Five things to do for yourself this spring.
While spring is officially here (yay), the dreary days and drizzly evenings of winter feel like they’re hanging around a little longer than expected.
To help add some pockets of warm fuzzies into your everyday, we’ve picked out five activities that feel like a big, cosy hug during the winter-to-spring transition period. Pop these in your toolkit for when you need motivation to get out of bed in the morning, some soothing self-care, or a formula for freeing yourself from your phone.
Take yourself out for a meal.
While a catch-up with friends or family never fails to put some bounce in your step, too often we rely on others to fill our cup.
Spending time alone allows you to truly slow down and ponder about how you are prioritising yourself. The simple act of enjoying your own company can be daunting, but one of the best ways to encourage some quality solo time is to take yourself out for a meal.
Whether that means parking up at your local sushi shop, or settling down in a nice restaurant, a meal for one not only gives you a chance to listen deeply to your inner thoughts, but it also gifts you the opportunity to eat at somewhere of your choosing and order the things that you like - with zero compromise.
There’ll be no need to sacrifice that pizza you’ve been eyeing up on the menu, just because your friend doesn’t like pineapple. To genuinely cherish this time, make sure your phone doesn’t gatecrash the date. However, you’re more than welcome to swipe right to a magazine or book.
Unleash your warrior pose.
Movement is one of the most nourishing things you can do for your body. It not only improves your physical wellbeing but also extracts uplifting endorphins - a key ingredient for a good mood.
One of our favourite ways to move is through a session of yoga. Focussing on our breath while strengthening and stretching out the body both detoxes us for the day ahead and releases any unnecessary tension. Yoga is a low-impact yet effective way to move and can be done anywhere – from your bedroom to the steps of the stunning Hungarian parliament building.
No really, our latest yoga obsession Sensual Circuit streams classes from around the world, allowing you to escape to Europe whilst in pigeon pose on your lounge floor. Kiwi travellers Alex and Milly coordinate the classes from countless countries, with easy-to-follow flows and Pinterest-worthy backdrops.
Treat yourself to their next class here.
Warm up with a special brew.
While winter may have passed, we’re still guilty of constantly blasting the heater and snuggling hot water bottles. When it’s cold, dark and drizzly outside it can be easy to default to mindless scrolling and eating the same thing all weekend. Beat the seasonal slump by taking the time to craft a toasty drink just for you. Expand your horizons beyond the usual packet of hot chocolate powder with this ‘Strawberries and Cream’ drink recipe from young, Kiwi oat milk brand Pixie’s. This cuddle in a cup is best enjoyed on the couch with a good novel.
Recipe for Pixie’s ‘Strawberries and Cream’ drink:
1 can of Pixie’s Strawberry Oat Milk
Whipped cream
Mini marshmallows
Sprinkles of choice
Instructions:
Pour the can of Pixie’s Strawberry Oat Milk into a milk frother or a pot, and heat.
Once the milk is heated, pour into a cup of your choice.
Top with whipped cream, mini marshmallows and sprinkles.
Enjoy!
P.S. You can win some Pixie’s Oat Milk to make your own creations with, by heading to Billie’s Instagram account.
Stretch out your skincare routine.
There aren’t many moments in the day where you stop and focus all your attention on yourself. Let your skincare routine be one of them.
Instead of giving your face a rough cleanse, and slapping on your moisturiser, slow down and take the time to show your skin some TLC.
You don’t need fancy, expensive products or a 7-step routine to treat yourself, simply light a candle and massage each product into your skin. With every scrub, pat, or glide, give yourself a moment to reflect on your week and what you are grateful for. Stretching out your skincare routine not only grants you a moment of mindfulness but also helps you on your way to achieving a glazed-donut glow!
Here are some products we love to pop into our skincare treasure chest:
Swap out Pinterest for some cut and paste collaging.
While social media platforms can be home to inspiring personalities, news and imagery, its content does not always help to contribute to a better you. If you’re anything like us, you’ll find yourself saving endless posts on Instagram or pinning for days on Pinterest, only to never look back at that content again.
To help remind yourself everyday of your goals, what makes you tick, and who you look up to, put down your phone and instead create a physical moodboard.
A moodboard is effectively a big collage made up of images, text, stickers, or anything that can be glued onto a board, that acts as a visual presentation for anything your heart desires.
Before getting started, think of the purpose you would like your moodboard to achieve. Would you like it to help make you smile in the morning? Or would you like it to help incite creativity for a project you’re working on? Once you have your general theme, curate a collection of magazines, brochures, newspapers, print-outs - anything with fun visuals and copy that speaks to you - and let loose.
The final product is best displayed in a place where you hover most mornings, such as your bedroom or even on the back of the toilet door.
