Find peace & feel life

I paused. I smelled the lilacs that were finally blooming and became one with them for a few seconds. A micro-break.

That’s all it took for a little breather before I sat back down at my desk and continued working on my new offer and the SPECIAL Småland Retreat. With the retreat itself, you can treat yourself to a few hours of relaxation and contemplation, soothing your body and mind in the midst of natural surroundings, with peace to the soul during a visit to Glasriket, Småland, Sweden.

It was an intense spring in every way and as exciting as ever with new landing pages, growing networks, partners and wonderful people in courses and coaching. I’m only human and need to remind myself to take a break, especially when there’s a lot of stress and social media pushing me to be constantly digitally present… and then it often takes the exact opposite to come down and find energy and strength again.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the US – a time to check in with ourselves, slow down and find a more personally sustainable path to wellness. So what are you doing right now for your sustainable wellbeing to pause and rest your brain? Wellbeing doesn’t require a complete turnaround in life. It’s about consistency, compassion and small moments of conscious rest. This month, I’d like to invite us all to take a break more often – not just to rest, but to thrive.

Here are a few tips and recommendations that you may have already known about but perhaps not taken the time to prioritise, because it’s not about having time, it’s about making time for your wellbeing. Just like going to the gym or getting enough sleep.

🌱 5 gentle reminders that can reduce your stress:

🪷 Be kinder to yourself
Do give yourself the same support you would give a friend. Pressure does not create sustainable performance. Smart work and kind focus, among other things, do.
🧪 Researcher Kristin Neff has shown that self-compassion lowers cortisol levels and strengthens our emotional resilience.

🍎 Take micro-breaks
2-5 minutes is enough – stretch, breathe in the spring air or lie down on the grass for a few minutes before you start again (unless you’re allergic to pollen😉!
📊 Research from the University of Illinois has shown that short breaks improve concentration and performance in the long run.

⏸️ Put your mobile phone away
Your brain will thank you later. Choose hours in the day when it is not with you. Start with one small step at a time. I promise you it will make a difference in the long run.
📱 A 2022 study published in the journal Computers in Human Behaviour found a link between excessive mobile phone use and increased anxiety, sleep problems and impaired self-regulation.

🧠 Do less, not more
Concentrate on one thing at a time. Multitasking impairs performance and creates stress, both physically and cognitively. The emails that pop up in the middle of writing a report. Social media posts that pop up in the middle of an important meeting. All of this in turn affects our entire nervous system. What’s more, brain research shows that jumping between tasks creates an ‘attention deficit’ that makes it harder for us to concentrate.
👩🏼‍🔬Neurovetenskap shows that single-tasking improves performance and reduces cognitive load.

🌳 Get out into nature and just be
Just 10 minutes outdoors can calm the nervous system and improve concentration. Nature helps the brain to recover and promotes mental clarity.
👨🏻‍🔬En A 2024 study by the Max Planck Institute in Berlin shows that walks in nature can lead to observable changes in the structure of the brain, particularly in the hippocampus, which can have a positive effect on mental health.
Short conclusion✨

Start small.
Be consistent.
Do one thing at a time.
Switch off your mobile phone at certain times – really.
Pay attention to your senses – go out without headphones or pods.
Just be there!
Take in nature.
Your older self will thank you!

Because when we have less stress, we don’t just feel better. We lead better. We have better relationships. And we live better too!

And are you curious to find out more about my new SPECIAL and day retreat offer in the beautiful nature of Småland? Then click here! 🧠 🌱🌳🙏🏻

Namasté
Åsa

#MentalHealthAwareness #StressLessLifeMore #SelfCompassion #Micropauses #DigitalBalance #Singletasking #Mindfulness #PreventBurnout #BrainHealth #HealthAtWork