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I know that no particular product will solve all my problems, but I turn to them to support my mental health and help me feel better on days when I can increase my self-love. Over the past few months, we’ve been incorporating a variety of tools, smart technologies, apps, sleep supports, books, and hobbies into our routines to see if we can find more mental clarity, reduced anxiety, and a sense of calm. I’ve been doing it. Here are some winners worth trying.
Looking for more comfort? See the full list of Good For You Award winners. here.
tool

Best fidget toy: Speks
Our editors have been playing around with, or “testing” Speks extensively for the past six months. So it’s safe to say that this brand is a clear winner for us. Their eponymous product is a smooth magnetic putty that you can build structures with or move between your fingers. Also, the company’s Gump is a fun stress ball/slime hybrid. We love these fidget toys for stressful work days, passive moments on the couch, or anxiety attacks.
$34.95+ at Specs

Best weighted blanket: Bearaby
Bearaby’s best seller uses thick knit fabric made from 100% cotton to provide weight instead of the fillers and beads that come with typical weighted blankets. This small detail goes a long way in the cozy department, and its stress-relieving effect is real. Choose from a range of weights up to 20 lbs.
$199+ at Bearaby

Best Noise Cancellation: Loop Earplugs
Another tried and true winner has emerged. We told everyone about his Loops, including family, close friends, and baristas. These discreet earplugs fit in the palm of your hand and feature three powerful levels of sound control. If you are sensitive to noise or live in a noisy environment, these are a must-have.
$59.95 at Loop $64.95 at Amazon

Best Acupressure Mat: Pranamat
Acupressure is a health trend that we recently became aware of and decided to try it ourselves. Pranamat’s full body set is pricey at $370, but its versatility makes it not only a winner but well worth it. Our editors have used the entire system for post-workout recovery, during meditation, and as a way to refuel in the afternoon. The lotus-shaped massager relieves tension and stiffness and improves blood circulation.
$370 on Amazon

Best Daily Journal: The Five Minute Journal
The Five Minute Journal is officially the ubiquitous viral product, and for good reason. Whether you’re new to journaling or looking to scale back your journaling habit, the prompts are concise and easy to understand to help you start and end your day successfully. You only have space for a few lines of gratitude lists, affirmations, highlights, etc., but these little prompts can go a long way mentally.
$28.99 on Amazon
smart tech and apps

Best Aromatherapy: Vitruvi Stone Diffuser
Aside from the design-forward shape and stone finish, Vitruvi’s diffuser is the most powerful we’ve tried. Add in 8 hours of uptime and a lifetime warranty and you’ve got a device that’s worth it.
$92.25 at Vitruvi

Best Breathwork Tool: Moonbird
Our editor, who is new to meditation, was blown away by the breathing support that Moonbird can provide. The compact, ergonomic device fits in your hand like a fist. It expands and moves in different patterns to guide your breathing. There’s also a corresponding app (which you don’t need to use) that shows your body’s response to the tool through heart rate and heart rate variability data.
$199 at Moonbird

Best meditation app for beginners: Headspace
Headspace is perfect for anyone looking for a simple, easy-to-understand guided meditation app. My favorite feature of this app is the daily schedule that presets meditations for her throughout the day based on her needs. I also love that meditation seems to fit into almost every situation, from getting out of the house and processing anger to building confidence and getting to know your body.
$5.83+ per month with Headspace

Best Mental Health Podcasts: Psychology in your 20s
This has been on the Apple Podcasts charts for quite some time, but it’s new to us and we never get tired of it. Each week, host Gemma Sveg uses psychological research to discuss why young adulthood, and adulthood in general, is so difficult. She covers topics such as her impostor syndrome, her indecision, how she enjoys her own company, and hating her friends’ partners. TLDR, you don’t have to be in your 20s to get something from this song, as we walked away feeling better and more informed every time we listened to it.
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify

Best overall meditation app: Calm
Intermediate meditators, this app is for you. Calm’s app is definitely approachable, but it’s ideal for those looking for a more advanced at-home option. A wide range of courses, selections for stress and anxiety, soundscapes, and our favorite part: sleep stories told by celebrity narrators. Bedtime stories told by Harry Styles, anyone?
$5.83+ per month with Calm
sleep

Best Sleep Aid: Magnesi-Om by Moon Juice
ICYMI: This is an important factor Popular Sleepy Girl Mocktail And we can attest that this mix-in from Moon Juice put us to sleep. You can choose from flavors such as berry and blue lemon. Both have a refreshing flavor that is sour and not too sweet. And if you’re curious about what makes us so sleepy, it contains three forms of magnesium and L-theanine, which have a great relaxing effect.
$42 at Moon Juice $42 at Sephora

Best sleep device: Noble alarm clock
It feels like there are countless “smart alarm clocks” on the market these days, but the one that impressed us the most is Lofty’s. It has a built-in sound bath and guided meditation, but the standout feature is his two-stage alarm. This feature allows the alarm to mimic your body’s natural wake-up process (so you don’t have to hit the snooze button over and over again).
$149.99 at Lofty

Best eye mask: Casper
I’m not kidding, but I can’t help but feel sleepy with this mask on. The whole thing is made of cloud-soft, stretchy, and breathable material. The obvious advantage compared to other eye masks we’ve tested is that the band is very wide. That means you can wake up with wrinkle-free hair, plus it blocks out light and provides even comfort without unpleasant tugging. PS: This item is currently out of stock, but will be restocked soon.
$44.10 in Casper

Best pillow: Marlow pillow
Hello, genius idea. Marlowe’s best-selling pillow has a zipper on both sides. Depending on where you defrost it, it offers different levels of firmness depending on your needs. You can buy a set of pillows without worrying about your partner’s different preferences. Everyone is happy.
$45.50+ at Marlowe

Best Mattress: Helix’s Midnight
This mattress is another great sleep product that we’re obsessed with. Helix’s Midnight mattress has a medium feel and support for side sleepers. Choose between Breath Knit fabric for cooling airflow and a pillow top (which doesn’t get any softer) for an added layer of cushioning. Made with a combination of memory and contour foam and steel coils for added support. Yes, that’s fine.
$702.20+ at Helix
Book

Best book for career inspiration: The Karma of Success by Liz Tran
There are endless career books that try to tell you what to do based on what other successful people are doing.Thank you executive coach liz tran This book is about how focusing on yourself and following your intuition can help you live a happy life and career. We even drew this book’s infographic on a post-it note and stuck it on our refrigerator (an important indicator that this book has us thinking about it).
$15.99+ on Amazon

Best book for creative inspiration: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
This list would be left with a huge hole if we didn’t include “Big Magic” as a winner. Our editors who read this book not only walked away feeling delighted, but also feeling free to do whatever our creative minds desire. Why? Gilbert talks about all the big emotions that come with living creatively, but she finds that holding space and acknowledging those emotions makes it even easier to be creative.
$14.99+ on Amazon

Best Book for Self-Love: Remember Love by Cleo Wade
This is the ultimate book to help you feel your feelings. In it, bestselling poet Cleo Wade discusses how to use love as a guiding light when you’re lost. She also brings out her personal anecdotes about her heartbreak, depression, anxiety, and her return to herself. Each chapter is easy to read and short, so you can start your day with just a few chapters.
$11.99+ on Amazon

Best Book for Growth: What It’s Like to Find Yourself by Meera Lee Patel
In addition to the book’s stunning watercolor illustrations, Patel beautifully divides each section into distinct themes related to navigating change. Our favorites included “Finding Home” and “Finding My Purpose.” If you or someone you know is entering a new chapter in life and feeling overwhelmed by it, this book is a great companion.
$12.99+ on Amazon

Great book for when you’re feeling lonely: Thank You for Waiting by Dolly Shafrir
As women, we believe we have less time than we actually do. Spoiler alert: There’s plenty of time. In Dolly Shafrir’s amazing memoir, she talks about being a “late bloomer” from her 20s to her 30s, the timeline pressures we all feel as women, and how her 41-year-old in which she talks about her experience of becoming a mother for the first time. This book made us feel less alone at every turn. In a single way, it’s a clear winner in that regard.
$4.13+ on Amazon
hobby

Best Card Games: Where to Start?
This is the closest you’ll get to having psychotherapist Esther Perel with you at home, short of listening to her popular podcast. It includes her 200 cards with fill-in-the-blank prompts and her six-sided dice to help players shape the story. I found that playing fostered thoughtful conversation and play with my loved ones, creating deeper connections.
$40 on Amazon

Best Interactive Journal: Destroy This Journal
It’s a classic for a reason. This guided journal requires minimal materials and is intended to be expertly disposed of. Perfect for days when you want to get extra excited or distract yourself. Prompts allow you to paint, shred, drill, and more. Not to mention, the price is even better.
$8.15 on Amazon

The best paint by numbers kit: paint anywhere
Skimm’s has been buying this kit all over the place, and now we’re buying it too. We love Paint Anywhere’s mini canvas kits. Because it’s perfect for beginners and people who don’t want to create huge, intimidating drawings. Plus, the images are really chic, so you’ll want to proudly flaunt them at home.
$36 at Ban.do

Best Puzzle: Ziggy Puzzle
Founded by former Skimm HQ’r, Jiggy’s designs are bright and unique, and they even come with matching adhesive so you can frame your puzzles. It makes a great gift for every puzzle lover in your life. What are your favorites to watch? Branded personalized options.
$29+ at Ziggy Puzzle

Best Craft Kit: Sculpd
Now that pottery is back and all the rage, we don’t want to spend a lot of money on classes. As a result, Sculpd quickly became popular among our team as an easy-to-use home kit that includes everything you need, from air-drying clay and glazes to tools.The steps are easy, so please check it out. their instagram For inspiration.
$65+ on Amazon
