Self-Care and Rituals
I think it’s safe to agree that 2020 has been a tough year for many of us. A global pandemic has reshuffled our lives completely whether it be social distancing, remote working, cancelled plans, political tensions, financial instability, I could go on forever! These uneasy living conditions have welcomed well established practices in the wellness and psychology community to finally reach the mainstream, one of these being self-care and the act of rituals.
Self-care is defined as “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one's own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress”. Self-care is a flexible and personalisable activity that can be incorporated in your daily life as frequently as preferred. Whether it be taking a long bath or skipping the early morning alarm for a sleep in; the options are entirely up to the individual. While self-care can sometimes be perceived as an indulgence, it has become widely known in the psychology community that the practice has the added benefits of improved mood and reduced anxiety. Emphasising the importance of paying attention to our needs allows the cultivation of a good relationship with oneself which in turn culminates into good relationships with others.
Psychologists have also recognised that a continued daily routine is a lifestyle necessity in the new normal of 2020. Routines allow us to gain control over our daily activities in an otherwise less than stable period of our lives. In the self-care and wellness sphere these daily routines have been aptly named ‘rituals’ and in the modern context of today; rituals incorporate our personal sacred activities that we use to ground us and promote our own wellness. This can include the habitual act of brewing a cup of tea before you start the day, lighting incense while you’re in a virtual meeting or reading your favourite book as the day comes to an end.
We have recognised the importance of self-care rituals in the sanctity of our homes and have provided an array of wares handcrafted by Australian artisans with the idea of wellness in mind.
Today, we introduce two of our favourite brands; Addition Studios and Subtle bodies
Addition Studio is run by Ryan Hanrahan in Byron Bay, Australia, offering oil burners and all-natural essential oils. His design focuses on minimalistic shapes, natural materials and designed to last a lifetime. Melbourne based Subtle Bodies by Tommy Ashby and Courtney Gibbs provides incense holders and pure wood incense made from hand sourced sustainable forests from around the world. With these in tow let 2020 be the hard lesson we need to teach the importance of being mindful and kinder to ourselves.
