It’s 6 am and your alarm goes off - the first thing you do is reach for your phone and check your notifications from the night before. You start with your messages from your friends, then you jump into your emails scanning for any last-minute deadline request from your boss. All of a sudden, you see all these meetings pop up for your day, and before you know it, you now have over 15 requests to do for the day which means you will need to go into work early to get everything done. Enter, anxiety and stress. 

We all want balance in our lives, but sometimes it can be hard when life becomes demanding and your self-care duties become the last thing on your priority list. Dedicating time and effort into becoming more mindful by learning to unplug and relax is a sure way to gain peace of mind and just be happy. 

We’ve got some simple and easy tips that help you unplug and just relax!

Start with your morning ritual 

We challenge you to resist the urge to check your phone first thing in the morning and replace it with a self-loving task that brings you joy and happiness. This can include meditation, prayer, reading, journaling or stretching. 

Your morning sets the tone for your whole day, thus replacing the scatterbrain with a clear and mindful state of being will help you to accelerate through the day with good vibes and positive energy. 

Rejuvenate your skin and body

An easy way to feel super relaxed and invigorated is by putting in some effort into your skin and body care routine. Start by incorporating a natural body exfoliator into your shower routine to help achieve soft, glowing skin. Next, move onto your skincare routine and opt for a natural multi-tasker that is going to offer you healthy, fresh skin. 

Set the mood

Imagine this, a candle-lit bubble bath accompanied with your favourite red wine and some calming tunes playing from your speakers. When you’re seeking relaxation techniques that are realistic, bubble baths are just your thing. It’s what you add to the room that makes it all the more relaxing, such as a soy and coconut natural wax candle. 

Be in the moment

Take time to write down what you’re grateful for and learn to live in the moment. When you shift your perspective from worries and fears, you can learn to understand just how lucky you are. Count your blessings, write in a journal, and step away from your phone. Give yourself at least 10 minutes to write down all your thoughts onto paper so you can give your mind a break and experience mindfulness.

Sweat it out

For this tip, we don't actually mean intensive training, but rather, a soft, easy flowing class such as Bikram Yoga or Pilates that is going to make you sweat to some degree, but mainly help you relax and unplug from your day. From a mindfulness perspective, when you are moving your body through light exercises such as yoga, you’re helping to ease stress and anxiety, encourage better sleep and improve your overall mood. 

Create a bedtime ritual 

Just as you start your day off on a positive note, you want to end it with one too. Creating space and time for a special nighttime routine that includes simple and relaxing activities will ensure you’re going to wake up on the right side of the bed. Scents can play a huge role in relaxation, so consider a relaxing essential oil with lavender to encourage sleep and calmness.