What I Love About Sundays

@plushdesignstudio

It's been awhile since I've actually looked forward to my weekends. Don't get me wrong, I bloody love my job & I'm incredibly grateful but weekends at all about me. Selfish, maybe but I get to choose what I do & when I do it. Here's why I now get excited about my weekends. 

Sleep

While I love being productive during my weekends, nothing beats a good ole sleep in. There's something about being able to wake up in your own time that makes you feel so much better. 

Makeup Free & In-Depth Skincare

Majority of my weekends are spent makeup free & more focused on my in-depth skincare routine. I'm due to do an updated in-depth skincare routine but here is the most recent one if you're interested. 

Future Planning & Organisation 

Planning & organising the up in coming week is one way I like to spend time in the weekend. This way I can get up on Monday mornings knowing what my week will involve & what I need to get done. 

Hot Bathes & Self Care Routine 

This one kind of goes along with my in-depth skincare routine but taking care of myself is important especially when I have a moment of spare time. I'll normally take a hot bath, pop on a face mask & just chill out. I'll also light some candles, read a book & just do things that make me my happiest. 

Fresh Flowers & Coffee Dates 

Having fresh flowers is one of my favourite ways to brighten up my home. Buying yourself flowers is just a really lovely thing to do for yourself. I'll also take time throughout my weekends to see my gorgeous friends & family. I don't have a lot of time throughout the week to do this so I make sure it's one of my priorities for over the weekends. 

B x 

4 Ways To Be More Mindful

@ohtilly

When I first began practicing mindfulness, it seemed like a chore. Staying mindful, paying attention to every moment, constantly being present, learning not to judge my own thoughts..it seemed like a lot. There are already so many thoughts, scenarios, plans & outcomes running through my head, how could I focus on & find joy in the simple things like drinking coffee or washing the dishes. Not possible, or so I thought. 

Mindfulness is a way of engaging in the present moment. It’s a way go being present without judging, without attachment. It can be the difference between moving through life running on autopilot or mindfully living life as it happens. You don’t have to spend your days, weeks, months & years waiting for something to happen. Every little moment is only as special as you make it. 

Being Present

“Be gentle with yourself. Think less & feel more. Be as happy as you can. You only have this moment.” - Dan Millman 

There are many ways in which you get distracted every single day. Too many to count. I’ve learnt that a lot of times we seek escaping the present moment due to what we’re distracted by. We rarely allow ourselves to be truly present because we often wish we could be someplace else, doing something different. As ordinary as your life may seem to you, it is often those little, ordinary moments that makes life special. 

Mindful Breathing

Short, mindful breathing practices are great for when you’re feeling stress, disconnected & anxious. Whenever you start to feel like this you’ll notice your heart start to beat rapidly, your breathing become shallow & your mind starts racing a million miles an hour. Allow your breath to anchor you. Mindful breathing will help you control your emotions & centre the mind. It can help release tension & help you get in tune with your body. You can practice simple, mindful breathing pretty much anywhere. 

Patience

Many times we fund ourselves having to wait we grow impatient. Nothing is a waste of time when you allow yourself to be mindful & present. Having a lot going on & being really busy shouldn’t be an excuse for not being mindful. The busier our lives are, the more you can benefit from being mindful. When you having to wait, work on re-framing your thinking. See it as an opportunity to slow down a little. Once you get into the habit of bringing yourself back into the habit of bringing yourself back into the present moment, you will never think of ‘waiting’ as wasting time.

Compassion & Acceptance

Having bad or negative thoughts is apart of being human. Negative thoughts have their purpose too. You should never try to resist those negative emotions. Instead, be mindful about them & allow yourself to feel. Recognise those negative thoughts as just that, thoughts. Then, allow the thought to pass. Your resistance can sharpen negative emotions, which in the long term is giving them more power. 

B x