A quick note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you shop through them — at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions and recommendations are my own. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Cuticle Oil
I have pens of this stashed everywhere: in my purses, in my car, on my nightstand, and in my white coat.
I wash my hands constantly and scrub into cases multiple times a day at work, so my hands take a real beating. I apply cuticle oil every time I get out of the operating room before writing my brief op notes, when I get into my car before heading home after work, and before I go to sleep at night.
Incorporating cuticle oil into my routine has helped keep the skin around my nails from feeling drier than the Sahara Desert. My manicures last longer, I get fewer hangnails, and my hands just feel better overall.
Pre-Workout Supplements
I use Beyond Raw LIT. I still can’t tolerate a full scoop, so I’ve gradually been working my way up.
The first time I used it, I took a full scoop and I was WIRED for HOURS. I even struggled to fall asleep that night despite sweating my ass off in the gym earlier that day.
Since then, I’ve stuck to about half a scoop, and I find that’s more than enough to help me stay focused and get through my workout. I love this stuff! It gives me just enough energy to power through my workout without being wired for the rest of the day and I feel so much stronger on the days I take it. I’ve done some workouts without it and I really do notice a difference.
Clear Protein Powders
These have been a GAME CHANGER for getting more protein into my day.
I’m not a huge fan of traditional whey protein powders because, in my opinion, they taste horrible with water, and I’m not a big milk drinker either (but I will devour a bowl of cereal, sometimes you just get that caving). That made traditional protein shakes something I just never really wanted.
I love clear protein powders because they drink more like juice. I can mix them with plenty of water, sip them throughout the day, and actually enjoy the experience instead of forcing down a thick protein shake.
Here’s a list of the clear protein powders I’ve reviewed so far!
Styling My Hair Weekly
I’ve been going back and forth with myself about whether I want to be a blow-dry natural or stick mostly to styles like mini twists and flat twists. I’m still figuring out what works best for me and my hair, but twists are starting to win.
I’ve found that simply choosing a style for the week makes my life so much easier.
With mini twists, I can wear them down, put them into a bun, do a half-up/half-down style, or tuck them underneath a wig. With flat twists, my hair stays out of my face without a bunch of tension, and I love the way my hair looks when I take them down. And blow-drying is great because my hair is much easier to manage in a stretched state. I can throw it into a French braid, Dutch braids, or another simple style without fighting with shrinkage.
I sweat a lot in the gym, and my roots tend to take the brunt of it. And I will say that the downside I’ve noticed with blow drying is that by the time wash day comes around, my roots can sometimes become a tangled mess, which makes detangling way more work than I want it to be.
So many decisions! I still haven’t found my signature style, but honestly, it may just end up being a rotation between all three.
Blogging
I’ve noticed that I spend so much less time doomscrolling since starting Monday’s Edit, and I love that.
I get to flex my creative side while creating and growing my own little corner of the internet. I’m still within the first three months of starting my blog, but I already feel so much lighter. I have so much fun writing about things that interest me outside of medicine and creating something that’s completely my own.
I’d highly recommend starting a blog (or really any creative project) to anyone looking for an outlet outside of work.
What are some things that have earned permanent spots in your routine?
With love,
Ash ♡
Leave a Reply