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Wellness & Mindset

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It can be difficult taking care of yourself during stressful times, but there are practical ways to do so. What should you do in order to properly take care of yourself? This article will share some practical tips on taking care of yourself and show you how taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health!

Consider Going On Therapy

Lots of stressful situations cause mental breakdowns or PTSD as a result and these are the times you should think about in therapy. For example, there are a lot of truck crashes in the state of New Mexico that cause people to have permanent brain damage due to the stress experienced during this period. That’s why every truck accident lawyer in Albuquerque would suggest going to therapy and getting diagnosed to see how to get back on track. It’s not only good for that but also to get compensated for even living through something horrifying like that, which should reduce stress on its own.

Therapy will help you cope with your feelings and see a brighter future. It’s important to not be ashamed of going through this because it is more common than you think!

Occupy Your Mind

Find activities that will get your mind away from the stressor taking place. These activities could include:

  • taking a walk
  • listening to music
  • reading (a book, news articles)
  • watching movies
  • playing sports
  • hanging out with friends
  • playing video games
  • Do your favorite hobby
  • solve some puzzles

Doing something that requires the mind will help get your thoughts off of what is causing you stress. Whichever activity you choose, try diving into it without taking a break. The mind can only focus on one thing at a time, so if you try to focus on multiple things, it will not work like how you want it to and could make your stress even worse.

Stay Connected With Friends

You will need emotional support from friends to take care of yourself during stressful times. Friendships are often what keep people going throughout the day, and it is important that you stay connected with them in order to properly take care during stressful times. It can be difficult taking time out to spend with our loved ones when we have so much other work on our plate, but you will find it helpful if there is at least one person you know who offers emotional support whenever needed.

Set aside a specific time every week just for spending quality moments together as a group or as an individual friend(s). This could be after work or on the weekends. Make sure that there is always someone you can talk to about how you are feeling especially when times get tough for whatever reason.

Practice Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness will help you control your emotions during stressful times. It will help you to take care of yourself by taking deep breaths, taking time for yourself, and taking care of your physical well-being. Mindful meditation is the perfect way to practice mindfulness as it allows you to focus on things that are important in life rather than rush through our days without paying attention.

Taking some long, slow breathes can help calm us down when we’re feeling stressed out or anxious about something because it forces your body (and brain!) to relax. Meditation is all about taking care of yourself, so taking some time to practice mindfulness during stressful times is the perfect way to do just that.

Take Care Of Your Physical Health

Exercise, eat healthy food and get enough sleep to take care of your physical health. This will reduce stress levels and help you to enhance productivity. Staying in good physical condition will help you to better cope with stress. Eat foods that are low in sugar and carbohydrates. You will feel better about yourself if you eat healthy foods, which can be an effective way to reduce stress.

It doesn’t matter which exercises you do, but it’s essential to do them right. You should take an hour of every day for them. Sleep is another thing you cannot leave out. Seven or eight hours a night should do it.

Create A Relaxing Space At Home

Your home should be your sanctuary so make sure it’s relaxing for you. Create a space in your home where you can relax and unwind after a long day. You could create a personal bedroom or even just an area of the house that’s yours to make it as cozy as possible. Think about what will help you feel relaxed, lighting, essential oils, taking time for yourself each day, etc. You may be thinking that taking care of yourself sounds selfish but ultimately if you’re getting enough sleep at night then it’ll improve how you function during the day which impacts everyone around you positively too!

Staying healthy during stressful periods is a hard, but important job. Therapy can help you a lot, and you should occupy your mind by doing things that you love. Stay in touch with friends and family for emotional support and practice mindfulness every day. Take care of your physical health as it’s all connected and make sure your home is as relaxing as it can be. Get well soon!

Mental health issues can be difficult to live with, especially if they are caused by bereavement. Most of us will experience some kind of loss in our lives. If we don’t manage this loss properly, then mental health issues are an inevitability. Some issues typically experienced after the loss of a loved one include depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

If you are struggling with your mental health because you have lost a loved one, then you have found the right article. Here’s how you can overcome your difficulty coping and make it through to the other side:

Arrange Their Funeral Diligently

Don’t let your mental health issues get in the way of arranging your loved one’s funeral. It’s natural to as if you can’t do anything, but it’s imperative that you do. Your family will be relying on you to arrange your loved one’s funeral and burial services. Your involvement in the funeral does not have to be a lot, because the funeral director will handle most of it for you. According to the funeral care specialists from www.funeralcare.com.au, your family will be your funeral director’s number one concern. This means that they will go above and beyond to manage the difficult aspects of your loved one’s funeral.

They Love You

Something that you need to bear in mind when you’re mourning your loved one is that they also loved you. This means that they would not want to see you sad, miserable, and unable to concentrate on anything other than them. For their sake, get on with your life and do your best to move forwards. Although it might be difficult, you really must try. Each time that you feel like breaking down and crumbling, remember that they love you and as long as their memory lives in you, then they are present.

Visit a Counselor

Many experts recommend visiting a counselor or therapist in the weeks following the death of a loved one. They will help you to process your grief and trauma and help you to move forward with things. If you sit around all day doing nothing and don’t speak to anybody, then you will get worse. You may also want to visit your doctor and voice how you are feeling to them. If you are suffering from very bad mental health problems, your doctor may recommend a course of medication.

Keep On Going

You need to make sure that you keep on going with your life. If you are very depressed or anxious, it’s easy to forget your obligations and your general routine. You need to keep going, otherwise, things will get worse. You also need to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise. If you forget about your diet and exercise, you will get worse and may also develop additional health problems. You must keep on going with your life. Continue going to work, try to see your friends, and try to remain as positive as possible.

The death of a loved one can be very hard to deal with, especially if you were very close with them. If you follow this article’s advice then you should be able to overcome your problems and make it through to brighter days. Good luck.

Unfortunately, stress has become an inseparable part of our daily lives and especially our working environments. For this reason, it is essential to learn how to deal with it effectively to avoid chronic stress that, in turn, can put you at an increased risk of many health problems, from anxiety and weight gain to muscle tension and sleep difficulties. And the only way to ensure that is to get enough proper rest.

But what does “proper rest” exactly mean? The definition of proper rest implies allocating enough time to unwind and distract yourself from work-related worries and other possible concerns. It may sound simple, but in practice, if you continue coming back to stressful situations, your rest is equal to zero.

In this article, we will share several of the most effective ways to get proper rest and restore your energy, ensuring that chronic stress won’t be an issue for you. Let’s check them out!

Playing Video Games

A very effective way to get proper rest and relax your mind is to distract yourself from daily concerns and unwind by playing video games. This is an activity that is very enjoyable and you can do it by yourself or with others. Plus, it can be a great way to exercise your brain as well as to learn new things.

There are various types of video games available, depending on what you like and what you’re interested in. For example, if you like adventure games, you can play Tomb Raider or Uncharted. If your thing is shooting and racing, try Call of Duty: Black Ops, Grand Theft Auto V, or Forza Horizon 5. If you are looking for the best video games on sale, you can click here to see the best Kinguin coupons and choose something to your liking.

Fitness Training

Working out is another way to get proper rest and restore energy. Just make sure you choose the right type of exercise for your goals. For example, if you are trying to lose weight, it is best to do aerobic exercises, such as jogging, running, swimming or cycling. If you are trying to build muscle or improve your overall fitness, then weightlifting is the answer.

You should also make sure that you are doing the right exercises for your current level of fitness. For example, if you are overweight or have never exercised before, start by walking daily. Then, when you are more fit, you can progress to jogging or running. Once you make any progress, your motivation will soar to new heights and you will enjoy your workouts more and more.

Meditation

Meditation is an effective way to keep stress away and restore your energy levels. However, many people believe that meditation means sitting still for hours in a cross-legged position with your eyes closed until you are able to switch off all thoughts and stay calm. The truth is that meditation has several forms, so the one that works best for you may not be the same as it works for someone else.

The main benefit of meditation is that it helps you to focus on your breathing and on your body sensations in order to focus on the present moment. This, in turn, helps you achieve a relaxed state of mind where all negative thoughts vanish and positive feelings emerge. Furthermore, meditation helps you to regulate your emotions and prevent feeling overwhelmed by them. As a result, bad moods will be gone and your energy levels will increase significantly.

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Walking

Walking is another excellent way to get proper rest and restore energy levels. It doesn’t matter if it is 30 minutes every day or more than three hours once a week; walking can provide numerous health benefits that can positively affect your physical and mental health.

For example, walking helps reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels enabling better circulation of blood throughout the body. Also, walking improves the functioning of your heart and lungs, which leads to better oxygenation of cells and tissues. Walking helps calm down your nervous system as well as reduces anxiety and depression symptoms. Plus, walking burns calories and keeps your weight under control.

Yoga

Yoga is another powerful tool for achieving proper rest and restoring energy levels. Yoga works wonders for both mind and body cleansing. It has been practiced for thousands of years by many people around the world who were seeking pleasure, health, and spiritual awakening. Nowadays, yoga has become popular due to its numerous health benefits and it has many followers in the Western world as well.

One of the reasons why yoga is so effective in unwinding is because it enables releasing tensions in the joints and muscles while stimulating inner organs and improving their functioning. It has been proven that regular yoga practice leads to better sleep patterns. Most importantly, yoga helps restore balance in your life and reduces stress levels much faster than regular relaxation techniques such as reading a book or listening to music.

In Conclusion

It is important to remember that stress can be dangerous and lead to various health problems. In order to avoid that, it is essential to learn to manage your stress levels and take proper care of yourself.

The five ways mentioned above can help you unwind, relax and restore your energy levels. They are very effective and easy to practice – you don’t need any special skills or equipment. Just make sure you include them in your daily routine and soon you will notice a significant change for the better.

Living a better lifestyle is a choice you make daily. As a result, there are concrete actions you can take to make this process as enjoyable as it can be. Let us look at five of them in greater detail.

First Things First

Without a shadow of a doubt, the most important thing to having a good lifestyle is taking care of your health. If you cannot move, you won’t be able to see the world and everything it has to offer. If you are highly overweight or suffer from diseases like hypertension and diabetes, you won’t be fit to taste the food you wish to taste. In essence, you will be missing out on a long list of wonderful things.

As such, you must take care of your body. If you suffer from chronic pain in your lower back or still have nagging injuries from the past, don’t ignore that. Don’t wait until they get worse. Instead, look into physiotherapy,scoliosis private treatment, or any other regimen to fix what needs to be fixed. The sooner you do it, the sooner you can start living your life the way you are supposed to and be happy.

Not Your Mother’s Cooking

One of the many interesting things about Japanese culture is that its people are very particular about the foods they eat. Among other things, this is because the vast majority of them are health-conscious individuals who would rather not eat dishes cooked with a lot of oil or fatty meats. When they travel abroad, they often take their own food with them. And if they don’t, they look for a Japanese restaurant as soon as they arrive at their destination of choice.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with this. As human beings, we are free to choose what we put inside our bodies and these choices should be respected. Still, traveling is not something most of us can do every day. As a result, wouldn’t it be better totry something new, even once or twice? You never know how much you may like it if you don’t at least give it a shot.

The Value of Communication

For English speakers, Turkish, Arabic, Russian, and Mandarin Chinese are four of the most difficult foreign languages to learn. Unless you are planning on living in a country where one of these tongues is spoken, you are married to one of their nationals, or your work demands it, there is no real need to spend hours upon hours learning it thoroughly.

But you can learn a few words and phrases such as hello, goodbye, where is the toilet, and how much is it? You can also buy a pocket dictionary or download one of the manyapps at your disposal. Once you are abroad, the little you know will not only help you get by but also break the ice with the locals and make your trip all that more enjoyable.

Anything but Typical

When it comes to going on vacation, few people dislike traveling to a beautiful beach in an exotic destination. Whether it is Boracay in the Philippines, Horseshoe Bay in Bermuda, Bora Bora in French Polynesia, orsomewhere else, a beach is the ultimate location for deep relaxation and rest.

Nevertheless, if you have made it a habit to do it, perhaps you could try something completely different this year. You could head for the mountains or run around a modern metropolis like Tokyo, Singapore, or Shanghai. Likewise, if you love hiking or shopping, you can take this opportunity to go to the beach. As the common saying goes, variety is the spice of life, and if you do something over and over again, at some point it will lose its magic, and you are bound to get bored.

Living in the Moment

For one reason or another, human beings are the only species with the ability to think about both the past and the future. Whether this is a good or bad thing depends on whom you ask. And while it is impossible not to do it, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to learn how tolive in the present. After all, that is the only thing you can control.

If today is Sunday and you are having a blast watching a football game with your friends, make the effort not to think about tomorrow. No matter what you do, Monday will come. Rather, be aware of the present moment and be grateful that you are having fun.

By doing this, your outlook in life will slowly begin to change, and you will become a much more positive and happier person.

There you have it, five of the best tips for a better lifestyle. So keep them in mind, and give yourself the chance of having the life you want and truly deserve.

Sometimes life goes by and you find that you’ve lost the joy somewhere along the way. We’re often so preoccupied with worrying about small problems and different things that we think are very important, that we miss out on good things around us.

However, happiness lies in the simple everyday things, as long as you’re aware and truly present when you experience them.

We secretly know this deep down, but despite that, we have a hard time focusing on things that actually make us happy. We just keep rushing through life and lose sight of our joy. At first glance, these things may seem pointless but if you stop and think, they’re actually quite valuable.

If we try to do more things that make us happy every day, it will lead to us living a better quality of life. In this article, we try to help you spark joy in life by suggesting little things you can do yourself to feel a little happier, every day.

Practice Gratitude and Spirituality

Nathan Dumlao from Unsplash

We often need to remind ourselves to appreciate what we already have. When the pace of life is fast, when we end up comparing ourselves to others, it is easy, in the pursuit of more, to forget what we already have in life and feel grateful for it.

The beliefs you have can be the driving force of your life during hard times and help remind you of what you stand for as a person and what you’re capable of achieving. For this reason, making them the focus can lift your spirits on a difficult day and make you feel happier and more satisfied.

To channel positive energy and spirituality, you can also take inspiration from a saint of the day and choose a favorite quote of theirs as a mantra to get you through it. In addition, practicing mindfulness and strengthening the connection with body and mind can make a world of difference for your overall well-being.

Use Fashion to Boost Mood and Self-Confidence

analuisa.com

Clothes are requisite in today’s world and fashion is not the only way to enhance your appearance, but also to boost your mood. Clothes and accessories improve the way you look and help leave a lasting impression. They also increase your self-confidence.

When you look better, you feel better, so choosing clothes and assessors from anothen.com will make you feel attractive, comfortable and definitely improve your self-confidence. Dress up and let your personality shine through with the accessories you choose.

A piece of jewelry, like your favorite watch or a unique moonstone necklace that will add a feminine yet chic touch to your outfit, will always be suitable, no matter what the occasion is. It will leave you feeling fresh, stylish, and ready to take on the day with a smile on your face.

Blast Your Favorite Tunes

It’s scientifically proven that music has a positive impact on human beings. The good thing about music is that you can listen to it basically wherever you’re and instantly get in a better mood.

If you feel stressed in the mornings or just want to shut out the noise, try putting on your headphones and enjoy listening to a good song. Perhaps you can listen to something you usually don’t listen to? Classical music, for example, is said to make you more calm and harmonious, something that’s beneficial for your overall health.

Dare to Try Something New

Trying something you haven’t done before can be both fun and exciting. When we try new things, childhood curiosity is brought to life and we challenge our senses. Learning something new often creates a feeling of pleasure and can make us feel happier.

So if there is something you always wanted to learn but did not really dare to, take a chance, It can be something as simple as preparing a new dish, taking a language course online, or maybe learning how to paint. When looking for things that spark joy in life, only your imagination sets the limit.

Move Your Body

You’ve heard it before, but we’ll say it again. Exercise is great if you want to replenish much-needed endorphins. Exercise doesn’t have to be that complicated. If you’re not used to it – start slow and easy. Take a short walk around the block or hop off the bus a stop early and walk the last bit home.

Most mobile phones have a built-in pedometer, so it’s easy to just check how many steps you’ve made at the end of the day. But since the focus here is on having fun, the most important thing is that you find a form of exercise that you think is fun and sparks joy.

Become One with Nature

Stan Swinnen from Pexels

There’s a reason why hiking, swimming, and other activities in nature have become so trendy lately. As humans, we need nature. It helps us become centered, and at peace.

By disconnecting technology and instead connecting to nature, we improve our health and find balance in life – one step at a time.

Final Words

You’re the one who knows best what moments spark wonderful feelings of joy in your everyday life. However, sometimes you may need to push yourself to attain them.

Try practicing gratitude and spirituality, wear your favorite fashion pieces and accessories, and trigger a positive feeling in the body by doing some exercise. Think about what really makes you happy, it can be small or big things, and simply do more of them for a joyful life.

You need to set the scene because this is going to be the most relaxing evening ever, resulting in a blissful sleep.

Look in your bathroom cabinet or on your Insta-worthy shelves, as you can probably find some of these products, or something similar. Fear not though, if rummaging around your bathroom doesn’t help, you can always order these beautifully curated products online.

Run a Bath

We suggest adding some a bath soak or bath salts from Dove at Boots. The Lavender & Chamomile Relaxing Care Foaming Bath Soak (£5.99) is specially made to relieve tired and aching muscles and leave skin soft and smooth. The Coconut & Cacao Restoring Care Bath Salts (£6.99) help to soothe tired and aching muscles, leaving the kin soft, smooth and delicately fragranced from the indulgent scents. Also formulated to relax your mind and body as you soak.

Light a Candle

We recommend the luxurious ESPA Hand-poured Soothing Candle (£37) to cast calm over your space. It offers a deeply relaxing blend of soothing aromas that will slow your busy mind and body for a greater sense of peace.

Prepare your Bedroom

Get your room ready with an Alexandra Kay Time to Inhale Diffuser and the Alexandra Kay Time to Sleep Essential Oil. Simply add the oil to the diffuser and spritz your room with the calming evening soothing scent, ready for when you go to bed.

Focus on Skincare

Before stepping into your bath take some time with your skincare routine and try the new AVEENO® CALM + RESTORE™ Face Care Collection from Boots. Containing four hero products including a nourishing Cleanser (£7.99), soothing Toning Lotion (£7.99), Triple Oat Serum (£9.99) and Oat Gel Moisturiser (£10.99). The range is formulated with prebiotic oat, known for helping soothe and repair your skin, while restoring the skin’s moisture barrier.

Put the Kettle on

Pour yourself a cup of Lab Tonica Hand Blended Botanicals Unplugged Tea. Then relax in the bath knowing that you are enjoying chamomile, passion flower and rose which will help towards a gentle night’s sleep. The Lab Tonica Unplugged Gift Set (£22) comes with Sleep Balm and also Pillow Mist, perfect for bed after your bath.

Nourish your Hair

The deliciously scented Sakrid Haircare Duo (£36) will work wonders on your hair before bed. The Clean + Calm Organic Shampoo and the Smooth + Silky Conditioner are both packed with complexes to nourish, shine, and strengthen your hair. As an added bonus the Sakrid conditioner can also be used as a leave-in conditioner and even a bath soak or hand cream!

Bedtime

Lastly you need to rest your eyes while sleeping, so we suggest wearing a Sensory Retreats Dreamy Eyes Self-Heating Eye Mask in Jasmine (£3.95 each, £15 box of 5). Enriched with jasmine to help relieve and soothe tired eyes, still a busy mind and banish tension. The mask harnesses advanced and patented Ecosteam technology combined with luxurious aromatherapy scents. You will drift off into a soothing slumber whilst wearing one of these.

Mental health is at the forefront of everyones mind at the moment. Questions that are circling around include; ‘are we taking enough time for self care?’ and ‘are we spending quality time with people that can pick us up when we’re feeling down?’

These questions can be hard to answer when you’re a parent. Whether you’re a young parent full of adventure and travel plans, or a parent that is just plodding along, you still need to take care of your own mental health.

The Cellar Trust, a mental health charity based in Bradford, supported by Brathay Trust, a UK-wide young people’s and family charity run the online platform PARENTS Online. Launches 5-nights per week from Monday 4th October.

PARENTS Online is a platform where parents and carers can reach out via a text-based confidential chat online to receive emotional support from a trained support worker. The support worker will listen to any problems, issues or anxieties about whatever the parent or carer may be facing.

2021 has brought many new challenges for parents and carers, not just from the pandemic and homeschooling, but also with job losses, illnesses, loss of earnings, and mental health worries. PARENTS Online is available Monday – Friday between 6pm – 9pm because sometimes all a parent or carer needs is to be listened too.

The team from PARENTS Online will provide a confidential listening service, which can be used anonymously. Everyone on the chat will receive support from a fully trained worker, by using personal experience of parenting. It will be a safe space to talk openly without judgement, about anything.

Initially this platform was for 2-days per week, but it is now 5-days per week after funding was granted from the Morrisons Foundation.

The Cellar Trust supported by Brathay Trust, together with Andy’s Man Club are also including a special Dad’s themed evening on Thursdays. A safe and secure place where visitors to Andy’s Man Club can utilise PARENTS Online to discuss their worries of being a parent or carer.

PARENTS Online are aiming to help 455 families across the UK within the first year.

David Grant-Roberts, Lead Peer Support at The Cellar Trust, says; “During Covid, the Covid Scientific Advisory Group in Bradford highlighted the high proportion of parents who were struggling with their mental health due to the challenges of parenting. Pre-Covid, the Bradford Children and Young People’s Mental Health review highlighted that support for parents was a real gap in provision leading to the bigger picture of poor child mental health. Sadly this is only worsening as a result of the pandemic.

PARENTS Online can be used anonymously, accessed from anywhere and provides the option of accessing text-based support to allow busy parents/carers to seek support discreetly whilst juggling the demands of a busy household. We provide a much-needed outlet for parents/carers and provide the option of speaking to someone who truly understands. As a consequence we can significantly help with the mental health of parents using this service and in turn positively impact the mental health of their children”.

For more info visit PARENTS Online

“Everybody loves to make a wish,” that is the simple yet totally inspiring concept behind Flying Wish Paper, the brainchild of Artist/Mum/Entrepreneur Julia Lambie.

Julia launched her company – from focus group to finished product — in less than one year. Impressive, but not surprising given her unique concept, incredible business sense and can-do attitude about life, work and everything in between.

“Flying Wish Paper is a wishing activity kit to celebrate and inspire,” Julia says as she explores why her product has resonated so strongly with customers from all over the world. “The process of manifesting a wish is always a fulfilling and inspirational experience.”

Here at House of Coco, manifesting your own personal success is something we truly believe in as a brand. And so, in this interview, we sit down with Julia to discuss the mottos that inform her life, the biggest challenges and pleasures of being your own boss, and her personal journey to make her own wishes come true with Flying Wish Paper.

Tell us about the journey that led you to launching your brand Flying Wish Paper…

My journey began from jealousy. For 25 years, I worked in advertising helping other companies bring their products to life. I discovered that I wanted to do the same for myself.

In 2007 I organised a focus group to review three product ideas: a kitchen gadget, a guitar accessory, and a wishing kit. And the winner was…flying wishes!

With my background in project management and print production, I was able to develop this new concept in only six months. Flying Wish Paper debuted at The National Stationery Show in NYC with just a few designs and a handful of prototypes. It got attention and was on store shelves in less than one year.

I had two bits of early, unbelievable luck. First was being featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Second was a CNN marketing and business show. The national coverage gave Flying Wish Paper exposure, bragging rights and credibility with buyers.

And so began the sweet story of my husband, two daughters and me in our living room, turning on a good movie and assembling wishing kits for shipment. After the first year, I was happy to hire a warehouse.

Describe your product line and how long you’ve been in business.

Flying Wish Paper is a wishing activity kit full of inspiration and power. Write your wish on the special paper, light it and watch as your wish flies to the heavens. “Write it. Light it. Watch it fly!” Kits are available in two sizes and 50 designs.

At the beginning 13 years ago, the concept was new to the marketplace. That was a big hurdle to overcome, but the activity is now a common and popular concept. Wish Paper is a feel-good product, and we all need that positive energy now more than ever.

This activity is inspired by an old tradition which was started by a company in Italy, Lazzaroni (lazzaroni.it). They sell an Amaretti cookie that is wrapped in a special paper. One eats the cookie, then shapes the wrapper into a tube, lights it on fire and makes a wish as it flies up into the air. I developed my own paper and packaged it with a few accessories to make a kit (alas, no cookie).

It’s a fun, whimsical brand. Who’s your ideal customer?

Everybody loves to make a wish! Sometimes it’s just for fun, like the bride making witty (or dirty) wishes at her bachelorette party. Birthdays are big and holidays are huge. Others like making wishes on Christmas morning, or at the table with family and friends. Sometimes it’s a sombre experience, like remembering a loved one. Often, it’s just a private, personal message sent into the universe.

What’s the process before adding a new kit to your collection?

Because my product is ‘paper’ and 100% made in the USA, I can react quickly to trends. I look through so many magazines, walk through a lot of gift stores and talk to buyers, travel, and scroll through Instagram to see what styles or themes are popular. My client base is diverse, so my product line includes a large variety of unique designs to choose from.

How do you want people to feel after using your kits?
Empowered, inspired, entertained, energised, hopeful, lucky, and connected to the universe.

If you were to describe your style in three words, what would they be?

Playful, positive, and pretty.

What advice would you offer to anyone wanting to become an artist?

Do it but have a business plan to back it up. Being a poor artist doesn’t have the same ‘je ne sais quoi’ as during the renaissance period. Find a community or a mentor because all artists need this kind of business and personal support.

How would you describe your personal style?

Aesthetically, I operate in the ‘classic’ zone. My home and office are mid-century modern. I can look at a well-organised shelf all day long and be perfectly happy. I can’t get enough tone-on-tone, black and white, simple lines, or shades of blue. Add a ruffle (button-up blouse, toss pillow or potato chip – any ruffle will do) and I am good to go.

Talk us through an average day in your life…

I work from home, so focus is my superpower, but frenzy is right on its heels.

As the owner and only employee, my hands are on EVERYTHING. I have pages and pages of things to do. I’m a morning person so I jump right in. My day starts with a call to my warehouse to review assembly and orders for the day, then I whip out my list and do my job.

Working alone, it’s easy to lose track of the hours I sit on this chair. (My record is five straight hours by the way.) I’m careful to create distractions: eating lunch with my husband, working out, or FaceTime with a friend.

I easily work a full forty every week but it’s a mix of 12 hours one day, 2 hours the next. My approach is to power through and then enjoy large chunks of time off. Oh, and very important – I never work weekends.

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

I consider social media ‘an important hobby’ compared to my old-school style of picking up the phone and just talking to someone. Flying Wish Paper is such a personal product, and it’s important to maintain personal relationships. The type of person who buys my product relishes this kind of interaction…and social media doesn’t provide that.

Individual customers create a lot of content around ‘making wishes’ and I repost many images and videos. There’s undeniable value in social media and I love to create content. It’s fun, but it’s secondary. Foremost to the success of a brand is a great product, a unique message and strong customer service to support it.

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?

My husband and I are going back to Italy as soon as we can. We’re not getting any younger, and those cobblestones get harder to navigate with every passing day.

There are many things I want to do again: walk through The Hall of Prisoners at the Uffizi, drink a limoncello martini in Sorrento, buy a new pair of red leather loafers in Rome. And so many things to do for the first time – eat pizza in Naples, learn how to fry zucchini blossoms in Siena.

Remember, the original inspiration for Flying Wish Paper comes from Italy – so I feel very connected to this place.

After that, my first trip to Japan – which has a strong culture attached to paper fortunes, known as Omikuji.

What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?

I have two, and they will get you through anything.

“Don’t Dream It, Be It.” This goes way back to my teen years in the late ‘70s, a favourite lyric from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Like most teens I was insecure and unworldly back then. These words continue to push me outside my comfort zone.

My other motto is “It Never Hurts to Ask” – Many times along the way, you’re going to need help. If you are brave enough to put your needs or desires in front of someone (or out into the universe, for that matter) often the answer will be…YES.

What’s next for you and the brand?

I’m keeping it simple. I own this category, so I just want to embrace design trends and push market growth.

I’m going to seek out brands to partner with for custom designed kits. I’ve created wishing kits for Urban Outfitters, Anthropology, Sonia Rykiel Design House, Make A Wish UK, and Paper Source. I’m coming for you, Desigual! (Remember, it never hurts to ask.)

What does self-care mean to you?

I believe self-care begins with mental health, and whatever you need to do to keep your head straight. The rest is cake. No literally, cake! Everything in moderation works well for me.

Where can people find out more?

@flyingwishpaper

To find out more visitflyingwishpaper.com or follow @flyingwishpaper on Instagram

Even though getting a good night of sleep is hugely important for your health, you would be surprised by how many people struggle with drifting off at night. This is why supplements that ease anxiety and therefore help your sleeping routine, such as Nature’s Happiness, are so popular. There are several issues that can affect your ability to sleep well, but here are our top tips for getting better sleep.

  1. Stick To a Regular Sleep Schedule

If it works for babies, it can work for adults too, right? To improve your sleep, try to go to bed at a similar time each night as well as waking up at the same time every morning. This can help to “train” your brain and body to know when to fall asleep and wake up with more ease.

  1. Reserve Your Bed for Sleeping

Okay, there may be one or two other things you can reserve for your bed… but seriously, try to limit it to just sleeping and sex. Duvet days and movies in bed are fun on occasion, but if you spend all of your free time in your bed, you won’t naturally associate it with sleeping.

  1. Create a Restful Environment For Sleeping

Improving your surroundings is another great way to get better sleep. You can start by removing any distractions such as a television or other electronic devices. Store your phone further away than just your RJ’s bedside tables from Melbourne as this can be too easily picked up and played on!

Although think about how your environment is generally. The best thing for sleep promotion is somewhere relatively quiet, dark, and cool, with a comfy bed for you to sprawl on.

Here are some of the best curtains for sound dampening and reducing noise from outside. You could also consider blackout blinds to block the suns from disturbing you in the morning.

  1. Cut Out Caffeine

Depending on your caffeine tolerance, even a cup of joe in the morning can affect your ability to sleep later on at night. Having your sbeventh cup of coffee for the day half an hour before your supposed bedtime will definitely have a negative impact on your ability to sleep.

So, if you are struggling to fall asleep in the evenings, the first thing you should try is cutting out (or at least cut down on) your caffeine consumption as this can prevent what is technically a stimulant from stopping you winding down when it is time to get some sleep.

  1. Quit Smoking

Similarly, tobacco has been proven to cause further issues with sleep due to the nicotine it contains. Using tobacco in any way can be enough to mess with your sleep schedule, so if you are trying to find things that help you get a better sleep, try to quit your smoking habit.

  1. Exercise or Be Active During the Day

Logically, it makes sense to think that if you are more active during the day you will expend more energy, and this will result in you feeling much sleepier and more fatigued by nightfall.

The best type of exercise you can do is aerobic activity such as walking, running, swimming, or hiking, as this is what will help wear you out so that you can fall asleep faster than normal.

  1. Limit Daytime Naps

On the other side of the coin, you should also try to avoid napping too much during the day as this will mean you are wide awake at bedtime. The temptation of a sneaky 2 o’clock nap should be resisted if you want to get any rest during your normal sleeping hours.

  1. Try Not To Drink Too Much

Alcohol is a depressant that affects the nervous system, which leads many people to believe that a little tipple at nighttime will work wonders for helping them fall asleep. It might help you drift off, but it won’t help you get a better night overall as it could cause you to wake up periodically. If you suffer from snoring or other sleep problems, alcohol can worsen them.

  1. If Nothing Works, Don’t Force It

At the end of the day, there is nothing more frustrating than feeling like you have been trying to fall asleep for hours to no avail. If you are still awake after half an hour of trying, get up and do something else to relax you again, such as reading or journaling for 15 minutes.

  1. Avoid Sleeping Pills

Unless you have been prescribed sleeping pills by your doctor, it is actually best to avoid taking any pills as this can cause long-term issues with your sleeping habits.

Nothing boosts your mental health like a relaxing at-home scent. In fact, our ideal mid-week pick-me-up is a nice warm bath, scented candles, glass of wine and a good book. Certain scents send signals to our limbic system, which is linked to memory and emotion, helping alter your mood and evoke positive feelings too. We’ve rounded up some of our favourite fragrances so you can take your at-home fragrance game to new, relaxing levels too.

Rituals Cosmetics Classic Home Collection

Rituals Cosmetics has relaunched its Classic Home Collection to promote its ‘Art of Soulful Living’ concept and we are obsessed. The full range comprises mini fragrance sticks, regular fragrance sticks, fragrance stick refills and candles in six of Rituals’ most popular fragrances: Ritual of Jing, Ritual of Hammam, Ritual of Ayurveda, Ritual of Sakura, Ritual of Karma and Ritual of Mehr. Each fragrance boasts a unique set of healing properties – and are all very sustainable too.

Ilaros Candles

Ilaros Candles is a new 100% sustainable soy wax candle brand that should definitely be on your radar. This brand uses a unique blend of eco-Soy wax, essential oils, fragrances and natural cotton wicks. The Dubai-based brand only makes its rarefied candles in small batches. The entire range is cruelty-free, vegan and phthalate free – which means they look and smell as good as their very minimal carbon footprint.

Acqua di Parma Car Diffuser

Acqua di Parma is now offering its beautiful Italian-inspired scents beyond the home with the launch of its Car Diffuser. This beautiful leather object was launched in partnership with Poltrona Frau and combines purity, high-performance materials and unique scented compositions.

The car diffusers can be filled with nine fragrances from the Acqua di Parma range: Luce di Colonia, Buongiorno, La Casa sul Lago, Oh l’Amore, Aperitivo in Terrazza and Profumi dell’Orto from the ‘Italian Moments’ collection and Arancia di Capri, Fico di Amalfi & Mirto di Panarea from the Blu Mediterraneo collection.

They are now available now exclusively in Harrods.