Similar to a superb night time equals a superb morning, a contented Sunday brings a contented week. On this sequence, we discover the end-of-week rituals of folks we admire to find how they prioritize respite and calm to reclaim their relaxation earlier than the Monday insanity hits. Subsequent up, the co-founders of Shaz + Kiks share their Sunday night time routine.
Nobody will argue that Sunday ought to be all about restoration and hitting pause on our “always-on” tradition. However should you’ve ever skilled end-of-week anxiousness (also referred to as the Sunday Scaries) then you definitely’ll additionally know that the frequent treatment for that is to open up your laptop computer and deal with something pressing earlier than the Monday insanity begins. Effectively, we ask you all to withstand that urge and reclaim your time, nurture your psychological wellbeing, replenish your power, and apply the artwork of doing nothing as a result of nobody can function at their full potential if their glass is half full.
That’s why we launched this sequence to highlight the routines and self-care rituals that assist different ladies wind down from the work week to arrange for the one forward. This week we’re placing the highlight on the Shaz + Kiks co-founders and sisters, Shaz Rajashekar and Kiku Chaudhuri. Ever since they began their very own enterprise collectively, Sunday Scaries turned a factor of the previous—they’re the boss now!
Drawing inspiration from their experiences with conventional Indian Ayurvedic practices, every product is created with nourishment in thoughts. However above all, their hair care line was constructed on the celebration of connection. The sisters champion taking care of each other and this self-care ethos extends into each side of the model from the substances and formulation to the advertising. They hope to go on this custom of collective care and emphasize why it’s so essential to spend money on your self, your well being, and your happiness.
Learn on to study all about their Sunday night time routine together with suggestions and tips to start out your individual wind down ritual.
What time does your Sunday nighttime routine start and why?
SHAZ: For us, the most essential half of Sunday night time is our household dinner that we have now virtually each week. And meaning like 15-20 folks! Kiku and her household, our mother and father, our cousins, aunts, and uncles, shut mates. I’m the cook dinner in the household, apart from our Mother, and I often make an enormous Indian dinner and everybody comes over to chill out, gab with one another, and revel in the finish of the week. It’s early round 5 PM, so everybody can wrap up and head residence by 7 PM.
KIKU: We had the identical sort of dinners after we had been rising up, so I really like ending the week with that very same household time! In addition to the scrumptious meals, that is undoubtedly an element of how Shaz and I take care of ourselves. Doesn’t matter what sort of stress is happening, Sunday night time dinners are a time to pause and be thankful for each other. Shaz is unquestionably doing all the cooking and I’m often the one making cocktails and joking round (not serving to!). As of late, the entire fam loves ingesting Haus. Scrumptious aperitifs which are low in alcohol degree.
What’s the very first thing you do that can assist you wind down on a Sunday night time?
After our household dinners, we wind down:
SHAZ: My household cleans up after dinner whereas I begin my wind down. I begin by taking a pleasant sizzling bathe (I don’t wash my hair Sunday night time, and use Shhhowercap to maintain my hair dry). I’ll double cleanse my face with Farmcacy’s Inexperienced Clear melting balm after which Tatcha Rice Wash. These are my two favourite cleansers and I’m tremendous loyal to them. I consider in double cleaning and ensuring I take off all my make-up with Farmacy after which a deeper cleanse with Tatcha. After which it’s “mask-and-massage” time. First, I therapeutic massage our Scalp+Hair Prewash (I exploit the skinny, nice to regular hair method) into my scalp and hair—keep in mind I didn’t wash it so therapeutic massage it into dry scalp/hair. After which I’ll placed on a face masks—I really like masks that clear and nourish at the identical time. My favourite is Aavrani’s Glow Activating Exfoliator masks.
If I don’t occur to have that masks, I’ll make my very own, an Indian go-to favourite: yogurt, turmeric, chickpea flour. The yogurt has lactic acid, turmeric is anti-inflammatory and chickpea flour attracts out impurities. It is a very age-old Indian masks that we’ve been doing since we had been little youngsters. I’ll let the masks sit on my face for about 20 minutes whereas I therapeutic massage my physique with oil, proper now I’m loving Esker Magnificence’s Restorative Physique Oil. I’ll then wash off my turmeric masks after which begin my facial oil and therapeutic massage ritual. I like utilizing Soma Ayurvedic Facial Oil and spend about 5 minutes utilizing Ayurvedic therapeutic massage methods to therapeutic massage it into my face. That is the finest technique to maintain your pores and skin agency, enhance blood circulation and enhance elasticity. We discovered these methods from our grandma, who was an enormous practitioner of Ayurveda, particularly Ayurvedic massages. I need to level out that our Scalp+Hair Prewash masks remains to be in my hair and I’ll go away it on in a single day—I really like sleeping in it. The longer you permit all these vitamins to soak in, the higher.
After my post-shower rituals, my favourite half comes which is studying. I’m a bookworm and may undergo a pair of books in every week. Aside from cooking, studying is my favourite technique to chill out. I often like to take a seat exterior in our terrace space if the climate is sweet and revel in the quiet sundown. Very last thing on Sundays, hugs, and snuggles throughout with my youngsters and canine after which lights out by 9 PM. Our households are early sleepers and early risers. My husband and I each have change into hooked on a sleeping machine, this one is our favourite. It actually helps us fall right into a deep and restful sleep. Monday morning, I get up and bathe and wash out the Scalp+Hair Prewash and my hair is prepared for the week.
KIKU: After household dinners, I actually take pleasure in quiet and alone time the relaxation of Sunday night time. I feel it’s actually essential to take pleasure in being with your self and creating time for that. I’m a shower gal and actually look ahead to one each Sunday night time. I first placed on jazz music on my rest room audio system—this immediately helps me chill out and get in the temper. I replenish my tub with 90% sizzling water after which flip it chilly for the previous few minutes. My favourite bathtub merchandise are Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bathtub with Lavender, Milk + Honey Bathtub Soak, and Palermo Replenishing Salt Soak Himalaya Pink Salt. I add one scoop of every after which whereas I await the tub to replenish, I therapeutic massage the Scalp+Hair Prewash in (I exploit the dry, frizzy to curly hair method), after which use our Handmade Neem Wooden Comb to comb by means of my scalp and distribute it evenly by means of my strands. Utilizing the prewash with the comb is wonderful as a result of it’s full of vitamins that your hair must be wholesome and powerful. The comb will increase blood circulation which actually helps your follicles and scalp soak up all these vitamins.
Then I put my hair up in a bun and lightweight my favourite candle, DS & Durga’s Rama Received’t You Please Come House (jogs my memory of my grandma in India selecting jasmine flowers from her backyard). As soon as the tub is stuffed, I get in and spend the subsequent hour studying cowl to cowl one of my favourite magazines—NY Journal, New York Instances Journal, Architectural Digest. Sure, I nonetheless subscribe to print magazines! I really like getting inspiration from fantastic artists, designers, writers, and creators from round the world. (All this whereas I’m nonetheless hair masking with our prewash).
After my bathtub, I leap into the bathe and wash my hair. My favourite shampoo and conditioner are ours. I alternate my face wash between this India-based Ayurvedic skincare line, Forest Necessities Facial Cleanser with Sandalwood and Orange Peel, and Eminence’s Charcoal Exfoliating Gel Cleanser. After my bathe, I exploit a really skinny microfiber towel to dry my hair (I’ve one from India that’s from the native bazaar and I’m obsessed), after which I really by no means dry off my physique. I let it air dry after which because it’s drying, I therapeutic massage in my physique oil. Oil is a sealant in your pores and skin so it’s finest to make use of when your pores and skin is moist, so it traps in that moisture. My favourite physique oil proper now could be Liha Magnificence Idan Oil. My nighttime skincare is utilizing facial oil, I exploit Moringa What’s 100% Chilly-Pressed Moringa Oil, and use a Kansa wand (Ranavat’s Kansa Wand) to therapeutic massage my total face and scalp. The metallic/Kansa half of the wand helps support lymphatic drainage, brings oxygen to your pores and skin and scalp, and reduces any puffiness or irritation. I’ll really sit on my mattress, watch TV, and therapeutic massage with the Kansa wand. I’ll do it for about 15-20 minutes. My husband, canine, and I all the time get into mattress collectively and watch humorous sitcoms on Sunday nights so we are able to go to sleep laughing! Our go-to is The Workplace, of course!!
Somewhat bit about Kansa: Kansa took place in the bronze age in India over 5000 years in the past, and is a metallic alloy of copper and aluminum. The metallic utilized in Kansa wands is known as the “bell metallic” as a result of bells—and Tibetan gongs—are made out of this identical materials. Kansa has the capacity to stability pH. Again in the day, folks ate their meals on a Kansa plate to assist make digestion simpler and cut back the acid content material in meals. They drank their water from Kansa cups as a result of it was virtually like a water filtration system—it might take away the acid content material from the water.
Do you get the Sunday Scaries? What does it really feel prefer to you?
SHAZ: After years of having Sunday Scaries after I was youthful, all the rituals I purposefully do on Sunday night time have actually helped me overcome that anxiousness. The largest half of Sunday Scaries, for me, was not feeling prepped for my Monday workday. I used to consistently take into consideration all the issues I must do as soon as I get to work on Monday. In addition to my Sunday calming rituals, I additionally be sure I spend time on Friday writing out an in depth to-do record for Monday and that helps.
KIKU: To be trustworthy, I used to get Sunday Scaries all the time earlier than we launched our personal enterprise. However now, I look ahead to getting again to work on Monday as a result of I’m my very own boss! Earlier than SHAZ & KIKS although, I used to have actually lengthy work commutes and that’s what I dreaded the most or a scary boss. I’d get this wave of disappointment on Sunday nights, feeling like the enjoyable weekend is over.
How do you take care of the Sunday Scaries?
SHAZ: I’ve recognized that cooking for my household and studying are the main actions that basically assist me maintain anxiousness at bay, so I be sure I do these actions on Sundays. It’s actually about figuring out after which being strategic in preserving your thoughts calm and in a superb place. It’s proactive work and I’ve to be acutely aware about it.
KIKU: To be sure I’m not getting anxious on Sunday night time, I do issues all through the day that make me really feel wholesome (good night time’s sleep, exercise, selfmade meals, little/no alcohol) and get each residence and work organized for the upcoming week. Issues from my nighttime rituals all assist me keep calm and scheduling that bathtub time alone each Sunday night time is one thing I actually look ahead to all week and weekend.
Do you’re employed on Sunday nights? Why?
We don’t work on Sunday nights, however we each do spend one to 2 hours earlier in the day preparing for work on Monday. Shortly going by means of emails, marking ones that have to be replied to very first thing on Monday, writing out our to-do lists, and doing anything that helps us really feel prepped. We’ve seen after we do spend just a little time on Sunday preparing for the workweek, it actually helps decrease Sunday Scaries or Monday Scaries!
What issues must you by no means do on a Sunday night time?
SHAZ: I don’t ever drink alcohol on Sunday nights. It disrupts my sleep and may make me really feel anxious—two issues I by no means need to expertise on Sunday night time. I’ve been having fun with all kinds of the better-for-you seltzer water and proper now I’m loving Sanzo.
KIKU: I actually attempt to keep off my telephone and social media. Getting on social media inevitably makes me really feel anxious and really feel like I waste an excessive amount of time on it, so I keep off. Whereas I take my bathtub, I maintain it in the different room so I don’t even have an possibility.
What’s in your nightstand?
SHAZ: My sound machine, a stack of favourite books, and this journal that I acquired from World Market. It’s a listing journal that asks you to put in writing out three issues on sure subjects every day. E.g. “Checklist Your Three Favourite Journey Locations”. I like this sort of journaling as a result of it doesn’t really feel like a activity or daunting. There’s a immediate, solely three traces, and it makes me suppose of one thing constructive.
KIKU: I really strive to not maintain that a lot on my nightstand—litter stresses me and I prefer to maintain my bed room as minimal as doable. At the second, it has a guide I’m at present studying, 54 Thrones African Butter (I exploit it as hand cream), and Aquaphor (I all the time slather it on my lips).
Do you watch TV/films on Sunday night? What are you at present watching?
SHAZ: I really don’t watch TV/films that a lot Sunday night time. Studying is my pleased place, and I guarantee that’s what I do proper earlier than I am going to mattress.
KIKU: Sure, I really like to observe one thing pleased, humorous, constructive with my husband and canine Sunday nights. We’re both watching The Workplace or a journey present (we love touring). My newest favourite was Stanley Tucci: Trying to find Italy. I can’t await the subsequent season.
Do you do any meal prep for the week forward? If that’s the case, stroll us by means of it.
SHAZ: Normally for our Sunday household dinner, I make an enormous pot of daal or kitchari (lentil soup with rice). We’ve a kitchari recipe on our web site that’s really easy to make and is tremendous nutritious—it additionally retains properly so you’ll be able to proceed consuming the leftovers by means of the week. Lentils/daal and grains are my staple pantry objects—they’re integral to meal prepping.
KIKU: My meal prep on Sundays is extra about going to the grocery retailer and stocking up my fridge for the week. I often make my weekday dinners every day and it consists of a vegetable, protein (hen/fish), and a few grains. I plan out precisely what we shall be consuming every night time after which purchase accordingly at the groceries. This manner I’m not pondering the day-of ‘what am I gonna make?’ I hate that feeling! I like making my meals recent and in small batches every day proper earlier than we eat.
Do you might have a favourite bedding you swear by for a extra restful sleep?
KIKU: I really like Brooklinen’s Luxe Sateen sheets. I’m a sizzling sleeper and these sheets maintain me cool all through the night time.
What books do you suggest studying on a Sunday night time to prep for the week forward?
SHAZ: I learn all kinds of books and browse a number of at a time. I do love female-focused fiction, one of my favorites is The No. 1 Girls Detective Company sequence. I’m transported to a different world and studying about good, robust females makes me go to sleep pleased.
KIKU: I like studying extra motivational books on Sunday nights, often written by different entrepreneurs who share their journey in constructing their firm. I discover consolation and solace listening to about trustworthy tales, the ups and downs. Proper now, I’m studying Supermaker by Jamie Schmidt.