Creating your wellness space in the face of the new normal

It is something of an understatement to say that the world has taken a strange turn in the last few weeks as we currently adjust to the new normal. Our diary and routine suddenly have a different shape, be that our Thursday #ClapForCarers, social distancing or home schooling. It is important that our self-isolation doesn’t become isolating and there are some things we can do to keep our bodies, minds and emotional self, safe and well. 

Routinely does it

We’ve already made enormous adjustments to our lives, from home schooling to mastering Zoom calls, social distanced shopping to our 30-minutes of daily exercise.  As we navigate our way through our lockdown existence, setting a routine has never been more important.

Aim to start your day at the same time and avoid a lie-in, however tempting it may be. Joe Wicks has won an army of new fans joining him for his daily 9am session. It’s a great and invigorating way to start your day, and if you are home-schooling, it lets the kids burn off some energy and get them in the right headspace for lessons (ish). 

If you are home schooling, try to mirror a school day. Set lesson times, and breaks, as well as playtime. If nothing else, it will protect your fridge from constant foraging for snacks!

Organise your working day, try to stick to normal hours and look the part for your Zoom calls. No-one needs to know your talking head is sporting PJs and bunny slippers! Most importantly, make sure that daily schedule includes ‘you time’ as right now, it’s more vital than ever.

Make it count

First of all, adhere to the rules of social distancing for your own safety and that of others, but do something you love.  This 30-minutes of exercise (personally my favourite part of the day) should be something that you enjoy so that it doesn’t feel like a chore.  Try making this fun for the kids with lots of free and online resources such as RSPB Bitesize on your daily 30-minutes.

The Feversham Family are extraordinarily lucky as most of us are privileged to live in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside. A fabulous 30-minute walk with the dog outdoors in the fresh country air and that dose of vitamin D in the sunlight is a fabulous mood stimulator.

Creating your safe space

There is no getting away from the fact that these are very anxious times and a 24-hour news cycle makes for depressing viewing. It is hugely important for our mental health that we create a semblance of calm to reduce concerns and apprehension and improve our resilience.

We digest our safe space through our senses, be it sight, sound, scent, touch, and taste. There are some wonderful scents available that can create the right mood, Quietude Aromatherapy Calming & Sleep Mist Spray is a great example. Fill your safe space with things that give you joy, be it photos of happy memories, or comfy cushions to sink into, fresh flowers for colour and your favourite sounds for free with a Spotify playlist or a BBC Sounds Podcast to suit your mood.

Healthy Body makes a Healthy Mind

You can look after your body and mind with a healthy and balanced diet. Try to use fresh and seasonal ingredients wherever you can. Eating through boredom and not hunger is a really easy habit to fall into and even if you are hungry, and not actually bored, you may well be dehydrated first, hungry second, so try to drink water regularly and often.  Nutritionist advise to ‘eat a rainbow’ and a plate of natural colours brings a balanced nutritional meal. Our executive chef, @adamjacksonchef, has been sharing some great recipes on Instagram to get the kids involved in cooking at home from flatbread pizzas to banana bread, they’re well worth a look.

Pamper from Home

Staying at home doesn’t mean you have to forgo the relaxing treatments that would usually require a spa visit.  Our fabulous partners Temple Spa have some amazing ideas for an at-home spa experience on their Facebook and Instagram pages – including a facial massage, and a DIY manicure and home-made skin marinade based on store-cupboard ingredients. Perfect to tide you over until we can welcome you back for a Verbena Spa pamper session.

Stay home, stay safe and protect the NHS and we look forward to welcoming you back to the Feversham Arms Hotel and Verbena Spa very soon.

Katie and the spa team x