As a beauty professional, you’re in the business of making people look and feel their best. While your days are filled with the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped others put a little skip in their step, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take time to focus on your own well-being. Small acts of mindfulness can take your day from good to great.
What exactly is mindfulness? Simply put, it involves retraining your thoughts to either put you at ease or take control of things that may sometimes seem out of your control. You can practice mindfulness in many different ways, from breathing techniques that are super easy to incorporate into your day (even in between clients) to journaling. And, no, being mindful doesn’t mean you have to sit down for a full 30-minute meditation without moving a muscle, which can be a stressful thought to those new to the idea.
Here’s how to slip a little mindful self-care into your day, if you have:
2 MINUTES: You’ll be surprised by how much better you’ll feel after a breezy two minutes of mindful breathing. Websites, like mindfulnessexercises.com, offer free, guided breathing techniques that help you get into the zone by relaxing your body and grounding you through easy-to-follow visualizations. It can help reduce stress and refocus your mind for the rest of your day.
5 MINUTES: If you have a little more time, a five-minute guided meditation through an app like Headspace is a great place to start if your goal is to develop a larger mindfulness practice. An instructor will offer breathing suggestions and visualizations to help you feel more present so that you can tackle your day. It’s a low-pressure way to learn about meditation and its benefits.
10 MINUTES: If you don’t consider yourself a writer, the idea of journaling may sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, putting your thoughts on paper for just 10 minutes a day (or even once a week) can actually organize your thoughts, reduce stress, and offer a memory boost. Jot down whatever you’re feeling, whether that be worries, goals, or something for which you’re grateful. You’re not writing the great American novel, just putting thoughts on paper that no one has to see except for you!
20 MINUTES: As a beauty professional, you might find random gaps in your schedule that aren’t long enough to run an errand but can still be productive. YouTube has an impressive lineup of 20-minute guided meditations that you can try when there’s more time to get comfy and give your mind a rest. If one meditation doesn’t fit your vibe, try another. Not all are focused on calming anxiety, others work on boosting energy or centering your mind to finish your day strong.
30 MINUTES: Take a mindfulness walk. Fresh air does a body good, and while you can’t walk around with your eyes closed for a calming visualization, taking in the sights and sounds of your environment can also have incredible effects. Incorporate breathing exercises into your walk and feel your body relax as you allow yourself to wander, noticing new things about your surroundings and appreciating all that your immediate world has to offer.
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