Pic credit: Hannah Weir
Mindfulness, put simply, is the act of being in the moment – bringing your attention to what you’re doing. It’s a way to relax, de-stress, and take time out or prioritise yourself. You can practice mindfulness in different ways – chilling out with a mediative process, taking action or making your surroundings more enjoyable. How would you like to feel? Lift your mood with one of our stress-free ideas below.
Happy
Go green with plants or flowers. Plants are therapeutic to look after and tend to – even choosing and bedding down a new plant into a new pot is super satisfying, as is looking at the fresh green colour in your home. Don’t have a green finger? Arranging a bunch of flowers is easy enough. Choosing the bunch of flowers in a colour you like keeps you present in the moment. Place them somewhere central for maximum enjoyment at home.
Joyful
You can feel joyful, even while working from home, according to Marie Condo. ‘Creating a calm, uncluttered environment will enhance both productivity and joy’, she says. ‘Identify the items that are crucial to getting your work done, and designate a spot for them. If you don’t have an office, a box or portable carrier will do. Move all unrelated items off of your workspace and add one thing that sparks joy when you look at it – I keep a crystal or small vase of fresh flowers on my desk.’
Relaxed
Focus your attention on a mindful manicure – you can’t help but be present when you do it. ‘With so much uncertainty and anxiety at the moment, it’s important to find quiet moments for ourselves to slow down and be present’, says Hannah Weir. ‘Painting my nails and creating nail art began as a way for me to cope with stress and anxiety, and I now recognise this as the power of focused attention, which helps to bring ourselves into the present moment. It’s ok to slow down and take time for yourself. It’s not selfish to do the things you enjoy and that bring you a sense of calm and ease.’ Mavala’s new Chill & Relax collection has six soothing new shades to choose from.
Energised
It’s well documented that exercise boosts your endorphins – chemicals that trigger a feel-good response in your body. Even if you’ve only got five minutes, you can feel the benefit of focusing your mind on a few stretches. Try Yoga with Adriene where you can choose how you want to feel, and also how long you’ve got. A walk or run outdoors, taking in the scenery and fresh air smells, rather than listening or scrolling your phone, also keeps you in the moment.
Pic credit: Adriene Mishler
Soothed
When was the last time you used a face mask? Combine it with massaging your skin, and you’ll look and feel fresh and relaxed. ‘Personally, I like to involve a relaxing massage in all my skin treatments’, says Mavala skincare expert Tetyana Vlakh. ‘Why? A relaxing massage relieves stress and balances your mind. The boost in circulation you’ll get will stimulate the lymphatic vessels and detoxify your skin, making it look healthy and youthful.’
Well-rested
Soak your feet before bed. Yes, acupuncturist Dr Alice Morgan says that in Chinese Medicine, it’s believed that the hot water will bring your Qi (energy) away from your head, calming the mind, as well as warming up and circulating Qi through the points on the feet and ankles. Do this for 10-15 minutes before bed, switch off your screens and grab a book or simply close your eyes and relax. ‘This prepares your body and mind for sleep’, she adds.
For more beauty and care techniques and tutorials, visit Mavacademy.
