Our minds are rarely quiet. Questions, ideas, thoughts and plans constantly flow through our consciousness, often with little order or purpose. But knowing how to clear your mind and create headspace can improve your wellbeing in so many ways.

Practising yoga connects us to the breath. It also brings our attention to the parts of the body that allow us to exhale and inhale fully. As you tune in to your body more and more, you may start to notice all the ways your breath can vary. It can be quiet or noisy, heavy or soft. It can be relaxing or energising, and it can even make you feel tense.

Yoga can help improve breathing patterns and good breathing patterns can improve the quality of your yoga practice, but there are numerous wellbeing benefits beyond this too. Since breathing happens automatically, it’s easy to forget it’s a valuable tool you can use to manage stress and improve your mood. When you feel hemmed in, closed off or overwhelmed, your breath is one of the most profound ways to reclaim a feeling of spaciousness.

Routines help us predict and plan. They provide stability and make us feel safe. They also help us achieve our dreams. Developing and sticking with a routine that’s aligned with your goals is one of the best ways to achieve success. If your goal is to improve and maintain your overall health and wellbeing, a self-care routine is essential.

Personally, I resisted routine and structure for a long time, thinking it would restrict my freedom and creativity. The reality couldn’t be more different. Having a structure allows me to use my time more effectively, so I can be more productive, more creative and healthier.

So how do you create a self-care routine that supports your wellbeing?

At State of Liberty, we believe self-care is a way of life and that the best place to start is in the home.  Your home environment can greatly enhance your sense of wellbeing, support your self-care practices and nourish you.

Clearing and letting go of unwanted and unused belongings, or cleaning and adding fresh flowers, can transform the atmosphere, helping us move from feeling stuck and overwhelmed to feeling light and inspired.

In short, creating a safe, supportive and inspiring space in your home is a key part of establishing a regular wellbeing routine.

What Is a Capsule Wardrobe?

The term ‘capsule wardrobe’ was originally coined by Susie Faux, the owner of a popular London boutique during the 1970s. According to Faux, a capsule wardrobe is a small collection of essential items of clothing that never go out of fashion, such as skirts, trousers, and coats, which can be paired with trend-led, seasonal pieces.

In Chinese Five Element Theory, autumn is governed by the metal element. Metal relates to the emotion of grief, so it’s a key time to resolve sadness and release thoughts and feelings that no longer serve us. If we don’t give ourselves the time and space to do this, we risk leaving our lives cluttered with unnecessary physical and emotional ‘stuff’. This stuff weighs us down and holds us back from living our best lives.

Writer Franky Shanahan was 22 when her father died of leukaemia. Today, she’s sharing her experience of living with grief for more than a decade and explaining how she uses self-care to help her let go of sadness.

Burnout is a state of prolonged stress resulting in mental, physical and emotional exhaustion. We’ve discussed this issue before and shared advice to help you spot the warning signs before burnout takes hold. But what if it’s too late for that?

Burnout won’t go away on its own. It’s not something you can push through, and until you address the underlying causes, it will continue to get worse. Recovering from burnout is a slow process. You need time and space to recuperate. Here are seven ways to heal and recover:

Identify Why

In order to move forward, it’s important to identify why you experienced burnout in the first place. The answer to this question might be obvious, or it might require some deeper introspection. Keeping a stress diary is a good way to monitor your stress levels. Each day, note both big and small causes of stress, record the cause of stress and why you think the situations made you feel that way.

Available to buy in our brand new online shop, the SOL Autumn Blend is made from the highest quality organic essential oils. Carefully chosen to support you physically, mentally and emotionally, it’s designed to enhance wellbeing practices such as yoga and meditation. It’s the perfect essential oil for autumn.