Looking for some easy-peasy ways to ease the winter doom and gloom? These ‘Daily Retreats’ are a great way to upgrade your days and help to make the coming week immeasurably better. From smiling at strangers to switching your phone off, we’ve compiled seven simple tricks to bring joy and boost your wellbeing (you’re welcome)!
{Monday} Reclaim your evening and resist the temptation to trawl through your Instagram feed ’til your eyes bleed (usually circa 1.30am) by defiantly switching your ‘phone off at 8. Try setting an actual, ‘old school’ alarm clock and put your ‘phone waaaaay out of reach so you’re better equipped to focus on the moment – enjoy dinner and a proper conversation with your loved ones, watch (as in, actually watch) the new drama the office is raving about, listen to a podcast or dive into the novel that’s been lurking by your bedside for an aeon.
Your bed should be reserved *strictly* for nocturnal activities,so keep a {pillow mist} and silky {eye mask} close to hand and set yourself a bed time… by making the ‘going to bed’ process ritualistic, you’ll naturally start to wind down and be mentally eased towards slumber. And if you like your sleep with a side of luxury, look to the Spacemasks self-heating {Spacemasks} to turn up the temperature on relaxation. A treat for tired eyes, this bedside and travel companion lulls you into a blissful sleep. So put the phone away andtrust us, you’ll sleep better and gain so much more than you may think you’re losing.
{Tuesday} Our nutritional health expert {Karen Cummings-Palmer} is evangelical about the benefits of starting every day with hot water and lemon. “It’s really good to ‘alkalise’ your system first thing upon awaking. Have warm (NOT HOT – it’s bad for your teeth) water with a little bit of lemon which, although it might seem counterintuitive (lemon being citric), helps to up your body’s pH levels and ward against development of disease.” I like to follow mine with a quick ‘shot’ of almond milk laced with The Nue Co.’s {Plant Protein + Gut Food} to help feed the ‘good bacteria’ and jump-start my digestion.
{Wednesday}It’s hump day which means everybody’s in peak ‘grouch’ mode, but what if we told you there was a pleasure peak you could reach instead? One that builds slow and steady and when you cum to the top, you may just scream in satisfaction. LELO’s {Sila Sonic Massager} is cliterally a must-have as it sits snug on your bud to deliver toe-curling, breathtaking orgasms. If you’ve got a partner to play with, then double the pleasure with Dame’s {Eva II} hands-free vibrator. It’s a phallacy that you can’t have your cake and eat out – this versatile tool stays locked in your labia for penetration possibilities so, get ready to hit different positions in a thrilling, tingling game of Twister. Whichever leg-shaking sex tech you choose, sit back, relax and prepare to climax your way to cloud nine.
{Thursday} Ready for the weekend? Rev your engines with a five minute, brisk {body brush} before you hit the shower. Encourage circulation and lymphatic drainage by brushing towards the ‘central’ lymph nodes − in the groin, armpits and the base of your neck. Use sweeping circular motions to work your way up the legs, bottom, midriff − then from wrists to shoulders and across your chest but BE GENTLE − you’re stimulating skin, not shredding it. Hop into a hot shower and use a luxurious, invigorating shower gel to optimise the energising benefits (we LOVE Therapie’s {Boost Hair & Body Wash}), then finish with a quick cold rinse to help you dive into the day.
{Friday} You’ve made it! You’re overdue some major relax and unwind time so pour yourself a glass of wine or brew a pot of tea while liberally lacing a hot, steamy bath with one of #TeamCB’s soul-soothing soaks. Whether you reach for Kai’s Hawaii-infused {Bathing Bubbles} − the olfactory alternative to two weeks on a paradisiacal isle − or need to ease the end-of-week, post-workout tension with REN’s muscle-easing {Atlantic Kelp and Microalgae Anti-Fatigue Bath Oil}, our {Bath & Shower} shop is overflowing with wonders.
{Saturday} Hands up if you’re great at drinking two litres of water while at work, but discipline goes out the window at the weekend!? Set yourself a challenge to ensure that even though it’s Saturday you won’t allow yourself to desiccate. Carry a bottle of water with you − we love Innermost’s {Tritan Shaker Bottle} − and consciously top up your aqua levels on the move. You’ll be amazed at how much more alert and energised you feel (as well as how incredible your skin looks).
{Sunday} Battle the inevitable Sunday evening dread with… a hair mask! Think about how often you indulge your hair and scalp, and aim to rectify the ongoing neglect (and endless stress!). Briogeo’s {Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Treatment} is less ‘mask’, more… feast for your follicles − promoting scalp health to promote healthy growth and help maximise shine. If the Sunday Scaries have really got you in a chokehold and you’re faced with flashbacks to Friday when you brazenly declared overdue work as ‘future me’s problem!’ then The Nue Co.’s {Functional Fragrance} will set now-future you straight. Forget ruminating and sending stress levels into a spiral — simply spritz this calming aroma to unravel highly-strung nerves and sashay your way to bed without a sense of dread.