The Wellness Tools I Actually Use For Stress Relief and Everyday Reset

I’m the first person to tell you that you don’t need to spend a ton of money on the latest wellness trends. 

The things that make you feel the most well are free – sleep, a way to manage stress, great relationships in your life, a sense of purpose and meaning and good organic food (that last one is actually expensive, I admit).

But there are a couple of tools that I reach for again and again. I’ve shared some of them before, but I wanted to create a comprehensive list of the things that I think are worth, the ones I use the most that help me feel my best.

Simple Wellness Tools That Help Me Feel My Best

Bearaby Heated Lap Pad

This lap pad is weighted and can be heated in the microwave. It’s bigger and heavier than most heating pads, and it can cover your upper thighs all the way up to your chest. I’m a perpetually cold person, so I love heat to relax and reset me. It’s an absolute essential when I’m about to get my period and have both cramps and the uncomfortable tightness in my hips.  

Something to Stitch + Cards to Sketch Ideas

Creative hobbies are one of the most underrated wellness tools for stress relief. People don’t usually think of hobbies and stitching as wellness tools, but they definitely are for me. When I’m feeling out of sorts, engaging in something creative both soothes me and lifts my mood. For you, it might be painting, drawing, coloring, weaving or pottery.  But when it feels like the world is coming apart at the seams, I suggest making something with your hands.

When I don’t have any stitching materials with me (which is honestly almost never), I allow my mind to wander towards a new project, and I think about the yarn and the colors, and sometimes I sketch out a design. The anticipation of creating something new is a balm.

Trigger Point Tool for Muscle Release

You know this is important to me when I won’t travel anywhere (not even a one-day volleyball tournament) without it. I bring this trigger point massage tool on every car ride, airplane trip, and it also lives next to my bed. I’ve probably gifted it a dozen times. The reason I love it is that, of all the tools I’ve tried, it gets into hard-to-reach spots and it’s travel-friendly recovery tool. There’s nothing quite like getting into a really tight spot and releasing it – that hurts-so-good feeling.

Shakti Wonderball

I’ve mentioned this one before, but this acupressure ball is an exciting new find for me. It’s a super spiky ball that you can use on certain acupressure points or places you hold a lot of tension. I can feel the literal waves of relaxation come over me. It’s intense, but I love this little tool for a nervous system reset.

Gua Sha Scalp Comb

This is another one I’ve mentioned before, but this scalp massage tool is worth repeating. Our scalp gets almost no attention and holds so much of our tension. Tending to the health of the fascia on your scalp is a game-changer. Try this gua sha comb for the ultimate fascia release.

A Tidy Space

This one’s free, but deserves mention. When I’m feeling flooded and overwhelmed, one of the things that calms me is to control the tidiness of one tiny space. Clearing my desk helps me clear my mind and reduce stress. I also think that rearranging your space in an aesthetically pleasing way can shift your mood dramatically and give you a fresh start.  If you missed it, I talked about this in Voicenote #6: Confessions Of A Serial Furniture Rearranger.

I hope these simple at-home wellness tools help with stress relief, muscle tension, and bring you more everyday calm.

All my love,
Vanessa

P.S. If you enjoyed this guide, you might also like The Travel Essentials I Never Leave Home Without.