If you wish to begin on the road to self development, there are lots of small, free things that you can do to improve or simplify your life – you could drink more water, meditate or spend more time outside.  However, sometimes it can be a good idea to invest a little money in certain objects or services that can have a massive impact on your life.  In this post, I’ll be showing you nine things that I bought in 2018 that have improved and simplified my life, that I now couldn’t imagine living without.

  1. Affirmation Cards

I spoke about my love of affirmation cards in my Self Care Holiday Gift Guide post last week. Affirmation cards are a fun addition to your daily routine, and can help inspire, motivate and reassure you whenever you feel the need for some guidance.  I love to pull a couple out each morning and make the affirmation my intention for the day or mediate on it for a while.  My favourites are Gabrielle Bernstein’s ‘The Universe Has Your Back’ deck, and Louise Hay’s ‘Power Thought’ cards.

2.  Essential Oil Diffuser

In my gift guide I spoke about how oil diffusers have become very popular in the last year, and it’s easy to see why – they are a unique talking point in a room, look great around the home and make your home smell amazing!  Not only that, but they also purify the air in your home, and, depending on which oils you use, can help to relax, energise, uplift you, as well as help sinuses and allergies!  My favourite oils to diffuse are lavender and eucalyptus.  My diffuser has been my No. 1 purchase I’ve made this year!

3.  Plants

This year, I decided to commit to being a plant mom!  I’ve become something of a plant hoarder, and now my room is full of all types of exotic and colourful plants.  Not only do I love the fact that my space now looks like a tropical paradise, but having plants around really boosts my mood and happiness.  They also have multiple benefits, mainly purifying and cleaning the air of toxins.  There are so many plants to choose from that I’m sure you’d find one you love and one that fits your lifestyle.  Check out my Best Houseplant Guide to find out my favourites.

4.  Himalayan Salt Lamp

Pink salt lamps have become very trendy over the last 12 months.  They make a unique talking point and look amazing in any room of your home.  Aside from looking good, they have multiple health benefits, including boosting blood flow, relieving asthma and allergies, increase serotonin and the cosy pink light improves sleep!  I love having mine in my room as I find the light so soothing and relaxing.  In 2019, I’d like to buy a little one so that I can build a family of salt lamps!

5.  Letterboard

Letter boards are another new trendy home staple of 2018.  They look so cool in your home, and you get to change up which message you’d like to have it read unlike posters.  I like to fill mine with affirmations that fit with my mood at the time and so that I’m surrounding myself with positive messages that my brain can pick up on.  They are also very instagrammable.  What more could you ask for?!

6.  App Subscriptions

I always used to avoid paying to upgrade my apps to ‘premium’ as I hated the thought of paying extra money just to get some extra bonuses or ad-free content.  However, this year I found a few really good apps that I knew I’d get the use out of, so didn’t mind signing up for a subscription.  My favourite app that I subscribed to was Stop, Breathe & Think, which is an app full of meditations, yoga classes and mindfulness sessions, all of which I’ve used and loved this year.

7.  Magnesium Salts

I found out this year that almost everyone is deficient in magnesium, and this can cause a LOT of symptoms and issues that often go unexplained.  So this year, I’ve massively upped my magnesium intake by taking supplements, but also by using magnesium salts in my bath a couple of times a week.  This is my favourite way to take magnesium as it’s relaxing, fast absorbing and it makes your skin really soft!  My favourite salt to use is Westlab, and I use about 500g in a big tub of water.

8.  Clarisonic

I received the Clarisonic Mia 2 brush as a Christmas present last year and I’ve been using it ever since!  The way it brushes my skin makes it feel so clean, fresh and smooth, like nothing I’ve used before!  I use it about twice a week, and I’ve seen such an improvement in the texture and quality of my skin.  The Clarisonics can be a little pricey, so a good alternative would be the Vanity Planet Glowspin Brush, which does a similar job just at a much lower price.

So those are the purchases I made this year that have bettered my life!  Tell me what your favourite purchases have been this year in the comments section!