In a busy life, the little things can mean so much. Cityscape takes a moment to think about the rituals that can make life that little bit better, and where in Christchurch you can get help performing them.

It can be challenging to make time for me-time in between all the things to do and people to see, but here’s a hot take: when we say ‘make time’, what we really mean is ‘take time’. We choose what gets prioritised and what doesn’t. So let’s be more mindful in the choices we make every day, and choose something that gives back to number one every now and then.

Appreciate your morning ritual

The morning can be yours. This is the time for setting your intentions, taking a moment for gratitude, or starting your day with reflective meditation. If you can become an early riser, you’ll be rewarded by a calm space before the rest of the world (and your kids) awake. Try making it your ritual to get up for sunrise every day, or at least open your curtains to let the morning light in.

However you start the day, those hours (or minutes) between waking up and embarking upon the day are precious time for self-care. If you’re a tea person, get yourself a nice teapot and make tea using actual leaves. Wildflower Botanicals in Sydenham stocks a wide range of loose leaf tea blends, all made in-house, so you know you’re getting a unique, quality artisan product. No gumboots here. Enjoy the moment – brewing with leaves instead of bags means deeper flavour, fresher tea, and room for the water to flow and extract essential vitamins, minerals and aromas.

If you’re more of a coffee person, sit at your favourite café and enjoy the ritual of sipping your cuppa from start to finish, rather than existing out of takeaway cups. Or brew it at home – select your favourite mug, inhale the glorious aromas, and enjoy warming yourself from the inside out. Many people also find the morning the best time to read an inspiring book. Your brain is fresh and ready to absorb information, and it sets you in a good frame of mind for the day.

Treat yourself

Scheduling in time to do something just for you, whether it’s once a week or even once a month, helps lower stress and increase energy. Taking time doesn’t have to be complicated, or even expensive.

Go to the movies and relish the ritual of settling in to do nothing else for 90 minutes. Lumière Cinemas even lets you take a glass of wine or hot drink in with you, and its Bijou Bar has velvet chairs and a lovely view if you feel inclined to extend your self-care session that little bit further. After you’ve spent an hour and a half without looking at your phone, getting up to check dinner, or folding laundry, you’ll feel refreshed and content AF.

A massage is an ideal way to treat yourself that will do both your body and your mind some good. Koru Healing’s Chinese therapeutic massage is specially designed to help with injury recovery and decreasing tension, which sounds delightful to us. Getting to that half-asleep, melting-into-the-table, state of relaxation can reduce stress and anxiety, and has myriad physical benefits, depending on the treatment you go for.

Yoga is another excellent way to turn some of that self-care towards your body. Yoga comes in many forms, from the super-flexy to the intense cardio or strength workouts, and all the way to the long and slow or deep relaxation styles, such as yin yoga or yoga nidra. In fact, yoga nidra is sometimes known as yogic sleep – interested yet? This special form of guided meditation teaches you to slow your brain, supporting psychological, physical and spiritual healing. You can find a range of classes at Grassroots Yoga & Health at The Tannery, covering gentle, restorative yoga, breath work and relaxation techniques, or try theyoganidraproject.com for a library of guided meditation practises you can do yourself.

Surrounding yourself with things you enjoy every day is a great, small way to inject some joy into your life. Candles are instant cosy sticks, with warm light and sweet smells. Dot a couple around your house and make a little ritual of lighting them when you get home – take a moment and separate from the stress or busyness of your day.

Crystals look lovely and are thought to have a positive effect on the energy of your space and your own sense of peace and calm. Visit Christchurch’s own Earthly Treasures and ask the team for a recommendation – they have a wide range and can offer plenty of knowledge and advice about the properties and benefits of each crystal. Place them in the windows to catch the light, in the bathroom or bedroom to aid relaxation, or even wear them.

And then of course, there’s plants. Research has shown that bringing some of the outdoors indoors can have benefits for your health, mood, energy, stress levels, focus, and even physical benefits such as reducing headaches, dry skin and boosting immunity and pain tolerance. And indoor plants add a lushness and freshness that are a joy to come home to. There are plenty of great places in Christchurch to top up your indoor jungle – Moffatt’s Flower Co has recently launched a range of potted plants grown in its own greenhouses. While you’re there, think about buying someone some flowers. Who? You. Make it your weekly ritual to get yourself a beautiful, aromatic bunch of flowers to liven your home and make you feel special.

Say thanks to your body

Our bodies do a lot for us. They carry us through everything, from running errands to running marathons (if you’re into that sort of nonsense). Show your body some gratitude by taking it for a little TLC at Saga2Wellness. After all, you wouldn’t keep driving your car without a warrant of fitness, would you? Saga Juliet Gibbs is a professional reflexologist with 30 years’ experience in natural therapies, and also specialises in Indian head massage, a unique therapy stemming from Saga’s training with ancient Ayur Vedic cleansing massages in the UK. It incorporates the whole back and upper arms, face, neck, shoulders and head and is incredibly effective at relieving built-up tension. Saga also employs an ancient tool called a Kansa wand, used with oil for a soothing, detoxifying effect.

saga2wellness.nz

Don’t just relax, deeply relax

Unless you’re the Buddha himself, it’s probably safe to say you could do with relieving some stress. A great number of physical illnesses can actually have roots in the mind – namely, the stress and tension that many of us carry around on a daily basis. At Inner Calm Reflexology, qualified reflexologist Alex Teen provides client-focused treatments in a peaceful, nurturing environment for you to relax, unwind and forget about the stresses of everyday life. Alex’s treatments are designed to induce deep relaxation, which provides the best opportunity for the body to self-heal, rebalance and provide a sense of inner calm. Reflexology treatments can also ease pain, boost energy and circulation, calm digestive issues, aid sleep and provide symptomatic relief for numerous conditions. Sounds like a great self-gift to us!

innercalm.co.nz

Take care of your mind

One of the best things you can do to really take care of yourself is to nurture your state of mind. For some expert help, Dr Jo Battye from Mind Detox is passionate about guiding and empowering people on a journey to find peace with mind, body, and spirit. For Jo, a doctor of 25 years, detoxing the mind is all about looking at the connection between mind and body, and self compassion – loving and being kind to yourself. This can mean learning to meditate, gentle healing of painful emotions, or even just practising spending time in the present moment. In a series of restful sessions tailored to the individual, Jo gives clients the tools to stay well, observe our thoughts, neutralise toxic beliefs and find holistic harmony.

minddetox.co.nz