Soft Girl Files: March Edition
Microplastics, nervous system resets, what’s in my life rotation, the habits quietly losing airtime this month & more
Welcome back to The Soft Girl Files — a monthly dispatch focused on wellness, culture, monthly favourites and everyday rituals, edited for calm.
Please note that some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you! Every product featured here is something I genuinely love, obsessing, and/or recommend!
Wait… It’s March!?
Somehow Q1 is nearly behind us and we’re standing at the edge of early spring wondering how time got away from us. January was the “reset”, February was the thaw, and March? March is where things actually start to get interesting.
The weather hasn’t fully committed as yet — it’s still out here swinging between coat weather and open windows like it has no idea what it wants. But something underneath all that indecision has shifted, and I think we all definitely feel it. The light is back, the air is different and if you catch the right afternoon, you can almost smell what’s coming.
That almost is the whole point of March. It’s the month where wanting things starts to feel safe again. Where the vision you had for yourself back in January stops feeling ambitious and starts feeling possible. Where you begin, slowly and without any grand announcement, to fall back in love with your own life.
This edition is for that. The new beginnings, the returning colour, the quiet but very real sense that something good is on its way.
Let’s get into it!
This month, the trends are weirdly... practical? A Netflix doc about microplastics is about to have everyone side-eyeing their plastic water bottles, and "nervous system regulation" is everywhere — which is just a fancy way of saying people are finally admitting they're stressed and want to do something about it. Here's what we're paying attention to:
01. THE PLASTIC DETOX
Okay so this one might make you look at your kitchen differently.
A Netflix documentary called The Plastic Detox drops on March 16th, and the conversation around it has already been spreading for weeks. The short version: microplastics — tiny particles that shed from food packaging, water bottles, cookware, even clothing — have been found in human blood and organs. Scientists have been aware of this for a while, but the rest of us are just catching up. This documentary follows six couples with unexplained infertility as they lower their exposure to plastics in hopes it helps them conceive.
Before you freak out, the response doesn’t have to be over the top. Nobody is asking you to throw out everything you own (clearly that’s impractical). The swaps people are making are actually pretty simple: filtering drinking water, storing food in glass instead of plastic, not microwaving food in plastic containers, choosing cotton over synthetic fabrics where you can. Small, considered changes rather than a full life overhaul.
Spring is actually a natural time for this kind of audit. We’re already thinking about what to bring into the new season. Turns out some of what’s been around all winter is worth a second look.
02. NERVOUS SYSTEM EVERYTHING
If you’ve been on wellness TikTok or even just Substack itself, you’ve noticed that “nervous system regulation” is having a serious moment and honestly, it deserves it.
The idea is simple: when your body is stressed, everything else suffers. Sleep, digestion, focus, mood and hormones, all of it runs downstream from how calm or activated your nervous system is. Most of us have been running on low-grade stress for so long that it just feels normal. March, with its better light and slightly warmer air, is actually one of the easier times to start shifting that.
The fixes are genuinely unglamorous in the best way. Simple practices for you to introduce into your own routines could be like: three slow breaths before tending to a stressful moment, a ten-minute walk without your phone, morning light before a screen or even an earlier bedtime. Nothing that requires a new app or a credit card — just small, consistent choices that tell your body it’s safe to relax.
March has a way of making things I didn’t mind last month, feel suddenly unnecessary.
The all black everything default is the first thing losing airtime. It’s easy, safe, requires zero thought, however, March is genuinely asking for colour and I’m choosing to listen. Even if it’s just one piece, a bag or a lip colour. The season has shifted and my wardrobe will be reflecting that too.
Saving the good candle for a special occasion has also left the building. I was raised into the habit of only using my “nice things” when I had company over, and now, I have declared that that rule no longer applies here. My candles will be lit and the occasion is simply being alive and surviving another week.
Doom-scrolling as a wind-down routine is something I am actively unlearning. It does not relax any part of my body, and just delays the moment I have to sit with my own thoughts. March feels like a good time to find something better for that last hour before bed.
Keeping plans I made when I was in a completely different mood is another one. February me said yes to a lot of things that March me is quietly reconsidering. Your past self was doing her best. Your present self gets a vote too.
Lastly, treating rest like something that has to be earned is leaving this month (and all months) for good. The idea that you need to be exhausted enough or productive enough before you are allowed to stop is not a rule. It never was. Rest is just part of how the week works.
know someone who needs a softer march? share this with them 🌸
Spring has a way of making you re-evaluate everything. Not just your closet or your routines, but the things you put on your body, in your body, and around your body. These are the products that made the cut this month. They actually work for this season, don't ask of much from me, and have earned their spot in my rotation. Here's what I’m using:
The Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment has been in my bag every single day for weeks now. I used to carry three different lip balms at once and still have dry lips by midday. I use a layer of this in the morning and I genuinely forget about my lips for the rest of the day. I don’t know why I waited so long to try it.
I added the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Exfoliant to my routine because my skin after winter looked dull in a way that nothing was fixing. I use it twice a week and within a couple of weeks I could actually see a difference. My skin has been clearer, smoother and more brighter. It’s become one of those things I would genuinely be annoyed to run out of.
The Cécred Edge Drops have been in my routine every morning. My edges have been suffering from my constant slick backs and this edge drop has actually been helping me grow them back (like for once I am actually seeing results). They’re a bit pricey in my opinion but Beyoncé really did not miss with this product’s formula.
I’ve been putting Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides in my morning matcha for a few months now. You truly cannot taste it and it disappears completely into whatever you put it in. My skin has been looking better and my nails have stopped breaking as much. I can’t say for certain it’s the collagen doing all of that but I’m also not about to stop taking it.
I took my Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream back out as soon as the weather started shifting and I remembered how much I love it. The smell is warm and sweet and it genuinely makes getting out of the shower feel like a little moment. It absorbs fast, makes my skin looks healthy and glowy with no greasiness. It’s just really good and it makes the whole getting ready experience feel more enjoyable.
I started incorporating a gua sha into my mornings and I honestly did not expect to stick with it. Five minutes on my face after my serum and the puffiness I wake up with is basically gone. It sounds like it takes a lot of effort until you actually build it into your routine and then it takes no thought at all.
That’s what’s in my rotation this month.
March is the month I start actually getting dressed again.
Not in a new wardrobe, new me way, but more like the days are getting longer, I’m spending more time outside, and I want to look like I put in a little effort without it actually taking that much effort. That’s the whole goal with this look.
The move this month is an oversized shirt in a soft spring colour over a good pair of relaxed leg jeans. The butter yellow is doing something here that white or grey just can’t — it feels warm and makes the whole outfit look intentional without being overdone. Slightly tucked at the front, loose everywhere else. The black jeans balance it out so the whole look doesn’t tip into too soft or too girly.
The leopard flats are the one piece that gives the whole outfit its personality. Everything else is pretty relaxed and then the shoes show up and suddenly it’s actually interesting. I love a simple outfit with one unexpected piece and this is exactly that combination.
For the bag I’ve been into something with texture and a rich colour lately. A burgundy woven tote checks both boxes and it’s actually big enough to use daily, which I think matters way more than people admit when they’re picking a bag.
Gold ball studs, in the ears keep it simple. The skinny black belt and the cat eye sunglasses are what tie it all together and make it look finished.
This is the outfit for the weekend. Nothing complicated, just a really good combination.
What you consume matters — not just nutritionally, but emotionally. March feels like a good time to lighten all of that up a bit. Not the heavy stuff you leaned on all winter, but not full-on energized spring mode yet either. Just... things that give you a little room to breathe.
WATCHING
the plastic detox – march 16 (netflix, documentary) everyone’s been talking about microplastics and honestly I’ve been looking forward to this one for that exact reason. Watching it this month and I already know it’s going to make me throw out half my kitchen. A watch for when you’re ready to feel slightly betrayed by everyday life.
ghosts – now playing (netflix, series) They finally released a new season and I’m ready to binge watch it. It’s the kind of show that asks absolutely nothing of you and gives you satisfaction of pleasant background noise. Perfect for a slow march evening or something to have on while cooking.
love story: jfk jr. & carolyn bessette – now playing (fx, limited series) Beautiful, tragic, and I genuinely cannot look away. Carolyn Bessette is the kind of woman who makes you want to throw out your whole wardrobe and start over with just clean lines and confidence.
formula 1: drive to survive s8 – now playing (netflix, series) new season (well this is on last season), same chaos, and I am already stressed in the best way. If you follow the sport you know exactly what I mean.
blue therapy – now playing (netflix, series) Couples therapy ..? this one will have you pausing every ten minutes to stare at the wall and think. Watch it, just maybe not on a day when you’re already in your feelings.
HOBBY-ING
Just finished building the Mclaren F1 car and honestly the satisfaction of clicking that last piece into place never gets old. Next up is the LEGO Botanicals Hibiscus and I could not be more ready for it. 660 pieces, all that purple (my fav colour), and something about building a flower just feels very march. Going from racing cars to botanicals is a character arc I’m fully embracing.
EATING
March is the month I actually want to eat something that makes me feel like I have my life together. This kale quinoa salad has been on rotation and it seriously delicious. It has kale, quinoa, chickpeas, avocado, pomegranate, feta, all tied together with a lemon vinaigrette. It may sound like a lot but you can create it in 20 minutes max and stays fresh in the fridge for days.
March is that quiet little window before everything speeds up again, and I’m using it intentionally. This month I’m doing my own version of a slower mornings, lighter inputs, building things with my hands, eating food that actually makes me feel good.
Also, something a little different is coming later this month. Our first ever Well Kept digital zine, and this one’s free for everyone. Think of it as a little gift, and a taste of what’s coming every month after. 🌸
Wishing you a march that actually feels like a breath of fresh air. you deserve it.
Thanks for tuning in, we’ll see you next month. 🤍
enjoyed this edition? tell me below
what are you resetting this month? what’s in your march rotation?
I feel seen with the point on saving your candle for a good occasion. I recently got a candle warmer and it’s been life-changing. My sleep has gotten so much better with my increased use of candles.
I’m rediscovering my hobbies and discovering new ones. The weather’s indecisiveness is getting to me, honestly, but deep down I miss the cold, so I'm glad we have some days when the temperatures are low. Either way, it's a refreshing feeling that this shift allows me to ease into it slowly. 🤎