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10 Mindfulness Products To Boost Your Mental Health

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Being human can be complex, miraculous and sometimes difficult. Our mental health can fluctuate throughout our lives, caused by any number of internal and external factors. Thankfully, overtime, there has been overdue but vital awareness and action surrounding mental health. As we collectively, as a society, and individually come to understand the importance of wellbeing that encompasses not just the body but the soul and mind too.

However, many things we now deem as social norms that can also be taking a toll on our mental health. Multiple studies have found a strong link between heavy social media use and an increased risk for issues like depression, anxiety and loneliness (HelpGuide). Meanwhile, according to Re-wilding Britain, people in modern industrial societies spend 90% of their time indoors in artificial, temperature-controlled environments. There is a wealth of research that illustrates how disconnection from nature is linked to mental and physical illness, from anxiety and depression, to heart disease and fatigue.


SHOP NOW: Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Mindfulness Products

Making time for mental health

In our often fast-paced lives, finding or making time to prioritise self-care and things that serve our mental wellbeing has never been more important. Reminder: you can’t pour from an empty cup. From social media detoxes and spending time outside in nature to enjoying a self-care pamper session, there are many things we can do to take care of our mental health. But, they don’t all have to be big either.

Small daily habits, or weekly rituals can often be enough to help us find the balance we need to feel overall mental wellbeing. Mental wellbeing and self-care looks different for everyone too. If you’re not sure where to start or you’re looking for some inspiration to further boost your wellbeing, we’ve put together a rather handy guide of our top ethical products to help boost mental wellbeing.

10 mindfulness products to boost your mental health

1. Pamoja – The Mini Experience Set Cleaning Balm, Beauty Oil, Face Cream, Organic Cloth

Pamoja brings kindness into your day with simple, effective skincare rituals to nourish dry, sensitive, hormonal skin and give a moment of calm to nurture you. Created by skincare formulator Sarah Taylor, Pamoja’s products are award-winning and 100% vegan, Leaping Bunny approved, palm oil free and made in the UK.

The Mini Experience set is a 3 step natural skincare ritual to cleanse, hydrate and nourish your skin’s natural barrier leaving you feeling glowing, relaxed and confident in your skin. The products work effortlessly together and come beautifully packaged in an organic cotton bag, making it an ideal self-care gift, travel set or starter set to try the collection.  

Ideal for normal, dry, dehydrated and tired skin, the set lasts around one month, the perfect amount of time to feel closer to nature and see results in your skin.

2. Yield – Nootropic Gummies Sharpen Your Brain Supplements

Wellness reimagined, Yield are a 360° gummy supplement range to help you optimise your life. Yield say “Pills and capsules are boring!”, so they’re raising the bar when it comes to flavour. Their unique blend of adaptogens yield aims to sit at the forefront of innovation in the supplement space. The packaging is 100% recyclable, their products are vegan friendly and they offset their carbon by planting trees.

Yield Yuzu, matcha & mango flavoured Nootropic Gummies contain a unique blend of adaptogens and minerals that combine to help improve your cognitive performance. Gummies are loaded with Lions Mane, Zinc, Ginko Biloba, L-Theanine and Green Tea that work by increasing mental functions such as memory, creativity, motivation, and attention while keeping a calm state of mind. Lions Mane can improve your mood and help lower anxiety and depression in your day to day life, whilst also boosting cognition and improving memory.

Discover the full 360° gummy supplement range to help you optimise your life.

3. Nikki Hill Apothecary – Relaxation & Calming Herbal Leaf Tea

Nikki Hill Apothecary provides the highest quality, therapeutic herbal teas, tinctures, candles and body oils designed to support and balance your hormones whilst encouraging you to slow down, reconnect and be more mindful

Nikki, the founder of Nikki Hill Apothecary, is a fully qualified Naturopath, Clinical Nutritionist and Medical Herbalist and women’s hormone expert. Using the wisdom of traditional knowledge, alongside accurate scientific research and extensive clinical experience, Nikki has formulated a premium range of products to help alleviate the most commonly experienced female hormonal complaints, including: 

  • Heavy periods
  • PMS
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Anxiety
  • Headaches
  • Irregular cycles
  • Period pain
  • Peri-menopausal symptoms and more​

This specific Relaxation Tea helps to ease nervous tension and anxiety whilst offering calming and relaxing effects. The perfect cup of tea to help you unwind and relax anytime of the day. This delicious blend has been formulated with herbs that have been traditionally used to calm the mind and body. Sit back, relax and allow your body to enter a state of pure calm.

4. Haoma – Tranquility Organic Frankincense & Lavender Essential Oil Mood Roll

Ancient Persian legends describe a mythical plant known as Haoma. Sprigs of this plant were brought to earth by divine birds and bestow vitality and health. Haoma is built on the power of plants. They take pride in using only certified organic, pure plant ingredients. Haoma also has a team of chemists and herbalists combine high quality, clinically proven plant ingredients with carefully selected bio-engineered compounds to create powerful and effective formulas. 

The Tranquility Mood Roll will take you to a space where there is no restlessness, worries, anxiety or stress. Roll; close your eyes; inhale and imagine you are in your favourite place free of any negative thoughts. Mood Rolls are lifesavers when you need them the most. You can rely on these highly effective aromatherapy remedies.

5. The Mood Club – For Me Sustainable Positive Mood Cards

The Mood Club creates mood cards for a positive mindset. It might not always feel this way, but developing a positive mindset is possible for anyone. It’s not about being superhuman or just trying harder but more about small daily habits that make positivity possible. The Mood Clubs mood cards are designed to do just that. Each of the 20 cards has an easy activity for you to try that encourages self-reflection, growth and a positive mindset.

Mood Cards For Me are designed to inspire you to: embrace new positive habits, boost your mood and improve your wellbeing. The set contains 20 practical activities that can be done in a few minutes, but have a long-lasting impact as they teach you to focus on the bright side of things, and support you in facing daily challenges with a positive attitude. There are 5 areas to focus on: mindfulness, self-care, emotional awareness, self-confidence and personal development.

6. SuperfoodLx – Mood Architect

SuperFoodLx are committed to developing luxurious and highly sophisticated nutrient dense formulations for all of their beauty and wellness products. Mood Architect is no exception. Mood Architect is a unique blend of high performance, plant-based nutrients to help design your emotions naturally.

Ingredient 5HTP is a precursor to serotonin, the ‘feel good’ chemical messenger which helps regulate our emotions, appetite and sleep cycle. Recommended for those living stressful lives (especially new parents, students, those lacking in or struggling to sleep, those with lifestyles which limits access to sunlight) it also helps to avert stress related hair loss by using premium superfoods to regulate emotions, appetite and the sleep cycle. Previous users report feeling more peaceful within 7 days, a decreased anxiety response within 7 days and an improved sleep cycle within 10 to 21 days.

100% vegan, cruelty-free and gluten free, this pot contains 1 months supply (2 per day) or 2 months supply (1 per day).

7. Mission C – CBD Oil Relief

Disclaimer: this product is not available for sale to anyone under the age of 18

Mission C is one of the UK’s finest suppliers of broad-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate products including CBD oils, edibles, creams and skincare. CBD is an acronym for cannabidiol, which is a natural substance found within the hemp plant. CBD provides a whole host of well-being benefits for the mind and body. Unlike its sister compound THC, it’s non-intoxicating and is a legal substance.

Mission C’s Relief is a recuperating CBD oil, infused with natural Black Pepper, Limonene and Turmeric to relieve pain and inflammation so you can get back to doing the things you love.

It helps to relieve pain and inflammation with:
+ Broad Spectrum CBD: organically grown and extracted from hemp plants in Arizona.
+ Black Pepper: natural herb known for powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation properties.
+ Limonene: natural terpene known for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-anxiety properties.
+ Turmeric: natural herb known for digestive system, immune system and joint health support.

Physical and mental health are often interlinked and King’s Fund identify that physical health problems significantly increase the risk of poor mental health. By taking steps to maintain our physical health, it can holistically and literally have a positive impact on our overall mental wellbeing.

8. NaturallyEvie – Ebooks Intuitive Eating & Mindful Eating

On the topic of physical health, NaturallyEvie believe that it’s important to be kind to yourself and the planet. They design high quality, chic and comfortable sustainable activewear that can be worn anywhere and aim to inspire people to feel confident inside and out. Branching out from activewear, NatruallyEvie have also written two Ebooks.

This Ebook pack contains two guides and workbooks on Intuitive Eating and Mindful Eating. These guides are backed up by plenty of psychological research and are useful for anyone looking to improve their relationship with their food. The guides are easy to follow and include plenty of information on how to recognise your body’s natural hunger cues, how to eat more mindfully, what is intuitive eating and lots more. The workbooks include lots of questions that are helpful in guiding you to adopt a healthier relationship with food, leaving you feeling happier and less stressed. 

9. Luma³ – Premium Oak Meditation Lamp

When we are stressed our body activates our “fight or flight” mode via our sympathetic nervous system. Spending too long in this mode can leave us feeling exhausted and lead to long term health complications.

Luma³ guides us back into the “rest and digest” mode by using conscious breathing to activate the parasympathetic nervous system.

The Luma³ is with you whenever you need a moment of calm. Reduce stress with guided 5 minute breathing exercises. Stay focussed all day with gentle hourly reminders to take a short break. Sleep better thanks to a relaxation routine at bedtime.

Vibrant rich colours work in the office, at home or at night thanks to ambient light sensing.

Reduce stress and boost wellbeing with breathing exercises guided by light.

10. Douvalls – Orangery Orchid Argan Massage Eco Soy Candle | 180g

Douvall’s is a leading argan natural skincare, haircare, make up and wellness range offering luxury and innovative products of the highest quality, good for you ingredients which are responsibly sourced.

The Orangery Orchid Argan Massage Eco Soy Candle offers an intensely nourishing and hydrating massage treatment for all over the body, expertly blended with nourishing oils, such as cocoa butter and Douvall’s 100% first cold pressed argan oil which is high in vitamin E, antioxidants and essential fatty acids to nourish, soothe, and repair dry skin.

Perfect to de stress and pamper yourself or a loved one with a hydrating massage candle. Scented with natural essential oils lemon, mandarin and grapefruit for a refreshing, sweet and calming scent that fills the room.

11. The Give Yourself Kindness Journal

Give Yourself Kindness Journal

The Give Yourself Kindness Journal, loved by experts and professionals, is your go-to for a more compassionate you. It helps you swap self-judgment for self-kindness, calming your thoughts for a better night’s sleep. No rigid gratitude lists here – just prompts that make gratitude part of your life. Plus, it’s a safe space for all your feelings; offering a kind reminder that no emotion is wrong. This journal contains three months of undated prompts. It’s got 50 self-care quotes and a unique emotional curiosity tool that’s gentle and friendly. Printed sustainably in the UK and delivered plastic-free, it’s your ultimate well-being companion. Feel supported and empowered to navigate the messiness and beauty of life with Give Yourself Kindness

12. Ceae – Juru Traveller Cork Yoga Mat

Perfect for travelling yogis, the JURU Traveller Cork Yoga Mat is super lightweight, compact and foldable so that you can bring it along to wherever your practice takes you — whether that be in your back garden or a distant destination!

It works as an ideal mat overlay on standard studio mats or carpet due to its ultra-thin profile and secure non-slip surface. Crafted from a blend of eco-friendly cork and natural rubber, it is 100% non-toxic, durable, renewable and recyclable.

We all deserve guilt-free rest and good mental health

Making time for our mental health is not always easy. But it is important. Small daily or weekly habits can often be the antidote to many of our stresses, anxieties or worries. We’re all entitled to guilt-free rest and sometimes slowing down is the biggest power move.

However, as an important reminder, while this article offers suggestions to help improve mental wellbeing, they are not to be taken in place of medical advice. Always seek help from a professional when you need it and are struggling with mental health. Recognise that you are never alone.

If you’d like further inspiration and ideas on positive ways that you can take care of your mental health and wellbeing, our archives are rich with ideas and inspiration on Health & Wellness, including one of our most popular blog posts, 6 Daily Habits To Improve Your Mental Health.

5 Ways To Practice Self Love In Your Daily Life

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Feeling stressed, tired or irritable?

Then you need to slow down and make time to practice self-love. Self love is the perfect antidote to the busyness and pressures of life, but it often ends up being last on our to do list.

The problem is, if we don’t look after ourselves, we simply won’t have the energy to look after anyone else.

We’ve come up with five simple self-love remedies that will restore your wellbeing and boost your quality of life.

1. Get a better night’s sleep

Sleeping well is “as crucial to our health and wellbeing as eating a healthy diet or exercising regularly”, according to the Sleep Council. Sleep well and your concentration will improve, you’ll feel happier and you’ll even benefit from a stronger immune system.

woman asleep

If you’re getting between seven and nine hours of sleep every night you’re doing well. However, when it comes to sleeping, quality is as important as quantity. This is because the deep stages (slow wave or delta sleep) are responsible for repairing the body, generating tissue and building bones and muscles.

So how can you ensure that you get a good night’s sleep? Here are some tried and tested suggestions:

No blue screens before bedtime

If you often use a blue light emitting device such as a mobile phone in the evening, you might have experienced what the Sleep Council refers to as ‘electronic insomnia’.

This happens because exposure to the light confuses your body clock, significantly reducing production of the sleep hormone melatonin. So if you’re desperate for some good quality shut eye, avoid using your phone, laptop and tablet for at least an hour before you try to sleep.

Turn off the television

The Sleep Council’s research shows that 39% of people who watch television in bed sleep very poorly most nights. If that includes you, try removing the television from your bedroom and don’t be tempted to replace it with your phone or tablet.

Experiment with essential oils

Essential oils have been used to promote relaxation for centuries. The natural sedative properties of scents like lavender and vanilla make them perfect antidote to insomnia, so why not try taking a warm lavender oil infused bath before bedtime?

You can also buy lavender room sprays and body oils that sooth your skin and your mind.

Learn how to relax

A good night’s sleep requires relaxation, so if you’re mind’s still buzzing when you retire to bed you’ll probably struggle to drift off.

Mindfulness meditation is a very effective way to quieten your mind, as it involves being fully aware of the present moment. Fancy trying it? Head over to the Netdoctor website, which features a bedtime mindfulness routine courtesy of psychologist Dr Audrey Tang.

Create a comfortable space

Sometimes sleeplessness is caused by basic factors like a bedroom that’s too light, too hot or too noisy. Thankfully, there are a few simple solutions to problems like these.

If your room isn’t dark enough we recommend investing in some black out blinds or an eye mask. If it’s not quiet enough, earplugs might help. Too hot? Invest in a ceiling fan or a lighter duvet.

Cut back on caffeine and alcohol

Caffeine has a half life of five hours, which means that five hours after you drink a cup of tea or coffee, half of the caffeine is still in your system.

So if you regularly enjoy a late night cuppa and you’re struggling to sleep, you could try replacing it with a warm milky drink or some herbal tea.

Drinking alcohol late at night can also impair the quality of your sleep, as well as causing you wake up feeling dehydrated. You’re more likely to need the toilet in the middle of the night too.

2. Eat nourishing food

When it comes to wellbeing eating properly is essential, so we recommend making time for three nutritious meals a day.

To keep your energy levels up try and eat a lunch that includes some beans, nuts, eggs or protein packed lean meat, plus a serving of vegetables or salad. Another great choice is oily fish, as supplementing your diet with omega-3 fish oil boosts concentration.

Vitamins and minerals like zinc, selenium and riboflavin also play a key role in keeping you healthy, as do antioxidants, which repair your skin and protect it from pollutants.

nicely presented healthy meal consisting of fruits, vegetables, eggs and meat.

Vegetables and fruit are a great source of these, so the easiest way to make sure that your body gets everything it needs is to eat your five a day and include plenty of variety.

Ever tried a drink called Kombucha? If you have it’s probably because fermented food and drink has recently become popular due to its health benefits.

According to nutritionists, drinks like Kombucha ( made using a tree fungus called SCOBY) have probiotic qualities, which means that they help to maintain the balance of friendly and unfriendly bacteria in your gut.

Sauerkraut is considered to be equally beneficial, as vegetables soaked in salt water encourage the growth of friendly bacteria.

Using spices is another simple way to boost the health benefits of your daily diet. As well as enhancing the colour and flavour of your food, many spices possess powerful antioxidant properties. You might want to stock up on:

Turmeric

Turmeric is packed with cancer combating antioxidants. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and protects your body from free radicals.

Ginger

Whether it’s chopped, grated, sprinkled or ground, ginger has impressive inflammatory properties making it ideal for reducing pain caused by arthritis and migraines. It also aids digestion and relieves nausea.

Cinnamon

Because it slows the breakdown of carbs in your digestive tract and improves insulin sensitivity, this aromatic spice could lower and stabilise your blood sugar levels. It can also relieve inflammation. The recommended intake is 0.5-2 teaspoons daily and cinnamon is delicious mixed into coffee or sprinkled over porridge.

Cayenne Pepper

This fiery spice acts as an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. It can also boost your metabolism, speeding up the rate at which you burn calories. Try adding it to stews, soups, sauces and curries.

Be kind to your skin

Once you’re sleeping and eating well you should start to notice a difference in your skin. In the meantime, there are plenty of other ways to keep your skin looking and feeling its best.

mens natural skincare

Avoid irritating ingredients

Unfortunately many synthetic skin products use irritating or drying ingredients like sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and alcohol. You might have spotted SLS in the list of ingredients that make up your cleanser, as it’s an effective foaming agent.

However, we recommend avoiding it, as it strips skin of its natural oils. We also suggest avoiding alcohol in skincare products, as this evaporates when it touches your skin, causing it to lose moisture.

There are plenty of products that are much kinder to your skin. For example, look out for cleansers containing natural skin balancing plant extracts. You can also buy plant based moisturisers, face masks and anti-inflammatory night creams that soothe and repair your skin.

Drink lots of water

Staying hydrated is essential if you want to keep your skin looking healthy. You should be drinking 6-8 glasses a day, unless it’s hot, in which case you’ll need more. If you’re not keen on plain water, the NHS Live Well website suggests adding a slice of lemon, some sugar free squash or a little fruit juice for flavour.

What about fruit juice and smoothies? Well, they do count as part of your daily intake, but try to limit your intake to 150ml per day, due to their sugar content. It’s also worth reducing your consumption of coffee and tea, as they have a diuretic effect.

Use natural blemish busters

We all get blemishes from time to time, but some anti-spot products will simply strip the natural oils from your skin, encouraging your pores to produce more oil. Thankfully, many natural products possess excellent blemish busting properties. These include:

Rosehip Oil-Helps scars to heal and give skin a natural glow.

Jojoba oil-Has antibacterial properties and won’t clog pores

Activated charcoal- Soaks up toxins

Calendula oil-A flower petal extract that’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial

Tea Tree-Possesses antibacterial properties

Witch hazel-A natural astringent that removes oil without drying skin

Black willow bark-a rich source of salicylic acid, which helps to smooth and soften skin, as well as balancing oil production.

Release your inner yogi

woman doing yoga

If you’re familiar with Downward Facing Dog or the Forward Fold you’ve probably tried yoga before. The poses, meditations and breathing techniques of this ancient form of exercise will improve your core strength, flexibility, balance and posture. It’s also excellent for relaxation, making it the perfect self-love activity.

Physical health benefits

Yoga breathing techniques are known as pranayma and they focus on slowing down and deepening your breathing.

This reduces physical tension, making it easier to remain calm. Studies have even shown that taking part in yoga can lower your heart rate, which helps your body to respond healthily to stressful days. If you practice yoga regularly you’ll also benefit from stronger limbs, firmer abs and improved general fitness.

There are plenty of yoga videos online, but if you’re new to yoga the NHS recommends finding a class to make sure that you learn the poses and breathing techniques properly. To locate a class near you, check out the four main yoga associations:

The British Wheel of Yoga

The Independent Yoga Network

Iyengar Yoga

Yoga Alliance Professionals

It’s also worth paying a visit to the NHS’s Fitness Studio , which features its own yoga videos.

Mental health benefits

The plugged in nature of modern living often results in information overload and cluttered minds.

Yoga slows everything down and clears the clutter. As you start to relax, your cortisol levels will drop, restoring calm and reducing any physical symptoms of stress. If you practise it regularly, yoga could even boost your serotonin levels.

If you’ve never tried yogic meditation, you should! It involves sitting in silence, breathing deeply and noticing every sound, sensation and thought. Every time your mind wanders you’ll learn to refocus your attention, which will result in better concentration and clearer thinking.

Mediation will also enable you to pull back and simply observe any negative thoughts and feelings. They’ll travel through your mind but they won’t get stuck.

Enjoy some Ecotherapy

It’s well known that taking part in exercise is an excellent way to combat stress and improve your mood.


It releases endorphins, increases your energy and keeps you mentally sharp. In fact, research has shown that just an hour of exercise a day can combat the effects of sitting still for long periods of time.

Exercising in the countryside has been proven to provide even greater benefits, particularly when it comes to mental wellbeing.

When mental health charity Mind commissioned the University of Essex to carry out a research project involving green exercise or “ecotherapy”, they found that getting active in the countryside enhanced the participants’ mood and self-esteem. It also reduced any pre-existing anger, tension and depression.

The people who participated in Mind’s research took part in a variety of ecotherapy activities including conservation work, cycling, gardening and running. But some of them simply put on their trainers and went for a walk.

woman walking in nature

Walking is such a simple way to exercise and if you live in England or Wales, you have free access to 130, 000 miles of “public right of way”.

So whether you fancy rambling across remote Moorland, strolling through a secluded nature reserve or cycling along quiet country lanes, why not boost your psychological wellbeing and fitness by reconnecting with the natural world?

If we’ve inspired you to dust off your hiking boots and tackle some more challenging routes, check out your local bookshop, library or tourist information centre, where you’ll find a selection of walking maps.

You could even visit the Ramblers website to find out whether any walks have been organised in your areas. Just be sure to Invest in a decent waterproof jacket before you set off!

Incorporating more self-love into your daily life will help you to feel revitalised, refreshed and ready to tackle whatever life holds in store. So why not put yourself at the top of your to do list this week? We’d love to hear how you get on!

Get Happy: How To Naturally Boost Dopamine And Serotonin Levels

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By now we’re all aware that mental health is just as important (and sometimes intrinsically linked to) our physical health. Mental health struggles such as anxiety and depression affect 1 in 6 of the UK population (Mind UK, 2020), but with access to mental health services declining, it’s no wonder more of us are seeking out alternative solutions.

Our mood and mental wellbeing are greatly impacted by our hormones; a group of chemical messengers that control an array of functions within the body. The ones responsible for helping us ‘get happy’ are called ‘serotonin’ and ‘dopamine’. A common treatment method for depression is the prescription of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), a type of anti-depressant that increases the serotonin levels in your brain. While these medications are effective in improving mood and mental wellbeing, they can, unfortunately, come with some less than pleasant side effects including digestive issues, dizziness, irritability, insomnia, and more. Now, this is not to say we recommend stopping the prescribed medication from your doctor – you should always discuss any concerns with them first.

But these hormones occur naturally in our bodies – we should be able to boost them naturally, right? Before we can figure out how to do this, it helps to understand what these ‘happy hormones’ actually do.

What Is Serotonin?

Serotonin (also known as 5-Hydroxytryptamine) is a chemical, that much we have established, but why would you want more of it?

Its main job in our bodies is to regulate our mood as well as our sleep, appetite, digestion, learning ability, and memory. Therefore, if your serotonin levels are low you are likely to feel less emotionally stable and may struggle with sleep, focus, and low appetite.

Credit: Noah Silliman

What is Dopamine?

Dopamine similarly is a chemical (also known as 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) that affects, again, several functions in the body including locomotion, learning, working memory, cognition, and emotion.

Dopamine is our chemical reward mechanism. When we get a large influx of dopamine we get a feeling of pleasure and reward in the same way you would train a dog with a reward for good behaviour (yes, sometimes we are that simple).

So now we know how important these chemicals are to have, you might suspect that your levels of serotonin or dopamine aren’t as high as they ought to be. So here are some ways you can increase them and give your mood a natural boost.

Exercise

Credit: Andrew Tanglao

Now this one may seem obvious and a bit of a cop-out, sort of like being told to drink water, but this truly is one of the best natural ways of increasing both your serotonin and dopamine levels. Exercise also helps with a multitude of other ailments so more exercise will always be a better thing (just don’t overdo it)!

A Protein-Rich Diet (Plant-Based)

Credit: Better Nature | veo.world/betternature

Serotonin is involved in your digestive process, so naturally, what you eat is likely to impact your levels. Up to 90% of the serotonin our bodies create comes from our intestines and not our brain, so making sure the food we eat is right for us is paramount! The main ingredient we are looking to include here is the amino acid Tryptophan, which aids in the production of serotonin and melatonin to regulate our mood, appetite, sleep cycles, and more. Tryptophan cannot be produced by the body and so must be obtained through our diets. Some of the best sources of Tryptophan can be found in vegetables, nuts and seeds such as:

  • Butternut Squash Seeds
  • Potato
  • Mushrooms
  • Cauliflower
  • Walnuts
  • Wheat
  • Soy

Incorporating these foods into your regular diet can positively boost your serotonin levels and also provide a variety of other health benefits! Another obvious way to get more Tryptophan into your diet is with protein supplements. Bodyhero pea protein contains all the essential amino acids needed to function and fuel your body. Check out their range of supplements here!

Meditation

Credit: Daniel Mingook Kim

Meditation has in recent years become one of the most popular ways to improve mental wellbeing in the UK and if you’ve ever tried it, you’ll know why. Research shows that meditation, accompanied with breathing exercises, can activate the release of dopamine in the brain resulting in reduced anxiety, better sleep, and improved mood! Click here for creative ways to add meditation into your day!

Aromatherapy

Haoma aromatherapy mood oil | roll onto your wrist
Credit: Haoma | veo.world/haoma

Another great way to instantly lift your mood is through the use of essential oils. These natural, plant-derived oils are known to have medicinal properties with lemon, bergamot and lavender in particular reported to boost serotonin levels. By smelling these oils you can create an instant sense of calm and contentment. Carry that feeling with you wherever you go with ‘Mood Rolls’ from Haoma or instantly uplift your space with our full range of natural, essential oil candles – available in an array of soothing scents.


As we mentioned, these should not replace any prescribed medication without consultation from your doctor. However for anyone considering medication but looking to try some natural alternatives first, we hope you find some of these tips helpful! With a few easy day-to-day activities like this, as part of a healthy lifestyle, you can boost your serotonin and dopamine levels naturally.

Creative ways to add meditation into your day

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If you’ve never tried meditation, you might think of it as a practice reserved only for spiritual yogis, hippies, and monks but that is no longer the case! With our lifestyles busier than ever, more and more people are turning to meditation as a way to unwind and relieve stress. Research shows that meditation is actually the most popular form of wellbeing therapy in the UK with 26% of Brits using it to improve their mental health. The benefits of meditation include reduced anxiety, better sleep, and improved mood to name a few. But while meditation seems like a great practice to incorporate into your day, sitting still in silence for half an hour every day simply isn’t practical or enjoyable for everyone. But the principles of meditation are actually a lot simpler than we think. Simply by becoming present in the moment and focusing on the breath, you can incorporate meditation into your everyday tasks with minimal effort. So in honour of World Meditation Day (21st May 2021), we’re sharing some of our favourite and most creative ways to meditate, below!

1. Tea Meditation

Credit: NEMI Teas | veo.world/nemiteas

Start your day with intention by taking the time out for a tea meditation. This form of meditation is incredibly easy and simply requires you to focus on the process of making yourself a heartwarming brew. Pay attention to the details, from the sound of the water boiling to the feeling of steam on your face as you hold your cup. Focus on breathing deeply as you sip, to truly feel a sense of calm. In order to make this moment even more mindful, choose teas that boost your mood and offer great benefits to your health including calming chamomile and green tea. Click here to explore our range of loose leaf teas and biodegradable teabags available in a variety of blends and flavours.

2. Shower Meditation

Credit: Sop | veo.world/sop

Another great way to incorporate mindfulness into the start of your day is with a shower meditation. Also known as waterfall meditation, this practice uses water as a mechanism for washing away any tension, stress, or anxiety within the body. Breathe in deeply and pay attention to the sound of the rushing water. Focus your awareness on the feeling of each droplet hitting your skin. You can enhance the experience by choosing shower cremes and lotions that soothe the skin with essential oils which are known to promote a sense of calm such as Peppermint and Lavender. Click here to discover our lush and luxurious bath & shower selection.

3. Movement Meditation

Credit: Iron Roots | veo.world/ironroots

If you’re someone that finds it hard to sit still and concentrate, movement meditation might be exactly what you need. The mind-boosting benefits of exercise are well known but mindful movement takes it one step further. This is one activity where focus on the breath is essential. Work on controlling your breathing through each movement and practice paying attention to the way each muscle flexes and contracts in the process. Whether you enjoy yoga, lifting weights in the gym, or simply taking a walk in the park, you can find a way to make your next workout more mindful and therapeutic. Discover our selection of lightweight and breathable women’s and men’s activewear that is perfect, whatever your exercise style.

4. Cleaning Meditation

Credit: Delphis Eco | veo.world/delphiseco

We know it might sound strange but yes, cleaning your home can also be a great way to meditate! It involves a process of simple, methodical tasks that can help you get into a state of flow and gentle concentration. Rather than letting your mind race thinking about all the other things you need to do with your day, take time to feel present and focus on what’s right in front of you. Enjoy the warmth of the water as you wash the dishes or the motion of wiping down your surfaces. What’s great about using toxin-free cleaning products is that you can focus on breathing in deeply as you clean, without fear of inhaling harmful chemicals in the process.

Those are four effective and creative ways to incorporate meditation into your daily routine that don’t involve sitting still. If you enjoyed reading this, you’ll love our blog post on 6 daily habits to improve your mental health.