Justin H. Min doesn't shy away from his feelings. What else can you expect from an avid Tumblr user? But since his Tumblr days, the Umbrella Academy star has graduated to a few new tools he uses to channel his emotions.

He's been journaling for seven years— “It’s always fun to look back and cringe at how embarrassing I used to be"—and has a go-to journal. He turns to bubble tea and a Trader Joe's seasoning that “males everything taste better” when he's looking for a little self care. And he has a poster that help him name his feelings. 

More specifically, it's an emotion wheel in poster format. “Oftentimes when we think of emotions, we think of, Oh, you’re just sad. You’re just angry,” he explains—the most general feelings lie at the center of the circle. “But as we get further and further to the outside, they become more specific. The more specific we become, the better in tune with how we feel.”

Scout out a few of Min's must-haves below, and witness his full list—including his treasured Hidden Valley Ranch sweatsuit (no joke)—in Min's full episode of My Essentials.

The Put-It-On-Everything Seasoning

Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning (2 pack)$15

Amazon

“I’ve been doing a lot more cooking, and I’m really bad at cooking. Fortunately for me and for society, we have the seasoning that makes everything taste better. I put it on toast, I put it on avocados, I put it on salmon. It’s amazing.”

The “Good and Cheap” Everyday Sunscreen

Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Face Liquid Sunscreen (2 pack)$26

Amazon

“I’ve gotten a lot of questions about my skincare routine, and I wish I had a better answer. This is my panacea for everything. I use it because it’s good and it’s cheap. Primarily because it’s cheap, and I’m still paying off my college loans. Thank you, American education system. It doesn’t leave any white streaks. I do play a ghost on television, but I don’t wanna be a ghost in real life, so this comes in very handy.”

Straws to Save the Turtles

Metal Boba Straws (4 pack)$6

Amazon

“I have boba probably once a day. In the past couple of years, many boba establishments have transitioned to biodegradable straws. Save the turtles. I love it. At the same time, I hate paper straws. My friends got me one of these metal straws. Sturdy, can pierce through the cup very efficiently, and I can suck up my pearls without having the taste of paper in my mouth.”

The Meal-In-a-Fruit

Whole Foods Avocados (4 count)$4

Amazon

“It’s an avocado, guys. You don’t need to cook when you have an avocado with you. Every morning I’ll cut one of these babies up, put some Everything but the Bagel seasoning on it, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and you’re good to go.”

A Croakie for His Mask

Mask lanyards (5 pack)$7

Amazon

"When you have to take off your mask and take a sip of water or what have you, you either have to hang it from your ear—which I found out recently is not the most sanitary—or you kind of have to hold it in your hand or put it in your pocket, and I’m not about that life. So, my sweet friends made me this little lanyard that you could attach to your mask, and then...boom."

Required Reading

The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho$10

Amazon

"Anyone who’s on the creative path will get a lot out of this book. Becoming an actor is a very arduous journey, but this book really gave me perspective. If you enjoy that process, then when you achieve whatever you want to achieve, it becomes more worthwhile."

How to Get on a First-Name Basis With Your Feelings

Emotion Wheel poster$16

Amazon

"I found this through a therapist. He recommended that I start to really name specifically what I’m feeling. When you can identify how you feel, you can process how you feel. And when you can process how you feel, you can ultimately heal."

The Trusty Journal

Moleskine Classic notebook$21

Amazon

"I’ve journaled religiously for the past 7 years. That sounds really intense, but a lot of times it’ll just be a sentence or a paragraph. Obviously I have days where you feel the emotions and the writing just flows. Journaling allows me to process my thoughts, and process my feelings."

Read MoreHow Justin H. Min Became The Umbrella Academy’s Breakout Star

The rising talent talks about his Tumblr account, how fans helped his Umbrella character develop, and the inspiring effect of an Asian superhero. 

By Iana Murray



Danielle Cohen is GQ's Editorial Business Assistant.Related Stories for GQGQ Video10 EssentialsMental HealthEntertainment