Hosts of Thoughts May Vary Podcast Share Their Ultimate Self-Care Starter Pack

Skimm Her Life is a series in our weekly newsletter, Skimm Your Life, where smart women share their favorite products. Today we’re featuring not just one guest but two. And the best part? They’re co-hosts of one of our favorite mental health podcasts, Thoughts May Vary. Every Monday, Gaby (a multimedia journalist) and Meadow (a mental health consultant and coach) unpack their own musings and chat with experts about how to make personal development a little less scary. Gaby and Meadow, take it away…

Smartest purchase you’ve made recently?

M: A cordless vacuum. MY GOD! Who knew technology was making cleaning so much more enjoyable?

G: An entryway shelf. I’d been looking for one that also included hooks for awhile. Then I found this one from Hay.

Favorite reads for mental health?

M: “The Tools” by Phil Stutz & Barry Michels is one of our current favorites. I love visualizations that help you in real time, which is what this book is all about. I also had the pleasure of interviewing Barry for a panel and can confirm, he is amazing. My favorites to introduce people to personal development are “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle and “The Untethered Soul” by Michael Singer. 

G: Deepak Chopra’s “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success” shifted my perspective about our relationship with life more than I can express. As someone who loves—and I mean loves—control, learning modalities to help me detach from the outcome, accept people and situations as they occur, and understanding that uncertainty is ultimately our path to freedom has opened my mind.

Favorite self-care practices?

M: My very dialed-in morning and evening routine, meditation practice, journaling (obviously), daily walks, turning my phone off by 7PM, unpacking what I’m going through with G, and listening to old Ram Dass lectures.

G: I am such a “dear diary” kid, through and through. Writing has been a form of healing for me since before I even knew what that meant. My brain loves to unpack, rationalize, and ultimately spiral. It’s a rinse and repeat sort of situation that journaling really helps pull me out of. It allows me to dump everything on my mind onto a piece of paper and it no longer feels that intense. Something about getting it out is so cathartic.

Self-care product you swear by?

M: A To Be Magnetic subscription — I’ve been using TBM since 2019. It’s the leading neural-manifestation program and it’s amazing.

G: My gua sha tool. There’s something so luxurious and personal about it. I feel like I learn new contours of my face every time. It’s a product that begs you to slow down and show yourself a bit of extra love.

The journal or prompt that always makes you feel a little better?

M: Thoughts May Vary’s Co-Create digital manifestation journal is my favorite. We wrote those prompts for a reason. If I’m not journaling stream-of-consciousness style, I’m scrolling through the prompts until something pings me.

G: Listen…Co-Create really is that girl. Our journal is packed with thoughtful and powerful prompts that can help guide you. I personally am a stream-of-consciousness person as well, but I do love “taking inventory.” It’s a practice where I list out everything that happened (big and small wins) throughout a certain period of time. I then list out where I’m at now, where I want to go, limiting beliefs standing in my way, and affirming beliefs to counteract them.

The best piece of mental health advice someone has shared with you?

M: You are not your thoughts. I remember first really understanding and embodying that there is space between my thoughts, my emotions, the narratives that I attach to throughout my day, and my true, authentic self.

G: It’s not your job. I wasn’t kidding when I said I love control. Hearing that advice, so plainly and simply, changed everything. It’s not my job to control others, to suffocate or force situations, people, or opportunities—my role is to do my best, remain present, and let things play out the way they are meant to.

Best splurge purchase that was totally worth it?

M: As a skincare obsessive, my ZIIP Halo.

G: Anything I own from Dyson. They know what they did when it comes to the Airwrap and their cordless vacuum.

What three items do you always have in your bag?

M: Too many lip products to count (mainly Dior), sanitizing wipes (a post-COVID comfort product), and a protection spell.

G: Retweet to the lip products…it’s alarming. Other than that, you’ll find some type of disinfectant spray and hand cream (right now I’m into my tried-and-true Eucerin).

What’s on your nightstand?

G: DedCool Room + Linen Spray in Milk, Necessaire body lotion, my journal, whatever book I’m currently reading, Vicks VapoRub (my Cuban mother is thrilled about this), and my Canopy humidifier—I guess Los Angeles is dry after all.

M: Crystals, too many books, a glass of water, a book light, chapstick (currently using one from Fresh, but I also love Kosas), a sunset lamp projected onto the wall, my journal, a couple pens, hair ties, and nose strips for when my fiancé snores (rt: to the Canopy humidifier).

The skincare product(s) you can’t get enough of?

M: Oh gosh, there are so many: Dieux moisturizer + eye cream, Skinceuticals Age and Blemish Defense, EltaMD sunscreen, Asari Red Clay mask, and Agent Nateur holi (bright) resurface glass mask.

G: I promise Meadow and I have different thoughts, but wow is that Dieux moisturizer it. For the sake of being different from her, Naturopathica Gotu Kola is like no other.

Your favorite ways to wind down after an emotionally intense day?

M: Some of my options are a neighborhood or beach walk, turning off all my devices to read or cleaning to a good playlist, going on a boba date with my fiancé, or watching a silly show to get out my head ("Platonic" on  Apple TV+ is fun).

G: I’m either a close my blinds, order takeout, and binge a show kind of girl, or a go outside in nature, journal, and meditate kind of girl. The in-between doesn’t really exist. A few things I love to do when I’m feeling activated are take deep breaths, visualize a root coming down from my body and connecting me with the Earth, and pop on a quick meditation.