Wellbeing Journal
7 EASY YOGA POSES TO RELIEVE STRESS
Stress is no stranger to us. It visits us at any moment of our everyday lives: that could be the moment when you see a long list of unread emails after returning from holiday, when your children are testing your patience or when you’re stuck in traffic… Stress has been linked to a wide range of health issues, including mood, sleep, and appetite problems and it can play a role in the causation of heart attacks. Therefore, it is important to relieve stress regularly to keep your heart healthy and maintain an emotionally balanced life. Yoga is known for calming your body and mind through breathing and asanas (postures), but don’t be intimated by the sound of it as yoga can be easily practised at home. All you need is a yoga mat and 15 minutes every day. Here are 7 easy yoga poses for beginners we tried that can help to relieve stress: 1. LEGS UP THE WALL Set your legs up against the wall. Bring your hips closer to the wall as you let your hip flexors relax. Relax your shoulder and breathe through your nose for 2 minutes. 2. STANDING FORWARD BEND Stand up, reach tall and exhale forward, then bend knees. Hold your opposite arms and hang loosely, or if you are flexible you can place your palms on the floor. Try to keep your head closer to your knees. For a deeper stretch, try straightening your legs. Hold this position for 6-8 breaths. Then inhale, stretch arms forwards, raise them and your torso back to the standing position. 3. CAT-COW POSE This is a good pose to massage your spine and relieve tension. Cat – Start on all fours, then while exhaling, round your back towards the ceiling and bring your navel up towards your spine. Bring it back to the neutral position, with spine and head aligned. Cow – Inhale and tilt your pelvis back so that your tailbone sticks up. Keep your abdominal muscles hugging your spine by drawing your navel in. Keep rotating these two positions for 6-8 times. Try to feel your spine in each position as much as you can rather than trying to speed up. 4. CHILD’S POSE Sit on your shins with your big toes touching and your knees sightly apart. Bring your palms to the front of your body and rest on the floor. Walk your hands forward until you feel like you can’t walk any further. Allow your stomach to rest on your thighs and your forehead to rest on the floor. Breathe and rest in the position for 2 minutes. 5. BRIDGE POSE Place your feet flat on the floor, hip width apart. Slide your arms alongside your body with palms facing down. Inhale and lift the hips up, rolling your spine off the floor. Squeeze your knees lightly together to keep the knees engaged. Press down into the arms and shoulders to bring the chest upwards. Engage legs and buttocks to lift the hips higher. Breathe and hold for 4-8 breaths. 6. HAPPY BABY Lie on your back and bend both knees. Catch the outside of your feet and breathe. Keep your lower spine touching to the floor, while keeping your chin closer to your chest. Gently rock left and right if you desire. Hold for 4-8 breaths. 7. CORPSE POSE Lie on your back with your legs apart to yoga mat width, arms by your sides with palms facing up. Let your eyes and face soften and close your eyes while breathing deeply. Bring attention to each part of your body starting at the crown of your head, all the way down to your toes. Hold this position for 2-5 minutes. This pose will help bring relaxation to your whole body to end your daily 15-minute practice. Start taking care of your body and mind today if you haven’t yet. Remember, they are the only places you live in.
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NEW YEAR, NEW SKIN RESOLUTIONS
At the beginning of January, we all have the best intentions: go the gym more, cut down on those glasses of red, get eight hours’ every night without fail…Relaxing spa day at homeBut for us, one of the best (and easiest) things you can do is vow to make 2020 the year to turn your skin care up a notch. After the holiday season you might be feeling the effects of too many late nights and overdoing it on the food and alcohol – and no doubt it’s starting to show up on your skin. help your skin recover and get your best skin yet with our seven new year skin care resolutions that are so good you’ll actually want to stick to them.Be gentle with your skinWe all know that well-worn phrase ‘new year, new me’. It can be tempting to completely overhaul your skin care ritual at the start of a new year but introducing lots of new products at once can do more harm than good and cause irritation. Introduce any new products gradually to allow your skin to adjust and always choose natural-based products instead of harsh synthetics. Give your skin a bit of TLC with a blend of gentle cleansers, nourishing serums and rich moisturisers suited to your skin concern.Up your exfoliation gameExfoliating 1-2 times a week is essential for revitalising your skin and restoring its natural glow. But how many of us actually stick to a regular exfoliation routine? Make 2020 the year of the face scrub (we love our Daily Exfoliating Cream for a gentle formula that’s kind even to sensitive skin) to reveal your best skin yet. Read our guide to face scrubs to find out how exfoliating can help improve your skin.Incorporate anti-ageingOur skin starts to age when we reach our mid-20s, so it’s never too early to start investing in natural anti-ageing skin care to reduce the appearance of fine lines, dark spots and uneven skin texture. We need different formulas at different stages of our lives, so reaching for the generic anti-ageing cream won’t cut it. If you’re in your late 20s and 30s, chances are you’re starting to see the first signs of ageing (dullness, dryness, fatigue and fine lines), so we recommend using our Herbal Recovery range at this stage. If you’re in your 40s and 50s, we recommend our Nutri-Define range, which effectively targets advanced signs of ageing such as sagging skin, deep lines and wrinkles and improves skin elasticity in the face.Add an eye creamAre you using eye care yet? The skin around our eyes is delicate and thin, so needs special formulas to look after it. Make 2020 the year that you use an eye cream or gel morning and night: bonus points if it has firming and brightening properties, such as our Purely White Skin Brightening Eye Correcting Cream.Use an SPFThe sun’s harmful rays can do more damage to your skin than anything else. Protect your skin from UV damage by wearing an SPF every day, regardless of the weather. This is particularly important after you’ve exfoliated, which can enhance your skin’s vulnerability to UV damage. Apply your SPF after moisturiser but before makeup. Look after your skin from withinLooking for a new year skin detox? Healthy skin starts with a healthy lifestyle. Keep skin hydrated by drinking 2L of water every day and make sure your skin is getting the nutrients it needs with wholefoods, healthy fats and meals rich in fibre (read our guide to eating your way to radiant skin for nutritious ways to improve your diet). Try and get at least half an hour of movement every day (a walk at lunch time is a great way to get moving – and clear your head) and those coveted eight hours of sleep every night.Practice self-careThe new year is a good time to set good intentions for the months to come, and that includes taking time for yourself. Try aromatherapy, meditation or create your own relaxing spa day at home to help restore and rebalance the mind.
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HABITS FOR THE BEST NIGHT’S SLEEP
You’ve hit snooze three times already and still feel like you’ve only just dozed off. You shuffle your way to the bathroom with groggy eyes and bed hair hoping to wake yourself up with a shower, the endless skin care and makeup products on your counter and dose of caffeine. But it shouldn’t be your morning routine that wakes you up, but rather your night-time routine that should have you waking up feeling naturally refreshed and energised. Sleep expert Matthew Walker says in his book Why We Sleep that sleep enhances our experiences in the day, re-calibrates our emotions and helps our bodies better deal with stress. Here are our tips on the maximising the benefits of sleep so you don’t wake up wishing you had more sleep.Stay consistentYour body relies on predictability and functions better when a routine is set in place. Although it’s tricky to keep a regular sleep schedule, you need to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day (including weekends!). Don’t just take our word for it, Psychology professor J. Peterson says in his book 12 Rules for Life that in order to make your sleep more effective, it’s important to wake up at a consistent time for our mental health and well-being.A consistent night-time skin care routine will also help prevent signs of ageing. You don’t want to go to sleep with your pore’s clogged with the day’s gunk. Put on something comfy such as Elkie & Ark’s Organic Linen Robe to help you get unready for the night. Our Nutri-Define Supreme Cleansing Foam is perfect to kick start your sleep skin repair process. It gently sweeps away makeup and impurities with natural polishing beads to help encourage healthy cell turnover and leave your skin refreshed and perfectly cleansed for bed. A combination of a natural night cream and eye cream are perfect to have you waking up with glowing skin. Our Nutri-Define Supreme Restorative Rich Cream with its buttery texture will keep your skin hydrated and firm. The best eye cream for lines and puffiness is our Nutri-Define Supreme Eye Contour Balm. Gently smooth it around your eye area to ensure bright and revitalised eyes in the morning.Use linen sheetsYou’re only as cosy as your sheets are, and nothing beats wrapping yourself in luxe fresh sheets. Beyond their softness and breathability, linen sheets are trans-seasonal and temperature-regulating so they’ll keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. The slightly abrasive nature of the fibres also increases your blood flow during sleep. Be careful when making the switch to organic linen sheets as some “organic” bedsheets have been processed with formaldehyde among other chemicals. Sleep better with sustainably made products such as Elkie & Ark’s Linen Sheets, which are free from toxic bleaches, dyes or softeners.Get in the zoneNo more late-night tech sessions, your bedroom should be a sanctuary for respite. Log out for the night and try to leave your phone and other distractions out of the room. To give your brain enough downtime, it’s best to not use anything with a screen at least an hour before bed. If you use your phone as an alarm, make sure to switch your phone to Sleep Mode or put it on silent.With its snooze-inducing properties, Lavender is perfect to help you fall asleep faster. Mist your face and pillowcase with our Lavender Hydrating Mist to soothe and calm your senses. For an extra dose of relaxation, add a couple of drops of our Lavender Pure Essential Oil into a diffuser and as the scent wafts throughout your space, you’ll be asleep before you know it.Caffeinate laterCoffee is an instant pick me up first thing in the morning to get you buzzing for the day. We all do it, but Naturopath/Nutritionist Tabitha at Awaken your Health says that doing this adds stress to your body. Help your body wake up and naturally reduce stress on your system by delaying caffeine until 10 am, and starting the day with a protein, low sugar meal.
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5 REASONS WHY YOU NEED TO PRIORITISE SLEEP
The Dalai Lama said, “sleep is the best meditation” and Mahatma Gandhi said, “when I wake, I am reborn”. When some of the most notable Zen masters have only good things to say about sleep, it’s safe to say they’re onto something. As our lives get busier, we tend to put our health and wellbeing on the back-burner – this includes sleeping. Sleep is vital for longevity and is the first step to living an overall healthier life. We’ve rounded up the top 5 reasons why you need to prioritise sleep:1. Your brain needs itThere’s a reason why you can’t think straight when you’re tired. It’s because lack of sleep makes it difficult for brain cells to communicate effectively, which can affect your concentration, memory, decision-making capabilities and creativity. Studies have also found that women make more “robust multitaskers than men” therefore, . When you get enough sleep, your quality of life improves so much more as you feel less grumpy and groggy. You’ll also have more energy to enjoy social activities with family and friends.2. It repairs your skinThink of your skin as having two modes: defense and recovery. During the day, your skin cells are working to protect themselves from environmental stressors like UV exposure and pollution. At night in your slumber your skin goes into recovery mode, repairing all the daytime damage. So, beauty sleep is in fact, not a myth! Night skin care routine steps should consist of; cleanser, mist, serum, eye cream, moisturiser. Cleansing before bed is the crucial to optimise your skin’s recovery mode. Our Replenishing Cleansing Lotion is gentle and nourishing on the skin but will thoroughly remove the day’s grime.To make extra sure you’re getting the most out of your beauty sleep, the right pillow is equally as important. Opt for a linen pillow case like Abode’s Dublino Pillowcase. Made with 100% Belgian linen, you won’t disrupt your skin’s regeneration and you’ll also reap the benefits of an anti-bacterial and breathable fabric that lessens transfer of the skin care products you apply before bed.3. It hydrates your skinDid you know that when you sleep you sweat more? Well, it’s true, and it’s a good thing! Our skin has a natural pH level that helps protect itself from external aggressors. An imbalance in your pH level causes your skin to not produce the moisture it needs, which leads to drier skin. When we sweat, it’s our skin’s way of rebalancing and recovering moisture to level that pH. Your perspiration contains water, minerals and salt. Water hydrates your skin, while the minerals and sodium exfoliate the surface.Hot tip: When you sweat, a lot of dirt beneath the skin’s surface gets pushed out of your pores. Which is why it’s important to go to bed with cleansed skin so you don’t disrupt the skin’s repairing process and cause breakouts.4. It’s good for your eyesWhen you don’t get enough sleep, the hormone cortisol doesn’t properly serve its anti-inflammatory functions. Inflammation can lead to puffiness around the eye area in the morning. When you get in the right hours of sleep, you’re going to wake up with eyes that are brighter and more awake! Along with sleep, you can assist the de-puffing process by applying an eye cream before bed. The best eye cream for puffy eyes should be one that is created specifically for the eye area. Our Nutri-Define Supreme Eye Contour Balm has Alfalfa seed extract and Lupine Protein that restores brightness and targets under-eye puffiness.Sleeping in an elevated position on your back is also key for bag-free eyes. Propping your head up with two pillows helps with drainage of fluid around your eyes . Abode’s Hungarian 20 Pillow has a medium filling, perfect for when you need to sleep on your back. Its triple chamber structure keeps the feathers snug in place to help keep the exact shape you love for longer-lasting support.5. It’s self-careIt’s the little things that you do that really matter. Make the act of sleep a self-care moment more than something you have to do. You spend a great part of your life in bed, so actively surround yourself with good quality bed sheets – make yourself comfortable. Abode makes quilts in a range of temperatures to suit all bodies climates so comfort will never be an issue.Surround yourself with elements of luxury. Candles, comfy bed socks, a silk eye mask, calming tunes. Indulged in our calming Lavender Hydrating Mist when it’s time for bed. Mist your face pillow to create a calming atmosphere that promotes peace and well-being.
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5 SELF-CARE RITUALS TO ADD TO YOUR ROUTINE
Self-care can mean different things to different people. It could be taking time out to read a book, catching up with a friend over coffee, cooking, having an at-home pamper session, or something grander like a week-long yoga retreat or spa day. What we can all agree on is that self-care rituals are important for our wellbeing and we could probably all do with adding a few more into our daily routines. Discover our top five self-care rituals below. BE GRATEFUL It’s easy to get bogged down in day to day life and focus on negative elements (a stressful time at work, mounting bills or feeling as though you’re not as accomplished as your friends or relatives). But when was the last time you focused on the positives? Try spending a few minutes each day listing three things you’re grateful for and focus your energies on the good things in life. WRITE A JOURNAL Writing down your thoughts and feelings in a journal is a great way to check in with yourself, process your thoughts and reflect on what’s happening in your life and your moods. The best thing about a journal is it’s completely personal to you, so you can do whatever you like with it – write, draw or simply jot a few notes down. MEDITATE Meditation has been shown to reduce stress, enhance self-awareness, improve sleep and help us to focus – so when it comes to self-care rituals, it’s up there as one of the best. Some people find it hard to get started with meditation though, so try easing yourself in with an app, guided meditation or spending five minutes each day focusing on your breath. TAKE A BATH Having a bath forces us to stop, relax and not do anything for a good 20 minutes – plus there’s something calming about being immersed in still water. Add a couple of drops of our Essential Oils to your bath for a truly serene experience. CONNECT WITH NATURE At Jurlique, we’re big believers in connecting with Nature (after all, that’s what we were founded on and we continue to harness Nature’s energies to create our products). Studies have shown that interacting with Nature helps increase people’s health and happiness so try and let it become a part of your daily life. It’s not always easy – especially if you’re city-based – but this could be something as simple as a quick visit to your local park. Shop our range of aromatherapy and natural skin care products to calm the mind and soothe the soul.
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HOW TO HAVE A RELAXING SPA DAY AT HOME
We all love a spa day. A day to fully switch off, get truly looked after and allow you disconnect and relax. But let’s face it – dedicating all that time to a full spa day can be hard to do, so sometimes the next best thing is creating the perfect spa day at home. From DIY spa treatments to relaxing bath tips, here’s how to create your very own blissful spa sanctuary. SET THE SCENEYou know when you walk into a spa and you feel instantly relaxed? They’re calm, soothing and free of all distractions, so try and replicate that atmosphere at home. Remove anything that could take your attention, such as your phone and computer. Dim the lights and diffuse essential oils such as lavender, chamomile, sandalwood, ylang ylang or rose to help you relax - try our Tranquil Blend Essential Oil or Comforting Blend Essential Oil. Play soothing, soft background music at a low volume and recreate that delicious ‘spa water’ by adding fresh mint and slices of cucumber to a water pitcher. Cup of herbal tea on blanket UNWIND WITH A HOT SHOWER OR BATHCleanse your face and body as you normally would – use the Jurlique Calming Shower Gel Lavender for that spa feeling – and exfoliate your body by working your way upward using circular motions to stimulate circulation and slough off dead skin cells. If you’re having a bath, add Epsom salts to help relax your muscles and add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to harness the power of aromatherapy. Stay in the bath for at least 20 minutes, close your eyes and relax. Tea, candle and flower on wooden bath caddy MOISTURISE YOUR BODYRestore moisture by slowly massaging in a nourishing moisturiser or body oils, such as our Rose Body Oil or Calming Body Lotion Lavender. Take your time on this step – think ‘spa pace’. Wait a few minutes for the moisturiser to absorb before putting on a bathrobe. APPLY A FACE MASKThis is pampering at its finest. Apply a face mask that’s tailored to your skin concern (read our guide to face mask to find one that suits you) and sit back and relax for at least 10 minutes while you let it work its magic. If you have combination skin or more than one skin care concern, try multi-masking - you could apply one mask after the other (aka ‘layering’), or apply cream masks to different areas. Don’t forget those cucumber slices – the coolness helps to relieve puffiness and can give the eye area a real hydration boost. Once you’re done, rinse off your masks and apply your serum, eye care and moisturiser. Jade roller on woman’s face TREAT YOUR HANDS AND FEETWe tend to neglect our hands and feet but for a true at-home spa day, give them some TLC. Soak your feet in a bowl filled with warm water and use a pumice stone to buff away any dead skin. After soaking, remove your feet from the bowl, moisturise them and wrap a towel around them to lock in the moisture.The skin on our hands is delicate, so use specially-formulated products to treat them. Exfoliate using our Purely Age-Defying Hand Treatment, soak your hands in a bowl of warm water, and finish by applying a hydrating hand cream.A spa day can do wonders for our skin (and mind). Try setting one day (or evening) aside a month for a bit of at-home indulgence and make the most of aromatherapy and beautiful botanicals. Shop our range of natural products here.
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HOW TO CREATE A MINDFUL WORK FROM HOME ROUTINE
Work from home, who wouldn’t want to? You get to sleep in longer, work in comfortable clothes and skip wearing makeup. The perks are endless, but it also takes extra discipline, boundary setting and practicing of self-care. Without doing so, it’s very easy to fall into a spiral of chaos and stress. To ensure you create a mindful work from home routine, here are a few of our own tips. Maintain a ritual and set boundaries between work and home Even though you’re still doing the same work you would in your office, your work from home routine will inevitably differ from your office one. You’re not commuting, ordering your usual coffee from the local café or having in-person meetings. Without these elements to help you maintain that work and home balance, it can feel like your days start blending into one.Apply clear boundaries so you’re not blurring the lines of work and play by incorporating bits of your office routine. Without a commute, it’s tempting to roll out of bed at 8:45am and jump straight into you work emails at 9:00am. If you normally wakeup at 7am, continue to do so – use that time to have a slow morning. Make your bed, stretch, have a wholesome breakfast, go for a walk, or read a few chapters of that book you’re reading.Set reminders to help you break up your day. You don’t want to get into the habit of eating lunch at your desk or working late into the evening – this can leave you feeling burnt out. Here’s an example to get you started.7am - 8am: Wakeup, make breakfast and coffee, get changed8am - 9am: Work emails and set your to-do list9am - 12.30pm: Start working on your to-do list. Have a mini rest break at 10am for 15mins to have a cup of herbal tea, mediation break or do something you love12.30 - 1.30pm: Lunch break outside1.30pm - 3pm: Go down your to-do list'3pm - 3.30pm: Get some fresh air, catch up with your family in the living room or zoom call .3.30pm - 5.30pm: Finish of the rest of your to-do list and shut down your computer.Create a to-do listWinging your day or trying to do too many things at once is a sure-fire way to stress yourself out. It’s not productive and it’s not healthy. A pro tip is writing your task list in order of priorities. Create a column for things you need to get done before 12pm and things you need to get after lunch time. Checking them off as you go is a great way to keep yourself motivated. But, don’t be so hard on yourself if you’re unable to complete a task – just add the task to the top of your list for the next day. Set your intentions and practice gratitude Gratitude journaling and intention setting is a simple tool to remind you about all the positive workings in your life. Gratitude journaling is super easy too: just write down or type the things you’re grateful for every morning or night. Drank 2L of water? Log it into your journal. Walked your dog on your lunch break? Log it into your journal. Had the best coffee of your life? Log that in too. There’s so much we can be grateful for, whether big or small - acknowledging it can help you become calm, self-aware and happy.Setting daily intentions and affirmations can also help you have a more successful and positive start to your day. Some positive work affirmations can be, “I am proud of what I’ve done and what I’m doing” or “I am in charge of how I feel and today, I am choosing happiness”. You can say these out loud or write them down on a sticky note and put it somewhere you can see while you work. If you ever feel flustered, return to your mantra and take a deep breath to keep yourself grounded.An open diary/planner on the calendar page and highlighter Practice Self-Care Self-care comes in all shapes and sizes, but the little things count just as much as the big things. Sip on a calming herbal tea while you work, wear soft clothes, play your favourite work playlist. All of our self-care practices differ, so do what you love most. At Jurlique, we keep bottles of facial mists by our desks and have something we like to call ‘misting moments’. Our Sweet Violet & Grapefruit Hydrating Mist is perfect for a misting moment and will instantly uplift your mood, while leaving you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. If you feel like you’ve been typing too much, keep a hand cream handy - take a break and give yourself a mini-hand massage. Our Citrus Hand Cream is quickly absorbed so your keyboard won’t be left greasy and the distinct citrus scent will leave your senses enlivened. Have some downtime When you’re working from home, so much extra time is freed up. Use these as opportunities of downtime. Right after you get off a Zoom call, take the time to meditate. Close your eyes, be still and let your to-do list slip away for a moment while you inhale and exhale. On your lunch break, you could chill on your couch with a meal and catch up on your favourite Netflix show. Or switch your phone to flight mode and find a relaxing physical activity to do, such as yoga or go for walk. Yoga is known for calming the body and mind, and all you need is 15 minutes every day. Whatever you need to do to recharge, do it. Hygge your space Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) is a Danish word, that while has no direct translation to English, it can be compared cosiness and mindfulness. Meik Wiking, the author of The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living says in his book that “The true essence of hygge is the pursuit of everyday happiness and it’s basically like a hug, just without the physical touch”. A few simple ways to embrace hygge living in your workspace is to open your curtains and bring in some natural light. Wear fuzzy slippers. Decorate your workspace with a candle or two, your favourite books, favourite flowers, even your favourite mug can count as decoration. The goal is to feel cosy. Have a good sleep schedule You want to ease yourself into the new day by starting with a good night routine. Before you go to sleep a good habit is to take the time to detox from technology at least an hour before bed. So you don’t wake up feeling groggy, avoid staying up too late, drinking too much wine or caffeinated beverages before you hit the sack. Instead get into bed with a book and calm your senses by adding a couple of drops of our Lavender Pure Essential Oil into a diffuser – before you know it you’ll be asleep.
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SUNDAY LANE’S CAITLYN EVERETT ON HER CREATIVE PROCESS
Author, illustrator and creative Caitlyn Everett is the brains behind Sunday Lane, a small Brisbane-based business that inspires us daily with its modern, whimsical zodiac illustrations and verses.In celebration of our latest Adriana Picker-designed limited-edition products – Rosewater Balancing Mist Intense Deluxe Edition and Jurlique Rose Luxe Edition Hand Cream – we spoke to Caitlyn about her own creative process and how she incorporates the products into her own daily routine.Tell us about your work and what you do?I am the owner of Sunday Lane, a store and studio that centres on modern-day poetry, or affirmation and inspired gifting. We are best known for our zodiac collection, a blend of verses of powerful musings and illustration. I am the dreamer behind the brand, an author, illustrator, creative.How did you get into this position?I was working full time for a beautiful small business, and I mean, I was working myself into the ground. I gave everything I had into my work and I honestly wasn't really looking or searching for more. Sunday Lane was born by chance, a personal project turned business idea and it wasn't until it began taking off that I became discontent. I feel like I got a taste of life as my own boss and I worked really hard at it before I felt like I could back myself and quit my job.Woman’s hand resting on magazine next to tube of Jurlique hand creamDescribe your process when it comes to your work - how do you tackle a new project?Every project I've worked on has been such a learning process for me. In the beginning it was all energy and excitement and I would work 18-hour days to get new designs out but having my son, Morgan has helped me slow down. I am also more aware of my brand, who we are and where we are heading now. Our most recent project, the Zodiac 03 collection, was months of planning and research, of illustrating and writing. We also brought on a local press studio, so we really had to accept and embrace the beauty of handmade. It was such a blessing to work with such a knowledgeable and talented artist on an artform completely out of my comfort zone.What challenges do you face in your work?My biggest challenge has been defining and enforcing a work/life balance. The reality of being a small business is that we are almost always working, in store, at home, at night and on weekends. It is very hard to switch off and part of me doesn't want to. It is my passion and I love to pour myself into my work. Having a young family has made me want to be able to switch off more.When you're experiencing a creative block, how do you get out of it?To get away from my screen and remove myself from the overstimulation of the online world. It is so easy to get caught up in it all. It's a never-ending rabbit hole.In my worst hours, or days of creative block the only thing that has helped is time, and moments away from work. My biggest lesson is that creativity comes in waves and it cannot be forced. If I trust the process, the magic will follow.Tube of Jurlique hand cream on plate next to gold rings What advice would you give to others who are looking to explore their creativity?Trust your gut and be prepared to put in the work.I dropped out of teaching to study interior design at college and in a roundabout way it got me to where I am today. If I hadn't taken the gigantic leap who knows where I would be. Of course, it is easier said than done and I was definitely someone that had a plan b. I think it is a little romantic to say I went into it with blind faith and just crossed my fingers it would work. I had a home and a family I needed to support. I worked really hard to make it my reality.Talk us through how you use your Jurlique products throughout your day?Everyone who knows me knows I am terrible with my skin care routine. Jurlique has been an absolute blessing and I've actually been carrying these products with me every day between our studio and the store. The Rosewater Balancing Mist Intense Deluxe Edition is such a low maintenance solution for someone who is time poor and both of these beauties have really helped bring me back to life after long nights preparing our new collections. They are the perfect addition to my very short morning and night routine.
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A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO MEDITATION
Are you interested in meditation but don’t know where to begin? You may have heard people waxing lyrical about the practice and want to explore it for yourself, or maybe you’re intrigued to know what all the fuss is about. It can be difficult to get your head around when you first start out though – should I be thinking? What is it supposed to feel like? And how do you know if you are, in fact, meditating? The trick is to not overthink it but take it day by day and find what works for you. WHAT IS MEDITATION?Meditation is the practice of training your mind to focus and redirect your thoughts. It won’t stop the mind from thinking entirely but its purpose is to allow thoughts to come and go and teach you to observe thoughts without judgement or bias. It’s an age-old practice used to increase awareness, reduce stress and promote a positive outlook on life.BENEFITS OF MEDITATIONMeditation isn’t just a new-age fad. Countless studies have shown that meditation can help to reduce stress, improve emotional health, enhance self-awareness (understanding yourself better, enabling you to become the best version of yourself), help us to focus for longer and improve sleep. HOW TO MEDITATE1. Have a clear intention. If you don’t know why you’re meditating it will be hard to focus. Do you want to feel happier, calmer, more focused, less stressed? Setting an intention will help create the right attitude before you start.2. Find a comfortable seated position. This helps us to feel grounded and not get distracted by movement or feelings of discomfort. Try sitting cross-legged on the floor or on a chair with feet firmly on the floor, hands in lap.3. Keep your back straight. A lot of us tend to slump when we sit but keeping your spine straight and engaged can help us focus and stay aware. Try rolling your shoulders back before you begin.4. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Closing your eyes will help you to stop from being distracted by other objects in the room and by focusing on your breath coming in and out, our minds have something other than our thoughts to concentrate on.5. Start small. It’s not often that we sit still with nothing distracting us, so meditating can be hard when you first begin. Start with a five or 10-minute meditation and gradually build up to 15, 20 minutes or longer.6. Try a guided meditation. If you’re struggling to meditate on your own, try a meditation app like Headspace or Calm that will guide you through the process.Another way to help with meditation is to create a calming environment. Try diffusing our Tranquil Blend Essential Oil before you begin, to calm the mind and body and shop our full range of aromatherapy here.
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