To help us all feel a little more at peace during lockdown, Boots UK has launched new and exclusive gift cards by Headspace, a global leader in mindfulness and meditation.
Available from Wednesday 10 June via boots.com, the Headspace gift cards offer six months’ access to guided meditation sessions, with four themed collections to choose from: Mind, Health, Sleep, and Focus.
With mindfulness app downloads doubling since mid-March1, we spoke to Sarah Crawley, Boots UK Director of Wellness, to discover her top tips for taking a step back from the chaos and creating some much-deserved me-time with Headspace:
Work Smarter
When we take time out during the workday to stop and focus on the present through meditation and mindfulness exercises, it can help us create a stronger awareness of the mind and improve our focus and productivity2. Headspace has a huge range of exercises dedicated to ‘focus’, which I love to use as they teach you about the ways in which mindfulness can help you at work, in just a few minutes each day. Studies show four weeks of Headspace increases focus by 14%. I would highly recommend the 30-day Focus pack to help you declutter your thoughts and sharpen your concentration, even when under pressure.
Healthy Habits
Most of us will have some form of exercise in our daily routine, whether it’s going for a morning walk or taking part in a virtual gym class. I find that times like this – when walking or running, for example – can be the perfect time to meditate on the go, especially with a busy schedule. Did you know that when we stop distracting ourselves from the act of exercising and focus on our mind, we not only improve our physical results, but we can also boost our appreciation of the experience3? This way of thinking can be really helpful, and it gives me the extra push when I need it!
Sleep Saviour
When we stop and lie down to sleep, we’re more likely to allow our minds to spiral and become easily caught up in small details from our day, making it harder to relax. Sleep is critical to our overall wellbeing and health, and with so many of us experiencing difficulty sleeping, it’s no surprise that sleep itself has become a huge industry4. There are many daily rituals and meditative techniques you can do to induce better sleep, my favourite being a long soak in the bath, and listening to Headspace Sleepcasts”.
1 https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/04/21/meditation-up-during-coronavirus/
2 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-meditation-benefits-the-working-brain_b_57d15638e4b0273330ac36da
3 https://www.health.com/fitness/mindful-exercise-tips
4 https://www.headspace.com/meditation/sleep