to use and clean, plus it supports several attachments if you decide you’d like more features at a later date. 

$90 from Amazon $30 from Amazon

8. A yoga mat 

If your idea of relaxation involves a lot of sun salutations and chair poses, you should pick up a quality yoga mat. We’ve tested several and concluded that Lululemon’s The Mat is the best one you can buy because it’s easy to wipe down, rolls up easily for storage and provides comfortable padding. Our value pick is the Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat, which comes in a variety of colors and features a pleasant, gripping texture.  

$98 from Lululemon $21 from Amazon

9. Slippers 

Nothing says a lazy day at home quite like a pair of slippers. Even with the weather warming up, you won’t want to do without the comfiness of decent slippers. For women, our favorite pair of slippers is the Ugg Scuffette II. Its fur lining makes it both comfortable and stylish. The best men’s slippers are the L.L. Bean Men’s Venetian Wicked Good Slippers as they are soft and look even better with age, meaning you’ll be keeping them for a long time. 

$95 from Amazon $89 from L.L. Bean

10. A sleep mask 

Catching Zs during the day can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be. With the help of our favorite sleep mask, you can get some well-needed rest no matter the time of day. The best sleep mask we’ve tested is the Mzoo Sleep Mask, as it completely blocks light, is adjustable and is comfortable.  

$22 from Amazon

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11. Speakers 

Listening to music is another form of self-care for many. A quality speaker can really bring out elements of your favorite tunes that you never noticed before. The best portable Bluetooth speaker we’ve tested is the Sonos Roam thanks to its excellent sound, stylish design and versatility. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, we recommend our top pick for Bluetooth speakers under $50, the Anker Soundcore 2. It comes in a variety of colors, offers excellent sound and has superb battery life. 

$180 from Best Buy $40 from Amazon

12. A Steam Deck 

If you like to unwind by playing games, then you’ll want to give the Steam Deck a try. It offers the power of a gaming computer in the palm of your hand, and with a comfortable design, to boot. You’ll have access to a vast gaming library and, if you’re a bit savvy, many emulators that support countless games. 

Starting at $399 from Steam

13. A streaming device 

From Disney+ to HBO Max there’s no shortage of streaming services to choose from when enjoying a day off. Streaming sticks provide a convenient way to watch all of your favorite shows and distract yourself for some time. The best streaming stick that we’ve tested is the Roku Ultra thanks to its excellent voice remote, support of premium sound and video quality and fast internet. 

$100 from Amazon

14. An air fryer 

If you practice self-care by snacking, an air fryer may just be your best friend. An air fryer can help you make hassle-free meals that are healthier than many other options as you won’t need calorie-dense grease to fry your food. The best air fryer we’ve tested is the Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer, as it cooks quickly, is easy to use and gives impressive results every time. 

$160 from Amazon

15. A grill 

You also might consider cooking while taking advantage of the warm weather by using one of our favorite grills. We love the Weber Spirit II E-310 for a gas grill because its impressive heat cooks evenly and sears perfectly. Our favorite charcoal grill, the Napoleon NK22K-LEG-2, is sturdy, distributes heat evenly and has a large cooking area for ample amounts of food.

$569 from Amazon $269 from Amazon

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.