A Parental Guide To Winding Down (Whether You Have Three or 30 Minutes)

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Lets start with the obvious, the reality is it’s so very hard to find the time to properly wind down and switch off at the moment. Working from home brings many benefits, particularly with littles ones around, however the line between work life, home life and homeschool life has blended, leaving less time than ever before for self care.

However, you owe it to yourself to find a moment to take a breathe and switch off - it doesn’t matter if you have three or 30mins, you simply have to. It's key to supporting our wellbeing. Although a dream scenario for many, winding down doesn’t always have to mean a visit to the spa, three hours in the bath or shutting yourself in the loo. Moments of self care can be achieved in the smallest of ways but with maximum benefits.

Wellbeing is at the heart of Bloom and Blossom and with five children between us, we too struggle to find the time to properly wind down, but we know it’s critical for positive wellbeing. Here are some of our wind down tricks that work for us, but most importantly its about finding those small moments (short or long!) that work for you.

Switch off to switch off

The hardest task of all! It’s tempting to keep ploughing through the work to do list whilst juggling home life, but turning off the laptop and separating the concept of work from home is key to winding down. Get into a good habit of leaving devices downstairs when you do your kids' bath and bedtime – it might be the start of their bedtime swift off routine, but make it the start of yours as well.

Phone a friend

As well as being joyful for them and for you, talking on the phone to a friend can be super relaxing and absolutely a part of the daily wind down, a moment that’s just reserved for you and your pal. We believe that zoom fatigue is an actual thing – so definitely pick up the phone, it can really lift your mood.

Set the Mood

We love nothing more than low lighting and enjoying the aromas of our favourite candle. It’s an immediate ahhhhh moment. And who made up the rule of lighting candles just at night? Try lighting late afternoon so the whole family can enjoy the calming aromas before the bedtime routine begins. There is something immediately calming about striking a match isn’t there, we are loving EYM and Iris Organic candles at the moment.

Calm amongst the chaos

It may sound impossible, but we treat the kids switch off (bath & bedtime) as the beginning of the evening unwind for us. Yes it's noisy and pretty chaotic, but even simple things like reading a book to them whilst they are in the bath or everyone lying on the bed chatting about the day really kicks start a wind down. Leave the phones downstairs though so there is no temptation!

Looking your best to feel your best

Whether it’s a slow Sunday or a manic Monday - invest in some time that’s just about YOU. At Bloom and Blossom we create body care skin care products which are equally about making you feel good as well as look good. All the products are designed to adapt your time (whether that’s a lot or a little). One of our favourites is Pyjamarama, Dry Body Oil. If you are short on time, it can be spritzed quickly onto skin just before bed (its super fast absorbing) and it doubles as a perfect sleepy time essential as its contains our anti-anxiety, des-stressing hero, Frankincense, so perfect for an immediate wind down before bed. If you have a little longer in the evening, wind down by massaging the Dry Body Oil into all your lumps and bumps and take your time to breathe in the de-stressing aroma. Follow with All Night Long, Calming Sleep Spray for the ultimate in a room full of calming zzzz’s

Multi-tasking mindfulness

There are always so many things to do around the house (mainly tidying up at the moment) so we try and make even these moments, a door to unwinding. We love to pop on a podcast while we are clearing up from the day (we recommend Dr Rangan Chatterjee & Mary Portas – The Kindness Economy). It’s a really easy way to clear your mind and switch off, whilst getting the jobs done – a win win.