5 Little Comforts That Make a Big Difference
Life doesn’t always give us the time (or energy) for big self-care routines, but small comforts? Those can go a long way.
Let’s be real for a second, sometimes life is just…a lot. And midlife? It comes with its own extra set of juggling pins: aging parents, grown (or semi-grown) kids, your job, your side hustle, and, oh yeah, the occasional hormonal breakdown that somehow sneaks in.
So today, I wanted to share five little comforts that have been making my everyday life just a bit more bearable lately. These aren’t life-changing, earth-shattering revelations. They’re simple, cozy things that bring me a moment of peace, a sigh of relief, or just a small “ahhh” in the middle of chaos. And sometimes, that’s enough.
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1. House shoes that feel like a hug for your feet
Yes, house shoes. I know, groundbreaking. But listen, these are the MVPs of my day. I wear them constantly while working from home, and I even wear socks with them. (I can hear the fashion police sirens already.)
Are they cute? Nope, not even a little bit. But they’re cushy, soft, and keep my feet from sticking to the shoes. Some days I feel like I’m walking on clouds or at least a cheap knockoff version of a cloud from Amazon. I used to wear those ballet slipper-style ones, but my toes felt like they were trapped in those. I’m all about these slip-ons now.
See my favorite house shoes here: Fave comfy shoes
Pro tip: if you’re standing a lot (like I am), pair them with a cushioned mat under your desk. Instant foot heaven.
Here’s the standing pad I use: Anti fatigue floor mat
2. Audiobooks for instant escapism
I don’t listen every single day, but I love knowing they’re there when I need them especially when my brain is doing the midnight hamster wheel thing. You know what I mean.
Sometimes I just need to step away from reality for 10–15 minutes, and popping in my earbuds and escaping into a good story does the trick. Cozy mysteries are my go-to, because they’re not really as serious as other mysteries or they just don’t seem as heavy. I’ll listen to nonfiction too, depending on the mood.
I use Audible and love the sleep timer feature. It lets me drift off without waking up to chapter 28 and wondering what in the world happened to the plot.
3. Digital photo frames (Yes, the “Grandparent” Gift)
Yes, this is what people usually give grandparents, but I don’t care. My son and daughter-in-law gave us one, and I love it more than I expected to.
It’s this simple little digital frame that displays all our favorite family photos. You can add new ones from an app on your phone, and it just quietly cycles through memories all day long. Grandkids, kids, random vacation moments, it’s like a personal slideshow of joy.
If no one’s gifted you one yet, I highly recommend gifting one to yourself.
Here are a few options that are the same brand I have:
4. Soothing skin creams that actually work
Let me introduce you to my skincare holy grail: Cetaphil Eczema Restoraderm Flare-Up Relief Cream. (Yes, that’s a mouthful. No, I don’t care.)
It has colloidal oatmeal in it, and it’s the only thing I’ve found that calms my skin when it freaks out. I have rosacea and eczema, awesome for me, and this cream actually soothes flare-ups, even around my eyes. Scott uses it too for dry skin patches, and he’s a believer now.
I’ll also throw Vanicream into the ring. It’s super thick and gentle and great for dry patches, especially if you’re sensitive to all the things, like me.
5. Tiny space heaters for big warmth
Let me just say: if you’re cold-natured like me, you need one of these mini space heaters in your life. I’m not talking about the old-school fire hazards. These are small, electric, and come with a remote control. Fancy, right?
I started with one at my work desk, then got another for my other desk (where I edit videos and work on my cake blog), and yes, I even have one in my bathroom now. That was a game changer. I flip that little heater on and boom, instant comfort.
If you’re dealing with hot flashes instead of cold feet, maybe skip this one. But for my fellow human popsicles, highly recommend.
Here’s a link to the one I have: Small electric space heater
Video:
That’s it, but just for now
These are just a few of the little comforts that help me feel a bit more grounded and cozy in my daily life. And I think that matters, especially in midlife when so much feels like it’s out of our control.
I’m thinking of making this a recurring series, maybe once a month or every couple of months, because I truly believe that sharing these small things helps. And honestly? I’d love to hear from you.
What are your go-to daily comforts? Drop them in the comments, I want to read every single one.