Self-care has been the topic on everyone’s lips of late. Perhaps a timely by-product to arise from a global health crisis and other mentally challenging situations that the year has brought upon. And it should always remain, even if things go back to being peachy and we were allowed far-flung holidays, self-care should be a way forward for life.

But for some of us who are still clueless to what that embodies, where should we start? We looked to founder of local brand Sunday Bedding, Clara Teo, who knows a thing or two about creating a personal sanctuary for respite and relaxation — from plushy organic sheets to a recent towel launch, Sunday Towels. Below, she lays down a few tips.

A routine is essential

Fundamentally, we see self-care as the destination and rest as part of the journey. So the biggest tip in creating your own self-care routine at home, is to make sure moments of respite — what we like to call that Sunday Feeling — is weaved in throughout the day. To optimise your rest time, you should focus on how you rest, how long you rest, and the tools required to rest well. For example, your bedroom should be your personal sanctuary. Your linens, lighting, and decorative items in your home should help ease you into a restful state, allowing you to be recharged for the next day.

Understand what matters to you

We only have a limited amount of mental energy each day. Resting doesn’t mean shutting off your brain, but it could mean taking some time to be mindful and doing things with intention as opposed to just going through the motions. With our ever-busy schedules, this is only possible if we start prioritising and being disciplined about saying no to things that do not matter to us.

Establish boundaries

The pandemic has changed the way we work. With work from home now being the norm, it is vital that we create distinct lines between work and rest. The first step we can take is to create boundaries, both physical and mental. For physical boundaries, it’s important to segregate your work space from your rest space; this could mean taking your computer out to the living room instead of the bedroom. You can also be more intentional about your lighting and colours. For example, my bedroom has blackout curtains and my linens are grey and darker in colour. In contrast, my study room is bright and well-lit, with some rattan furniture components.

For mental boundaries, studies have shown that sticking to a routine is key in helping to strike that balance between work and rest, allowing you to ‘disconnect to connect’, therefore prioritising time with family, friends, and yourself. This also means waking up at the same time each day (even when you don’t have that morning conference call!) and not forgetting that lunch break.

Incorporate scents

Scents can be seen as a powerful, sensory tool with incredible therapeutic potential, evoking feelings and moods associated with a certain time of day. Incorporating it into your self-care routine can help to remind yourself to take time to rest. For example, lighting a scented candle or putting an aromatherapy diffuser right before bed can help prep your body and mind to get ready for sleep. Scents like eucalyptus and lavender do wonders for me!

Journal your day

We’ve found that penning down what you have done at the end of the day (both work or personal) is almost akin to dropping off your mental load. It allows you to reflect on what you have done and clears your headspace for the following day.

Invest in the essentials

A bed is a cornerstone in any home. In fact, studies show that we spend about a third of our lives in bed, so a comfortable bed is essential in any home and a key to resting easy. According to a recent sleep survey, Singaporeans now get an average of 6.9 hours of sleep every night, a slight improvement from the average 6.4 hours seen in 2019.

Sunday Bedding bed sheets have a thread count of 300-400, which balances softness and durability. Instead of just focusing on thread count, consider other factors that go into making sheets, like material and weave, which can achieve the same effect as a higher thread count without compromising the fabric’s durability. While linen is pricier than cotton or bamboo, is a great investment piece as it can last 10 years or more and gets softer with each wash. A good bed set-up at Sunday Bedding can range between $218-$355, while maintaining a lifespan of between 3-10 years.