Starting a self-care routine can feel daunting. That's why we asked Lala Lopez, a Queens, New York based reiki attuned artist and vintage curator, about how to create self care rituals and developing a healthy routine. Read below to hear her tips on managing chaos and tuning into your own needs.
Firstly, tell us a little about yourself!
I’m Lala. 👋✨ I’m an artist and run an online vintage & sacred Goods shop called Mothball Memoirs. I love sharing ideas on self-caring more and I’m a huge long bath enthusiast, but only when you’re adding in epsom salt and Florida water.
How do you like to kickstart your day?
With a glass of water, music on blast and a little light stretching.
Are there parts of your daily routine (skincare, hair care, or otherwise) that have become therapeutic for you?
I like to keep skincare as simple as possible but the art of moisturizing my body has become such a luxurious practice for me. I love using two different lotions and creams literally all over my body and then follow with fur oil over my arms, legs and landing strip. This whole process feels so damn good. It feels like such a luxury, to take my time and tend to my body this way.
What are your go-to methods of centering yourself when things get chaotic?
Sometimes, it’s just a matter of getting really quiet. No music, no phone, just being able to hear my self and my thoughts clearly. Other times, it’s just taking time to sage smudge my entire apartment and tidy up my space. When I know I’m going to need a little bit more than that, I do some breathwork meditation and get all the chaos out of my body through the breath.
How do you prioritize self-care and carve out space and time to unwind?
I’m an extroverted introvert, so sometimes I just need to be at home, by myself, recharging. Sometimes that means skipping out on drinks with friends or an invite to a fun party. Making sure I’m feeling my best energetically is priority.
How do you like to end your day?
With a warm shower, washing off all the energy from the day. Then getting into bed all clean, cozy into my sheets and turn on a reiki healing music or guided meditation on YouTube. I’ll turn down the brightness on my phone, put it face down on my nightstand until I’m in dreamland. But sometimes, it’s just watching astrology videos until I pass out.
What is your favorite thing about experimenting and developing your routine and do you have any advice for our readers about creating their own?
I think it’s that experimentation that’s fun to play with and knowing that my routine isn’t always going to stay the same and that’s a good thing. It’s nice to tune in, find different ways to care for yourself and give yourself what you need. It doesn’t need to look like any one thing, it’s just having that feeling when you’ve done that thing that makes you feel good, like “okay damn, look at me taking really good care of me.”
