We must admit we’re suckers for alliteration, so when we learned of Mellow May’s existence it had us more than a little excited.
By definition, ‘mellow’ is a noun for a state, atmosphere or mood of ease and gentle relaxation, and I’m sure you’ll all agree that it’s something we could
And while our jam-packed modern lifestyles are hardly conducive with a constant state of relaxation, we’ve sought out a few ways to instil a moment of calm in amongst the chaos. Here, our tips for ensuring you have a mellow month this May.
1. Practice Mindfulness
It’s a buzz word that’s been bandied about a lot in recent years, but the concept of mindfulness has been intertwined with Hinduism and Buddhism for millennia. Today, mindfulness is purported as a means of alleviating stress, improving memory and concentration, promoting cognitive flexibility, reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality.
2. Treat Yourself To A City Break
A change of scenery can do wonders for the mind, if only for a night or two. Positioned as one of the most picturesque locales for a weekend retreat, a sojourn in Queenstown could be just the ticket to a happier, healthier you.
3. Swap Coffee For Herbal Tea
Excess caffeine has been proven to spike cortisol levels, so if you can bear it, switch out one of your daily espressos for a warming cup of herbal tea. Dilmah’s mellow blend of Strawberry and Liquorice tea features the subtle flavours of wild strawberries, infused with the sweetness of real liquorice root to relieve any digestive issues and reduce stress levels in the body.
4. Learn How To Breathe Properly
Diaphragmatic or deep belly breathing has gained traction recently for its numerous benefits to the body – including lowering cortisol levels, heart rate and blood pressure, while improving core muscle stability, immunity and mood. Diaphragmatic breathing is at the core of most meditation practices, and involves expanding the stomach while breathing inward, rather than the chest.
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Advertise with NZME.5. Try Something New
If you’re stuck in an exercise rut, a new fitness class, gym or team sport could inspire fresh motivation to get your body moving. Low impact exercises like Pilates, swimming, hiking and yoga serve dual purpose to help condition the body while relaxing the mind.
6. Cut Down On Your Screen Time
If you work in a desk bound job, then chances are you spend the majority of your day staring at a computer screen. Not only can this have a detrimental impact on your skin (we're looking at you, blue light), but it can cause eye strain, headaches, heart disease, high blood pressure and joint issues. Simple ways of reducing your screen time could include banning devices in the bedroom, downloading an app that shuts down your phone after you've hit your screen time limit, or taking up a new hobby to beat boredom.
7. Nourish Your Body
As winter looms, now is the perfect time to boost your immunity by looking to fresh, seasonal ingredients that are loaded with micronutrients and antioxidants. Leafy greens like broccoli, kale and spinach are rich in vitamins C and D, while root vegetables like carrots, Swiss chard, and parsnip are high in vitamin A, C and magnesium.
8. Change Your Mindset
For some, the mere thought of reading The Secret induces an involuntary eye roll. But the core principle of the book does hold weight – the law of attraction – being the ability to attract into our lives whatever we are focusing on. In the words of the late Roald Dahl: "if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely."
9. Get Appy
We get it – this point is slightly at odds with the former around screen time, so make clever use of the time you do spend on your phone. Wellness apps like Calm or Headspace include handy reminders at the same time every day to motivate you squeeze in some meditation, while productivity apps like Streaks or ToDoist help you manage your daily tasks.
10. Prioritise Sleep
You read it here first, folks, we're predicting sleep to be the biggest wellness trend of 2019. Health experts recommend adults squeeze in between seven and nine hours' shut eye every night, with the more time spent snoozing on the right side of midnight maximising the body's restorative phase.
This is part of a special Viva and Dilmah editorial series celebrating the Dilmah's traditional wellness range of roots, herbs and spices. To see more, go to Viva.co.nz/Dilmah.
