August is traditionally known as the “back-to-school” month. Whether you have children or not, somehow the month manages to convey the end of summer, and the start of a busy season of obligations: a new semester, company reviews, and a rekindled “social” calendar.
The long and slow days of summer come to an end, and, all of a sudden, it seems like the end of the year looms close.
This month we want you to take back your Zen with a collection of products specially curated by — and used by — our Healthline editors.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $20
- $$ = $20–$50
- $$$ = over $50
- Price: $–$$
“Genmaicha tea, also known as popcorn tea, combines green tea and popped brown rice for a nutty, slightly sweet taste. While it tastes delicious, I particularly find the toasty aroma to be so calming and comforting.
“The genmaicha from DAVIDsTEA is my favorite, as it has a rich flavor and uses quality green tea leaves from Japan.” — Kelli McGrane, nutrition and fitness market editor
- Price: $
“I like to diffuse this oil while I’m meditating, reading a book, or taking a bath, so it fills the surrounding room. Lavender is such a calming and easing scent for me. I’ve diffused it during so many instances of stress that it’s my body’s cue to take a deep breath.
“I’m partial to Plant Therapy, because the brand does an excellent job at sourcing quality ingredients — and they’re not a multi-level marketing company, which is hard to find in the essential oil world.” — Jen Anderson, copy editor
- Price: $$$
“This headband really motivates me to meditate.
“My favorite aspect is the ‘breath continuity’ feature, which tells you how long you’ve maintained a breathing rhythm during your meditation. This extra feature reminds me to focus on my breath and get a sense for what my mind state feels like when I don’t, which is kind of the whole point!” — Crystal Hoshaw, wellness editor
- Price: $$
“While a nice, long soak in the tub can be a stress-buster on its own, these bath salts are a great addition to relax both your mind and your muscles.
“They have a warm, herbal scent, thanks to the ginger, rosemary, and bergamot essential oils. It’s soothing, but not overpowering, and may even help create a feeling of calm — there’s
“Plus, organic arnica extract helps relieve any body pain or muscle soreness after a stressful day. And, as an added benefit, the Epsom salts leave my skin feeling really soft.” — Chelsea Logan, market editor II
- Price: $
“This is like aromatherapy in the palm of your hands. The diffuser is small, making it easy to use at home, in the car, or in the office.
“It has a USB cable, meaning you can hook it up to your laptop or other USB outlets if you’re on the go. It also has a built-in LED light, so it doubles as a nightlight for kids who may need it to sleep!” — Jasmine Seales, updates editor
- Price: $$
“I used these during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when I had to go grocery shopping and felt super anxious. I felt that it took the edge off of my anxiety in these types of high-stress moments and didn’t cause any negative side effects.
“It was easy to use, fairly inexpensive, and worked pretty well.” — Afton DeLucca, editor II
- Price: $
“For me, there’s nothing more relaxing than decompressing with a warm bath at the end of the day. Aromatherapy is particularly helpful when it comes to de-stressing, and I really love the Dr. Teal’s Ultra Moisturizing Bath Bombs. (They come in a few scents, but my personal favorite is the Eucalyptus & Spearmint.)
“Not only do they smell incredible, but they actually are super moisturizing and leave my legs and body feeling hydrated after a long day.” — Melissa Lee, market editor
- Price: $
“I recently picked up embroidery via a beginner kit on Etsy, and it’s easily one of the most calming activities I’ve ever tried.
“Kits like this usually include a guide to the different kinds of stitches, and a color guide. All you have to do is follow along with the pattern — just like coloring but with thread.
“It’s almost meditative: thread, pull, thread, pull, thread, pull. And it’s easy to do while watching TV or a movie.” — Jamey Powell, senior market editor
- Price: $$$
“Next to hiking, reading is my favorite way to de-stress. While I still love the smell and feel of holding an actual book, I was gifted a Kindle Paperwhite 8 years ago, and it continues to be one of my most prized possessions.
“Not only is it super easy to use, but it’s also lightweight and features a glare-free display that makes me forget I’m reading on a device.
“My husband also appreciates that I don’t keep him up at night with the light on, as the Paperwhite includes a backlight for reading in the dark.” — McGrane
- Price: $$
“Am I an almost 30-year-old with a unicorn stuffed animal? You bet. But this unicorn is so much more than your average stuffy. It’s a weighted neck wrap.
“I pop it in the microwave for 2 minutes, and it comes out warm and lavender scented. All I have to do is place it on my shoulders and lie down for serious tension relief. The warmth lasts a surprising amount of time — sometimes up to an hour.
“My only warning: If you want to prolong the lavender scent, make sure to clean your microwave before you heat up the wrap.” — Anderson
- Price: $$
“I love cupping for sore muscles, aches, and pains. This set is great, because it’s easy to do it by yourself, unlike other sets that use a suction gun with trigger or even flame-based suction.” — Hoshaw
- Price: $
“I bought this tea on a whim at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s turned into my favorite tea for calming down. When I’m overwhelmed, I tend to get an upset stomach. The mint in the tea helps with that a lot. It also has a good balance of chamomile for instant relaxation.
“This is my go-to blend before bedtime. Sometimes, I even feel tired and chill before I’ve finished half of it.” — Anderson