Exposed roots, chipped nails, achy muscles—oh my! Most of us can barely recognize ourselves in the mirror these days. And it feels like ages since anyone could casually stroll into a salon or spa. Even the most ordinary gesture of self-care, like treating yourself to a cone of Mexican Vanilla at Amy’s Ice Creams, means choosing between suiting up in a protective gear and standing in long queues or paying extra for curbside or delivery.
One thing we know for sure is that when business is back to normal, lines for massages, hair cuts, manis and pedis—and ice cream shops—will be around the corner. And if you can’t wait to spoil yourself again, you’re not alone. So we came up with some self care tips that people are planning to do as soon as possible.
Self Care Tips for Moms and Dads
Time is one of the most valuable commodities for parents. Even after a month or so of sheltering-in-place, most moms and dads are still struggling to balance kids’ schedules, their own work obligations and then everyone’s personal me-time. Here are some self-care suggestions that moms and dads can do this weekend.
Schedule a physical activity
Getting your heart pumping is a great way to feel refreshed and rid your muscles of that extra anxiety you’ve been carrying around. If money is tight, take a walk on a nearby trail. Or enjoy some inexpensive water activities.
Zilker Park Boat Rentals
At Zilker Park Boat Rentals you can take a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddle (SUP) board out by the hour or for the day ($18/hour, $54/day). They’re open from 9am to dusk, seven days a week. But the earlier you can get there, the better because they don’t take reservations. And also, since everyone has been so cooped up, chances of large crowds lining up for some time on Lady Bird Lake is pretty high.
Zilker Park Boat Rentals
2101 Andrew Zilker Rd.
Texas Rowing Center
If the line at ZPBR is long, then we suggest heading across the lake to Texas Rowing Center. Their hours are from 6am to dusk, daily. Weekend rates start at just $10/hour for a kayak and $15/hour for a SUP. However, you can also purchase day passes and a 15-row card for $299. In addition to recreational rowing and paddling, TRC offers private and group lessons, summer camps and special events.
Texas Rowing Center
1541 West Cesar Chavez
512-467-7799
Both TRC and ZPBR permit dogs in boats, but customers have to bring their own canine life vest. And don’t forget that it gets really hot on the lake. Be sure to have plenty of water for your pets.
Schedule a massage
Nothing says “self care” like scheduling a deep tissue massage. Depending on where you live, some licensed massage therapists are only permitted to provide medically necessary massage treatments. But you can still plan on getting a spot on the massage table once salons are open to the public. Just book your bodywork appointment or spa package now. Some salons may require a deposit to reserve your appointment.
Sage Blossom Massage
“Days can be full of stress, worry and pain and it starts to feel like it’s just a way of life,” says Juliann Gorman, LMT and owner of Sage Blossom Massage. A deep tissue massage can fix that. The salon offers traditional massage therapy, Thai massage, cupping and salt therapy, which is a relaxation technique. The way it works is that you recline on a cozy lounger in a calm room and inhale a superfine aerosol of medical grade salt. Think of it as taking a break from your stress for 30 minutes to breathe refreshing beach-like air.
Sage Blossom Massage
6603 Menchaca Rd.
512-826-3550
or
6705 US 290
737-990-6255
Schedule a mindfulness moment
Mindfulness-based meditation has been shown to have a variety of physical and mental benefits, according to the Harvard Gazette. It can also help ease symptoms of moderate anxiety and depression. The best part is that if you want to do it at home, you can find guided meditations online. Or, meditate with professionals who know what they’re doing.
Meditation Bar
“A bar is widely known as a welcoming gathering place for those seeking a good time. Much like a neighborhood bar, Meditation Bar offers a space for good vibes, but in a peaceful and quiet place.” They offer a few dozen meditation classes. Each guided class, in their own way, aim to calm the mind, help you connect more deeply with your body and recenter your awareness. The Meditation Bar also offers specialty classes, like a musical Flute Healing Journey and Rumi by Candlelight, “a restorative poetry experience.”
Meditation Bar
8108 Mesa Dr.
512-840-1640
Self Care Tips for Teachers
Teachers may not be on the frontlines of the war on the coronavirus. But they’re really holding down the fort when it comes to helping kids adjust to online classes. One South Dakota teacher really went above and beyond. When a student didn’t understand the math homework, he packed up his whiteboard and dry-erase marker. From outside the front door, he gave the student an in-person math lesson. As a reward for all their hard work and dedication, America’s teachers deserve much more than a shiny red apple. Here are some ways to thank the teachers in your life, or ways teachers can thank themselves.
Delysia Chocolatier
We don’t have the power to give teachers a raise, but we can suggest gifting them something they might enjoy, like a box of fancy chocolates. Delysia Chocolatier makes “award-winning artisan confections” at their Austin Culinary Center. They sell truffles, chocolate bark, specialty confections and chocolate drinks. You can shop by flavor and categories like traditional, adventurous, or spirited (as in booze-filled).
Delysia Chocolatier Culinary Center & Boutique
2000 Windy Terrace
512-413-4701
Donate Face Masks
Another way to demonstrate your appreciation to educators is to help them get supplies they need. No matter when schools are back in session, classrooms will need to have plenty of hand sanitizer and face masks for kids and grownups. Savilino is an Austin company that has been designing and manufacturing aprons and uniforms for the past decade. Following the novel coronavirus outbreak, the company halted their normal production and focused instead on producing non-medical fabric masks for the public. Just order a few dozen face coverings and have them delivered directly to your neighborhood schools.
Savilino
512-527-3832
Donate Hand Sanitizer
Another Austin-based company that’s really stepping up right now is Tito’s Handmade Vodka. When the distillery was barely halfway through April, they had already produced 24 tons of hand sanitizer. That number is even more astronomical now. Tito’s have been donating supplies first to critical personnel. That means if you fill out a request form now, you can get Austin classrooms on the list for when schools are ready to open again.
But that’s not the only reason to support Tito’s. They’re actively assisting people affected by the pandemic. The company donates to CORE: Children of Restaurant Employees, USBG National Charity Foundation’s bartender assistance program, and other organizations.
Visit Tito’s Vodka
The Austin Shaker
To gift a bottle of Tito’s Handmade Vodka, for yourself, your kids’ teachers or anyone important in your life, check out The Austin Shaker, “Austin’s booze professionals.” The quaint neighborhood liquor stores are owned and operated by Dave and Kiki, both veteran bartenders. Both shops are located in East Austin.
The Austin Shaker
1199 Airport Blvd.
512-524-0754
or
420 N. Pleasant Valley
512-551-8108
Self Care Tips for College Students
Everyone is having a tough time social-distancing and sheltering-in-place. But our hearts especially go out to the college students who are locked-up in their bedrooms and tiny apartments. For those new to adulthood, post-high-school is supposed to be a time of self-discovery and meeting lots of new people. Our self care tips for college students right now is to not let your frustrations get the best of you and keep your mind focused on your future.
In the meantime, here are some practical tips.
Get a Haircut
We’re predicting that once lockdown ordinances are lifted, there will be a run on barbershops and salons. But some college students might have a bit of a dilemma. If you haven’t been earning a paycheck, funds are probably pretty low. One place to go for an affordable and stylish haircut is the Austin-based Birds Barbershop. “Whether it’s a girl cut, a guy cut, or a girl-who-wants-a-guy-cut cut, you’re in good hands at Birds.” Now would be a great time to check out their website because while stores in the city are still waiting to reopen, they’re offering a 16 percent discount when you buy a four-cut package.
Birds Barbershop
Multiple Locations
Eat Out
Starting on May 1, restaurants were permitted to re-open their dining rooms, albeit at reduced capacity. So if you’re ready to eat dinner anywhere other than on the coffee table in front of the TV, you have a few options. Just keep in mind that social-distancing rules are very much in place and non-negotiable. For that reason, many eateries are asking customers to make a reservation so you don’t have to wait outside or in your car for one of the few tables to open up.
Here are a few suggestions:
Downtown
III Forks: Dine-in seating. Taking reservations online or call 512-474-1776, 111 Lavaca St.
Lazarus Brewing Co: Patio service starting May 8, 1902 E 6th St
Lonesome Dove Western Bistro: Book now online or call 512-271-2474, 419 Colorado St.
Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille: Dine-in seating by reservation or call 512-474-6300, 114 West 7th St.
Z’Tejas: Dine-in seating. Book online, 1110 W. 6th St.
South
Barlata: Dine-in seating. Reserve in advance,1500 S. Lamar
Catfish Parlour: Dine-in seating opens May 18, curbside pickup and delivery, 4705 E. Ben White Blvd.
Doc’s Backyard Grill: Patio seating, curbside and delivery, 5207 Brodie Ln.
Flores Mexican Restaurant: Dine-in seating and curbside pickup, 4625 W. Cannon Dr.
It’s Italian Cucina: Dine-in seating, curbside pickup and delivery. Reserve online, 1500 S. Lamar
Lucy’s Fried Chicken: Dine-in seating, curbside pickup and delivery, 2218 College Ave
Poke Austin: Dine-in and patio seating, curbside pickup and delivery, 5601 Brodie Ln.
Satellite…Eat. Drink. Orbit: Dine-in seating and curbside pickup. Book online, 5900 Slaughter Ln.
East
Baby Acapulco: Call for more information, (512) 447-1339, 1705 S. Lakeshore Blvd.
Buenos Aires Cafe: Dine-in seating, curbside pickup and delivery. Book online or call 512-344-9198, 1201 E. 6th St.
Cherrywood Coffeehouse: Dine-in and outdoor seating, and curbside pickup and delivery. 1400 E 38th 1/2 St.
Gino’s Vinos: Dine-in seating and curbside pickup. Book online, 1239 E. 51st St.
Halcyon: Dine-in seating. Join online waitlist, 1905 Aldrich St.
Reunion 19: Dine-in seating starting May 4, curbside pickup and delivery, 1700 E. 2nd St.
North
183 Grill: Dine-in seating, curbside pickup and delivery, 13729 N. US 183
Casa Chapala: Dine-in seating, curbside pickup and delivery. Book online, 9401 Research Blvd.
Catfish Parlour: Dine-in seating, curbside pickup and delivery, 11910 Research Blvd.
Cyclone Anaya’s Tex-Mex Cantina: Dine-in seating, curbside pickup and delivery. Book online, 3120 Palm Way
Ebisu Austin: Dine-in seating, curbside pickup and delivery. Book online, 13376 N. Hwy 183
Estancia Brazilian Steakhouse: Dine-in, curbside pickup and delivery. Book online, 10000 Research Blvd.
Gloria’s Latin Cuisine: Dine-in and patio seating, parties of 6 or less, The Domain, 3309 Esperanza Crossing
La Palapa: Dine-in seating and curbside pickup, 6640 E. Hwy 290
Lucy’s Fried Chicken: Dine in, curbside pickup and delivery, 5408 Burnet Rd.
Manuel’s: Dine-in and patio seating by reservation only, 10201 Jollyville Rd.
Rudy’s: Dine-in and curbside pickup, 3914 N. Lamar Blvd. and various locations
Yard Bar: Outdoor dining and takeout, 6700 Burnet Rd.
Z’Tejas: Reserve seating online, 9400 Arboretum Blvd.
West Austin
68 Degrees Kitchen: Dine-in, curbside, delivery. Call ahead, 512-766-6868, 2401 Lake Austin Blvd.
Mozart’s: Dine-in, curbside pickup and delivery, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd.
Is your restaurant open? Let us know!
Build A Home Exercise Program During the Pandemic
