What Alisha Ramos from Girls’ Night In Keeps in Her Wellness Bag

alisha ramos wellness bag

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We’re always wondering how highly productive, highly cool, highly well people get it all done. So we started a series in which we ask people we admire to unpack their metaphorical wellness bag—or what we think of as their whole wellness routine. Their gym stuff, their nutrition stuff, their sleep stuff, their self-care stuff. It’s a little bit like Mary Poppins’ carpet bag. But instead of a coat rack, you’ll find a facial steamer, magnesium powder, and the public library.

Headshot: Alisha Ramos

Meet Alisha Ramos

“I’m the founder of Girls’ Night In, a recommendations-based newsletter which goes out to over 150,000 readers every Friday. I started writing it back in 2017 as a way to bring some joy and comfort into people’s inboxes during an uncertain time, and it’s been a great way to build community and share inspiration. Prior to that, I worked in tech as a designer for a while (yes, writing code and pushing pixels!). I’m 33 and I live just outside Washington, D.C. with my husband and our little fluffy dog.”

Alisha Ramos’ Wellness Bag

The Peloton App

Peloton

“Okay, this might be a boring and obvious answer, but this is how I get my workouts in, whether it’s a 10-minute full-body quick workout, or a 30-minute yoga routine. I like to stream the workouts via Roku onto our big TV in the basement so it feels like a whole experience. I have the bike too, but lately I’ve gravitated more toward strength classes.”

(Earn 65 Ness Card points!1)

EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40

Dermstore

“I’ll never forget the day I went to one of those skincare counters where they can show you the sun damage on your face in, like, 20x magnification. I practically ran to the store to buy loads of sunscreen. This is my favorite because it goes on nicely without feeling greasy, there is no scent, and it’s relatively cheap.”

(Earn 180 Ness Card Points!)

Moon Juice Magnesi-Om

Moon Juice

“I bought this when I had a bout of insomnia a few months ago. I stir a bit of it into water and chug it an hour or so before I go to sleep. It tastes like sweet berries and helps me feel relaxed. As a bonus, it’s also great for gently encouraging bowel movements the next day. (Is that TMI?)”

(Earn 210 Ness Card points!)

Zyrtec

Zyrtec

“Only recently have I developed seasonal allergies! This helps me get through the day without becoming a sneezy, runny mess.”

(Earn 125 Ness Card points!)

Aira Ionic Facial Steamer

Vanity Planet

“This does two things for me: It helps me open up my pores after a cleanse so that I can prep my skin for all my serums and potions… and it really relaxes me and puts me into that ‘wow, I’m really treating myself’ mood. It’s like having a little mini spa experience a few times a week.”

(Earn 345 Ness Card points!)

Vuori Performance Jogger

Vuori

“This is a cult fave for a reason! The material of this jogger is buttery soft. The length and weight are just right and perfect for spring. On any given day, you’ll likely see me in Vuori joggers or leggs.”

(Earn 470 Ness Card points!)

Papier Wildflower Hardcover Notebook

Papier

“Inspired by Suleika Jaouad’s journaling project, I’ve picked journaling back up as a habit. I try to scribble at least a few things down in the morning as I’m sipping my tea or coffee. More than anything, it’s soothing as I feel my anxieties traveling out of my brain and onto the page.”

(Earn 60 Ness Card points!)

The Public Library

Patrick Robert Doyle

“Anyone who knows me knows I’m a voracious reader. I read for pleasure, but I also read for the distinct benefit of turning off my brain from whatever work or life thing might be begging for my attention or anxiety at that moment. I love to get lost in a good story. I’ve recently rediscovered the joys of picking up an armful of books (and sometimes cookbooks!) from the public library and can’t believe that it’s a free and well-functioning service in our community. Support your local library!”

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“This card is such an exciting addition to my wallet and it’s perfect for someone who values health and wellness but hasn’t found a credit card that rewards me for that. I love getting rewarded for wellness practices like sleeping, meditating, and moving my body—plus extra points on purchases at my favorite places like Whole Foods, ClassPass and sweetgreen. The app is easy to use and the card is designed for your definition of health and wellness, which I love. It’s flexible!”

Kira's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“It’s no secret that wellness is such an important part of my everyday life. I spend a lot of money to help fuel my love of running, recovery, nutrition and mindfulness, so the fact that I can now earn rewards for every dollar I spend with the Ness Card is amazing. My health always comes first, and the Ness Card makes that easy to do. It’s a win-win for everyone!”

Andi's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“As a new mum, wellness and self-care is a priority for me—so I can, in turn, be able to take care of my baby. I love the incentives that Ness offers for making healthier choices. And to be rewarded along the way for those purchases is such a plus!

Oh, and getting 5x point rewards on my Erewhon $20+ smoothie makes it a little more justifiable.”

Amrit's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“I made a promise to myself to find my joy again in 2023. For the past few years, I haven’t been taking care of myself mentally and physically because I’ve just been on the go and focusing on the future instead of being present. I realized that part of the reason I wasn’t happy was because I wasn’t taking care of myself. So, now with the Ness Card—which literally rewards you for staying on top of your wellness journey—I’ve easily been able to focus on my mental and physical journey. Using the card is now a part of my weekly routine, whether I’m buying groceries, going to therapy, spending a day at the spa, or treating myself to a delicious yummy meal.”

Candace's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“I love life with the Ness Card! The team behind the scenes work really hard to make it valuable and to create a sense of community, which you feel in every newsletter and hand-crafted partnership. The card itself encourages me to be even more curious about where I’m spending my money. It definitely incentivizes me to spend ‘healthier’, which is really unique. On top of that, getting points for taking more steps? There is seriously nothing like it.

David's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“My favorite thing about the Ness Card is that it rewards you for your healthy habits, and not all of them require spending. Yes, you can earn 5x points when you spend at any of their approved health and wellness merchants (think Erewhon and many of your other favorites) but you also earn points for being active daily! So now your sanity walks are literally paying off :) As someone who not only works in wellness but lives and breathes it, essentially most of my expenses live in that realm and with the Ness Card I can now be rewarded nicely for those purchases.”

Kirsty's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“I love that I have rewards to look forward to when I focus on my health and wellness. As a mom of two and full time photographer/creator, it’s hard to find time to prioritize my health and—as my body ages—I want to make sure that I’m treating it to all the TLC it needs (and deserves)! The Ness Card reminds me to take care of my mental, physical, and emotional health on the daily.”

Valerie's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“It’s refreshing to have a card app that is so easy to use. I can track my spending and rewards at the click of a button. I love getting a notification when I get extra points for getting a full night sleep or getting my steps in, though of course those are optional. I work a lot, and I feel like I get extra rewarded for taking the time to take care of myself – whether it’s therapy or simply cooking at home instead of dining out. The points accumulate really quickly, and I’ve already gotten a $1,000 credit at Erewhon in my first four months. I also go visit family in Europe a lot, and no one takes my card there, so it’s so convenient to be able to use my Ness Card without ever paying a fee.”

Mélanie's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“As someone who spends the majority of her money on wellness, the Ness Card is perfect for me! I love earning 5x points on purchases at healthy businesses that I was already making, anyways. The Ness Card also motivates me to get enough sleep, practice mindfulness and other healthy habits. The app is really user-friendly and I love watching my points add up. I am excited to redeem them for wellness-related items!”

Lauren's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“The Ness Card motivates me to keep up my healthy habits, and has helped me discover new brands and products that are in alignment with my goals. I’m not spending any more with my Ness Card, but the money I am spending on health and wellness is actually earning me rewards, benefits, and even cash back. And because Ness’s definition of a ‘healthy merchant’ is so generous, I’m able to recognize all of the small ways I practice self-care throughout the week. From buying fresh veggies to going to therapy to taking my supplements, the Ness Card is there to cheer me on: ‘Keep being healthy, girl. You deserve 5x points for that.'”

Melissa's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“The Ness Card rewards me when I spend money on health and wellness. Especially because so much of my wellness routine is spent being active, gardening, making food with my husband, getting a massage, or having some me time, it is nice to be rewarded for that with points that are with brands I shop at all the time anyway. It allows my wellness choices to work harder which I love.”

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This article was rigorously researched and fact checked. We use peer-reviewed journals and reputable medical sources (think: CDC, WHO, NIH, and the like) to back up every claim we make, and also reach out to experts in the field to ensure we’re covering things the right way. We apply these principles to everything we cover—including brands we partner with—and we’ll always disclose sponsorships, ads, and any kind of financial relationship with anything featured on The Nessie. You deserve the best, most straightforward information on health and wellness, and we think this is the right way to do it. You can read more about our testing and review process here.

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