Never underestimate the power of taking some time to focus on your mind and body.
I have a rule. To be honest, its the only rule that I follow diligently every day, no matter what. I switch off my TV at 8.30 sharp and don’t look at my emails or social media after the cut off time. This simple habit has helped my mental health tremendously as disconnecting from external media gives me time to focus on some important things like journaling, meditating, listening to a podcast. As a result of this rule, I sleep restfully and wake up feeling calm and positive.
Also, in between my cut off time and before I hit the bed, I consciously practice 3 simple nighttime rituals to align my mind and body. I call it the ‘Neha Time’ simply because these 3 habits are ideal for me and I believe it will help you as well if you choose to follow it.
Here what they are:
Ritual 1: I Rub Lavender Oil All Over My Body
There’s something about the smell of lavender that instantly boosts my mood, makes me feel calm, happy and more importantly, assists me to centre myself. Many studies have proved the effect of Lavender on the nervous system and I can vouch for its advantages such as better mood, less anxiety and a general sense of wellbeing. So overnight I apply lavender oil on my neck, arms and legs ( not face) and soak in the smell for a while. My brain and body love it!
You can buy a bottle of therapeutic lavender oil here.
Ritual 2: I Apply A Hydrating Nice Night Cream On My Face
Earlier I used to apply Argan Oil on my face at night due to a lack of great choices. But I had to switch to a night cream when I recognised that my skin needed deeper hydration ( earlier I would wake up with very dry and stretchy skin). So, during my quest for the perfect, cruelty-free alternative I found the Cica Night Cream by AUUR PRIVEDA.
This anti-ageing and hydrating night cream is fantastic! It comes with its own spoon / spatula for direct application and I apply a thick layer on cleansed skin and let all the power-packed ingredients such as Centella Asiatica, Shea butter, Coconut Water Powder, Aloe vera extract, Tea tree oil, Black seed oil, Vitamin B3 and Vitamin C, work its magic!
I have been using this product for a few weeks now and my skin feels super hydrated, smooth, plump and soft. Even though I have combination skin, I believe this product suits all skin type and the best part? It’s free of parabens and all harmful chemicals and is one of the best product available in the market today. Also Read: I Replaced My Lunch With A Meal Supplement Drink For 15 Days — Here’s What I Realised
You can buy Cica Night Cream by AUUR PRIVEDA here.
Ritual 3: I Practice Guided Meditation for 20 Min
I have been practising vipassana meditation for many years now but since the past few months, I reserve that only for my mornings. At night, I put on my headphone and practice guided meditation via my phone. The reason? I find it easier to declutter my mind at night when someone is guiding me through it. All the chaos and piled up thoughts from the day just melt away when I hear the soothing voice of one of the many online teachers. Since there are so many great guided meditation videos on Youtube, I usually pick the ones dealing with stress, anxiety and peace.
You can try my favourite guided meditation here.
To be fair, I have customised the above rituals as per my needs, mental and physical requirements.
But there’s also a strong universal benefit of the 3 rituals and I hope you will try them as well. And if you enjoy it as much as I think you will, then drop me a message. I would love to hear about your experience.
PUT THAT CHEESE BURGER DOWN 