At this particular moment in time, it can feel like it’s a badge of honour to be ‘busy’, it’s a mark of success and of ‘achieving’. Add to that a potentially (very) shaky economy right around the corner with Brexit looming and I know that most freelancers have a tendency to take on all the work and worry about sleeping later, sometime down the road… Ehh, you can sleep when you’re dead, amiright?! As someone who has really struggled with their mental health from time to time, I have to keep a check on this type of behaviour because it doesn’t serve me well in the long run. It helps that I genuinely believe the key to success isn’t in the endless, sometimes mindless, hustle. My goal is always to listen to myself, adapt and work smarter not harder. Part of knowing yourself and how to get the absolute best out of yourself without working all the hours under the sun means saying no to the things that don’t serve you and also taking the time to slow things right down and relax when you need to. Which is where Newby Teas come in, a cup of tea can literally mean a 5-minute pause and reset in an otherwise crazy day. That’s the thing about looking after yourself and taking some time out every now and again, you don’t have to go on a month-long silent retreat in the middle of nowhere to gain a benefit (although sometimes that sounds like a bloody good idea!), it’s simply carving out a few minutes, half an hour, a morning here and there. Take that time to relax before you really need it and you won’t find yourself headed face-first towards that dreaded burnout.

So, here are my top 3 favourite ways to press pause on life and give them old brain cells a bit of a breather!

MY 3 FAVOURITE WAYS TO KICK BACK AND RELAX

Number one has to be a mini at-home spa day. Fill the tub with as many oils and salts and bubbly things as possible, light all the candles, grab a book and a cup of tea… Then soak until you’re not obsessively thinking about work or any other general life issue. Bonus points in that this has actual physical benefits too, especially if you’ve had a hard week of workouts or been on your feet for days. Try it before bed and you’ll have the best nights sleep, ever! (Bonus points for having freshly washed sheets to climb into.)

Number two, which is actually also my favourite for when it’s too hot for number one… Grab a blanket and a book and head outside. There’s something about being outside, laid down on the Earth that is just so incredibly relaxing and grounding. I’m aware that we’re beyond lucky to live where we do and that level of peace and quiet might not be quite so readily available to you if you live in a busy City. If you feel like it might help you though, get up early one Summer morning and head to a park before the hordes of people arrive. It always feels so good for the soul to find those moments of calm in what is usually a crazy busy space.

Number three, last but not least… Start your day with some yoga and meditation. If I’m really feeling resistance to the yoga side of things aka any sort of exercise like movement, which is usually when I’m struggling in other aspects of my life, a morning meditation or super gentle flow feels so doable and the benefits are just incredible. I make a cup of tea, usually something herbal – as opposed to my usual breakfast blend, and I sit on my mat with a guided meditation. Check out Cat Meffan or Yoga with Adriene on YouTube. 10 to 15 minutes is all you need and you’d be so surprised at the difference afterwards.

What are your favourite ways to kick back and relax when you start to feel everything getting a bit much?

This post was written in collaboration with Newby Teas, however all thoughts and opinions very much my own, as always!