Emotional escape rooms
Yoga and meditation are ancient art and disciplines that originated more than 3 000 years ago.
By practising them, you can reconnect with your body. Through meditation, one learns how to focus, think more clearly and become less reactive. As you gain awareness of the impact of your actions on your life, you are more likely to refine your choices. This means you do not act out of compulsion but out of choice. As a means to achieve this inner peace while many people continue working from home, emotional escape rooms are growing in popularity.
Having a quiet spot with a soft, cosy rug, floor pillows, a yoga mat, natural lighting (possibly near a window) is the perfect indoor escape. The space is separate from the work and sleep areas so it remains a sacred spot dedicated to the practice of mindfulness.
An alcohol free year
As a personal challenge, people choose to partake in ’Dry January’, the aim of which is to abstain from alcohol for the month. It’s perfect if you consider that it falls just after Christmas and New Year’s Day, two indulgent holidays as far as feasting and drinking go. But, in 2022, it is becoming more popular for people to extend the challenge until the end of the year.
According to Business Insider: “Millennials and Gen ZERS have been consuming less than elder generations in recent years. Research also suggests that more Millennials participate in Dry January in larger numbers than their elder counterparts.”
There are also plenty of benefits involved as outlined by Harvard Health Publishing: “Regular drinkers who abstained from alcohol for 30 days, slept better, had more energy, and lost weight, according to a study in BMJ Open. They also lowered their blood pressure and cholesterol levels and reduced cancer-related proteins in their blood.”
Luxurious baths
Self-care routines are no longer about simply getting the job done; they are about turning ordinary events into an experience. So when it comes to baths, hopping in and out just won’t do it anymore. People are looking to transform this mundane activity into a luxurious escape to ease stress and treat themselves.
Scented candles, bath bombs, lavender and salt tea bags, as well as face masks and spa music are all part of the vibe. In 2022, we are realising more and more that these luxurious escapes can happen from the comfort of our homes, so why not sink blissfully into a tub of warm water to soak away all your worries?
Tracking our stress levels
Using smart watches or old-fashioned journalling to lean into our mental mindsets to pick up on early signs of being overwhelmed or stressed is a significant self-care trend for the year. From being able to monitor calorie intake, sleep patterns, heart rate, and more, smart watches help us keep a closer eye on our physical health and, in turn, even our mental health. If you prefer to go for low-tech, journalling is also on the increase as far as mindfulness trends go.
Writing down positive affirmations, goals, what you are grateful for, and letting go of some of the more challenging parts of life by putting pen to paper can be as cathartic as actually speaking the words out loud. The Intermountain Healthcare website details how journalling helps keep our brains in shape. “Not only does it boost memory and comprehension, but it also increases working memory capacity, which may reflect improved cognitive processing,” they said.
Manifestation and mindfulness
The concept that your thoughts can influence your reality is known as “manifesting”. Lately, this mindfulness practice has received a lot of attention on TikTok so it is no surprise that it has been grabbing the public's attention during such a challenging period.
Social media users, celebrities and everyone in between swear that this continuous process of creation can help people build their dream lives. According to Insider: “Manifestation is the idea that you can turn desires and beliefs into reality through a mixture of writing, praying or affirmations.” There is even research that suggests this form of positive thinking can lead to concrete results.