15 Easy Recipes That Require Minimal Prep

Plus: [How 17 Stressed-Out Millennials Make Home a Peaceful Place to Escape When the News Is Just Too Much]( If you are unable to see the message below, [click here to view](. [SELF Cares]( Today, we're talking about... Me Time In a work brainstorm this week, we had to list three communities we belong to. I wanted to go beyond my obvious answers (black women, doting cat owners), so instead, my list included things like "people who would eat steak every single day if possible" and "people who sob at the 007 episode of Grey's Anatomy no matter how many times they've seen it." But now that I'm sitting here writing about me time, I can't believe I didn't give "people whose happiness, success, and very essence as human beings depend on healthy doses of solitude” its rightful spot at the top of my list. Ever since I can remember, I’ve needed a lot of me time not only to recharge but to thrive in all areas of my life. Maybe it’s my upbringing as an only child who spent much of her time reading, maybe it’s some complex mix of genetics that informs my temperament, or maybe (probably) it’s both. Whatever the cause may be, nothing’s quite like the deeply content feeling that spreads through my every cell when I get to be by myself. Whether I spend that time rewatching that 007 episode yet again, losing myself in a book, or immersing myself in the latest celebrity gossip, me time helps renew my spirit the way nothing else can. Spending time with people I love reinvigorates me in a different way, but without at least one solid hunk of me time every week, I just don’t feel like my best self. It’s a non-negotiable for me. You might fall near me on the me-time needs spectrum, or maybe we’re complete opposites. Either way, it’s important to figure out how to make the most of the me time you’ve got (and carve out more if you need it). Hopefully the following stories offer up some inspiration. [Zahra Barnes, Deputy Health Director]( [Here's Everything I Use to Unwind From a Long Week]( [Here, SELF editor Tiffany Dodson shares her incredibly soothing routine for unwinding, plus product recommendations to help you incorporate some of that chill into your own life.]( [READ HER RECS]( [15 Recipes That Don't Require Any Chopping to Prep]( [I'm a fan of cooking food for special occasions. Everyday meals? Not so much. I'd rather not spend my me time on that, which is why I appreciate this list of recipes I can get through quickly enough to go on with my life.]( [GET THE RECIPES]( [11 Scented Candles I Burn When I Just Need a Minute]( [Hi, I might need to buy every candle on this list because they all sound delicious. Join me, won't you?]( [ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION]( [How to Cancel Plans Without Losing Friends and Feeling Like a Jerk]( [I do my best never to cancel plans in favor of me time (or anything else), but sometimes it's just necessary. At least this piece about how to do it in a kind, respectful way will make it easier.]( [LEARN HOW TO PULL IT OFF]( [How 17 Stressed-Out Millennials Make Home a Peaceful Place to Escape When the News Is Just Too Much]( [I love that this piece offers a peek into other people's tactics for maintaining a sense of calm in such a chaotic world.]( [READ THEIR TIPS]( [Your Skin-Care Routine Actually Only Needs These 3 Things]( [This story from Sarah Jacoby, SELF's Senior Editor of Health & Beauty, relieves me from the stress of thinking my skin-care routine MUST be about 15 steps long. Knowing that I only need three basics makes experimenting with everything else that much more relaxing and fun.]( [CHECK IT OUT]( SHARING IS CARING! Forward this newsletter to your friends! Got this from a friend? [SIGN UP HERE]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( Sent from Condé Nast, 1 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10001 Copyright © 2019 Condé Nast.