Stress can have so many adverse effects on our body and our mind and we would all love to reduce stress and improve our wellbeing. One way in which we can live a more stress-free life is through simplifying our routines.
Here are seven simple steps that we think can really help you to simplify your daily routines and help you to live a stress–free life. Choose a day of the week to start implementing each one until you can consistently use them all.
Declutter Your Space Begin by decluttering, remove items you no longer need or use, and organise your belongings in a way that makes sense to you. A tidy environment can promote a clear mind and make it easier to find what you need when you need it. This will reduce unnecessary stress and distractions.
Prioritise Your Tasks Make a to-do list and then number each task based on its importance and the deadline. This way, you can focus on what truly matters and avoid feeling overwhelmed. As you complete tasks, check them off your list, which can provide a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to continue.
Learn to Say No Don't be afraid to say no to additional commitments that might lead you to feel overwhelmed, this will create space for more fulfilling activities and better balance in your life.
Practice Mindfulness Being present in the moment can greatly reduce stress and anxiety. Embrace mindfulness practices like meditation or simply take a few minutes each day to focus on your breath and centre yourself.
Set Realistic Goals Set achievable and realistic goals for yourself, both short-term and long-term. Breaking bigger tasks into smaller, manageable steps can make them feel less daunting and more achievable. Celebrate your progress along the way to stay motivated and positive.
Simplify Your Digital Life Limit your screen time and take breaks from electronic devices. Declutter and organise your digital life by unsubscribing and deleting unnecessary Apps. A less cluttered digital space can lead to fewer distractions and increased focus.
Practice Gratitude Take a moment each day to reflect on the things that you are grateful for. Gratitude can shift your perspective and help you appreciate the simple joys in life. Consider keeping a gratitude journal to record these positive moments and revisit them when you need a boost.
Simplifying your life doesn't have to be complicated and of course, we aren’t going to talk about simplifying your life without discussing ways to simplify your hair routine. Here at The Hair Sanctuary, we know that taking good care of naturally, textured afro hair can be time-consuming so we have decided to give you a few simple tips to help you to simplify your routine while still taking great care of your hair.
Wash and detangle. Try to cleanse and condition, once a week or at least every ten days if that works for you. This process shouldn’t be rushed as afro hair strands can be very fragile and need to be handled with care to avoid breakage.
Limit styling. Where possible try to only restyle once per week – this will not only make your hair routine simpler but it gives your hair time to grow and thrive as it is being manipulated less.
Deep condition. It is recommended that we deep condition 1-2 times a month – rather than trying to deep condition in every wash can result in a complicated, rushed wash day as there are too many steps. We advise deep conditioning once weekly.
Choose products wisely. It is no secret that afro and textured hair needs moisture to avoid breakage and damage so we advise getting yourself an intense moisturising product which will provide you with moisture all week long.
Have a ‘go-to’ style. Having a quick and easy hairstyle which you know works for you on all occasions is essential in simplifying your routine. A ‘go-to’ style will save you from stress, anxiety and wasting your time.
Now it's time for you to implement what you have learned. Start by implementing one of these tasks each day and build it up. Don't put additional stress on yourself to complete these tasks and if you find something doesn't work for you that's OK too, not everything here will work for everyone.
Lots of Love The Hair Sanctuary