Wellbeing Journal
5 Holistic Wellness Tips for the Holiday Season
Maintaining holistic wellness practices over the festive period can often be a challenge. With so many social activities, getaways to plan, and Christmas shopping to do, it’s not surprising that healthy eating, self-care, and exercise fall by the wayside. To help keep your mind, body, and soul nourished over the holiday season, here are our top 5 tips. Keep Moving Our exercise plans tend to go out the window with the arrival of the festive season. Whether you are jetting off on holiday or have the whole family coming to stay, it is often difficult to fit in a much-needed workout. If you can't hit your favorite yoga class or a session at the gym, try and change it up with fun family and friends activities, whether bike-riding, beach volleyball, or a round of cricket in the garden. Elevate your Beauty Ritual The holidays can often wreak havoc on our skin with so many celebrations and indulgences. Consider your skincare goals for the season. Perhaps you want glowing party-ready skin or a nourishing treatment to hydrate thirsty skin? Updating your daily skincare ritual by adding an essence, serum, or treatment can give you the perfect boost to reach your holiday skin goals. Stay Hydrated With so much merry-making, mulled wine, festive cocktails, and glasses of celebratory bubbles, it is easy to become dehydrated. To help, start the morning with a glass of cold water with lemon and ensure you drink at least 8 ounces of water per day. Remember that dehydration can also take its toll on the skin, so this is the time to up the ante on your hydrating skincare rituals. Think hydrating mists, serums, lotions, creams, and nourishing overnight masks and treatments. Book a Spa Day The festive season can often deplete our energy, leaving both mind and body exhausted. If this is the case, it's often best to leave it to the professionals. Book a Jurlique spa experience and indulge in a signature facial, nourishing body treatment or treatment package for head-to-toe relaxation and rejuvenation. Practice Mindfulness With body and skin sorted, it is time to focus on the mind. Stress is all too common over the holidays, so it's important to nurture your mind during this busy period. Schedule five minutes of meditation per day—turning off your phone, tuning out the world and allowing a moment of calm to set you up for the day ahead.
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Misting Moments
A celebrated Jurlique icon, we share our favorite ways to enjoy a misting moment.
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THE POWER OF PLANTS
Indoor plants have been used to decorate homes and heal people since 1,000 B.C. China. Their benefits have since been recognised by the science community, proving household plants as essential indoor companions in urban dwellings. We adorn our Jurlique offices with these all-natural air purifiers, for they improve the air quality while reducing the stress levels of those working amongst them. Read on for all of the reasons to bring more greenery into your home or workspace.They pay their wayIn 1989, NASA conducted a study looking at the benefits of houseplants, naming it the NASA Clean Air Study. It found that having one plant per nine square metres of your home or office will remove toxic airborne agents, such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. Garden Mums, Spider Plants and Dracaena are the top performing pollutant removers. Plants such as orchids, succulents, snake plants and bromeliads also absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen all through the night (unlike most other varieties that only do this during the day time), making them the perfect bedroom companions.They are visually beautifulPlants are an easy way to enhance your loungeroom or workspace. By adorning your windowsills with succulents, draping macramé hangers from curtain rails or bringing a big and bold potted fiddle leaf fig, you’ll make a huge difference to the look and feel of your space. Get your hands dirty by simply taking a cutting from a friend’s plant and propagating your own from scratch; you’ll feel a true sense of achievement as it flourishes.They reduce stressThe art of shinrin yoku, or forest therapy, was first invented in Japan and is predicated on the idea of visiting or looking at nature as a means to calm, rejuvenate and restore the mind. Studies have found that plants bestow positive changes in the brain’s electrical activity, relieving muscle tension and calming heart activity. Bring a piece of the forest into your living room with your very own bonsai tree.They bring the outdoors, inAs more people move to be closer to big cities, they inevitably have less exposure to Nature, which means they come into contact with a less diverse microbiota. This refers to the community of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live in your gut and on your skin, and which is essential to fighting off disease. Keeping a herb garden will encourage you to have direct contact with plant life, while also offering a constant supply of fresh basil, thyme and mint.Jurlique’s Tree Planting Day At Jurlique we love our plants indoors and out. Every year since 2012, Jurlique staff have been planting native trees at our farm in South Australia. The trees improve our carbon footprint, enhance the area’s biodiversity, and offer protection for our organically grown botanicals. Learn more here.
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WHY AIR QUALITY MATTERS IN YOUR SKIN CARE
The ability to scientifically measure and study the impact of pollution might be relatively new, but we’ve always had a belief that air quality is one of the crucial factors in producing pure, effective skin care. It’s one of the reasons our founders moved across the globe to settle in the rolling Adelaide Hills of South Australia.How pollution affects skin (and skin care)For many decades, there was one clear environmental culprit capable of wreaking havoc on our complexions; this was, of course, the sun’s UV rays. More recently, another offender has come along: the air itself. Unlike the sun, however, air pollution gives no early warning signs.Separate studies have found that air pollution can have a significant impact on the skin, leading to the premature appearance of visible signs of ageing, such as fine lines and pigmentation.But there’s another side to this story that’s far less known: what’s the impact of air pollution on the botanical ingredients grown specifically for skin care?The quality of air that surrounds plants plays a huge role in determining just how robust and healthy those plants may be. According to a report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), air pollution can cause damage to soil quality, which “in turn, penetrates into the plant structure and impairs its ability to develop”. As a result, botanicals may turn yellow, develop spots or die completely.The purity of South AustraliaAdelaide, as one of Australia’s smaller cities, has benefited from relatively low levels of pollution – seven times lower than that in Shanghai, and more than one-third of the levels in Seoul, according to data compiled by the World Health Organization.For this reason, we made South Australia our home base. In this unspoiled environment, which our founders refer to as “the purest place on Earth”, we grow all our botanical ingredients, including hydrating Rose, which goes on to become our antioxidant-rich Rosewater Balancing Mist. Thanks to the clean-air conditions in which the Rose is grown, the resulting mist restores your skin and instils an unmistakable glow.Our home is a particular point of pride for Jurlique, for the growing conditions found here are what enable us to grow botanicals far more powerful than any other. What is pure and grown in Nature can only deliver radiant, glowing skin. It’s as simple as that.
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HOW TO REBALANCE YOUR ENERGY NATURALLY
How to Rebalance Your Energy NaturallyModern workers complain of the mid-afternoon slump. All of a sudden, it feels as if all the energy has drained out of you. Some call it brain fog, others refer to it as plain old exhaustion. Rather than reach for a quick fix, the wiser option is to implement naturally energy-boosting habits you can maintain long-term. Your precarious balancing act ends here.Aid your digestionAn unhealthy gut can have huge health implications for the rest of the body – energy levels included. Apple cider vinegar is an alkalising liquid that can help with digestion, especially for those who don’t produce enough hydrochloric acid in their stomachs. Opt for the unfiltered organic variety, and drink it diluted in water about 15 minutes before meals.Step away from the white breadWhile they can provide your body with energy, foods heavy in carbohydrates will, for the most part, leave you feeling sluggish. The main culprit? Simple carbs, like those found in sugary drinks, white bread, and pasta, which burn through your body quickly. Stick to wholegrain, low-glycaemic carbohydrates that take longer to digest. Nuts, legumes, sweet potatoes, oats, and brown rice will all provide your body a steady supply of energy, helping you avoid the crash-and-burn effect.Break a sweatIf you’ve ever gotten your sweat on, you’d know the incredible clarity that comes from a flood of endorphins hitting your system. Exercise gives your cells more energy to burn, circulating oxygen around the body and releasing epinephrine and norepinephrine (stress hormones) that in modest amounts that make you feel energised. Even a brisk walk on your break can help.Have another glass of waterFeeling fatigued is one of the first signs that your body is short on fluids. The recommended daily amount of water is 2 litres per day, but be sure to drink slowly and keep it at room temperature, so it is easily ingested and absorbed by your body.School yourself in essential oilsStudies have found that inhaling essential oils under stressful conditions can lead to noticeable positive neurological responses, as fragrance compounds directly affect the brain. When it comes to improving energy levels, essential oils with citrus properties are great for boosting energy and motivation – we love a few drops of our Revitalising Blend Essential Oil, which can be used in a vaporiser for the office. If you don’t have a diffuser handy, try a spritz of our Revitalising Blend Aromatherapy Mist, close your eyes and spray mist above your head, and deeply inhale the Orange, Bergamot, Lemon and Lavender blend to awaken the senses.
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THE JURLIQUE BY LEAH SIMMONS FITNESS CHALLENGE
Challenge yourself. Try the Jurlique by Leah Simmons Fitness Challengeblog-wellbeing-button-downl-challengeCreated by Pilates Instructor Leah Simmons, this challenge is all about motivating yourself to bring exercise into your everyday routine. Each week there is a mix of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), cardio, mobility (such as pilates or yoga), strength training, and, of course, rest days. Use this plan with your new Wholefoods Nutrition Challenge created by Jacqueline Alwill, and you will see incredible results after four weeks.Download Jurlique X Leah Simmons Fitness Challenge
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TAKE THE JURLIQUE BY VASHTI WHITFIELD MINDFULNESS CHALLENGE
For one month Vashti Whitfield invites you to reconnect with your innate potential and align your body and mind to support optimal wellbeing. Each week there are a selection of specific actions for you to take on and try out. Over these four weeks you will learn how to shift your mindset, achieve your goals and feel more calm and grounded.Download the weekly calendar to help guide you through the Challenge activities. Try scheduling all of your practices and actions into the Jurlique Notepad. The act of writing down your actions creates the space for these actions to happen and will help to keep them in front of your mind.Download the Jurlique X Vashti Whitfield Mindfulness Challenge here
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WHAT DOES WELLNESS MEAN TO YOU?
What does wellness mean to you? Some think quitting sugar, others think yoga on the beach. So here’s a question: what does wellness mean to you?Wellness, the state of experiencing wellbeing. When people think wellness, they sometimes picture their ideal selves: a perfect zen balance of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. However, that image is usually marred by the reality of modern life – we’re often too busy, too stressed to make wellness a priority. To make ourselves, our health, our connection with nature and our happiness, a priority. And that’s something we all deserve to change.This month, we’re launching our national Wellbeing campaign, to inspire us all to wellbeing and lives we truly love – like reconnecting with nature, nurturing your body through nutrition and fitness, and practicing daily mindfulness.At Jurlique, we believe beauty comes from within, and it shows when we’re living in harmony with ourselves and the world around us. So we’ll be looking at how the power of nature can help promote radiant skin, no matter what your skin type or concern. And, with the help of some of Australia’s top nutrition, fitness and mindfulness experts, we’ll also be exploring:The whole foods story – what it is and why it matters, as well as recipes for delicious, nutritious mealsHow to set and manage fitness goals and energy levels with fun workouts you’ll enjoyThe self-love and self-care benefits of being mindful in each moment – and how it can help minimise stressWellness happens by making incremental changes that add up over time. Some of these changes can be small, like eating more vegetables, or swapping coffee for green tea. Others, however, may involve challenging preconceived notions about how we should think, feel, act or simply be – like letting go of negative self-talk, feeling guilty, saying ‘yes’ more often than saying ‘no’ and being the perfect parent / friend / partner / employee / person.This is one of the most important things to remember. Because what links the wellness pillars of skin care, nutrition, fitness and mindfulness isn’t what you’d normally expect. The truth is, what connects them all is you and your experience. You’re the key to realising your happiness and health, and living a life that fills you with joy and contentment, every single day.It’s not about a magic bullet, or having a perfect record. It’s okay to stumble every now and again on the path to wellbeing. What’s important are those gentle gains, and being open to what you might be able to do, right now, in order to start feeling happier and healthier. Because if you can end each day having done one more thing to add value to your life, then every day will be better than the last.And that’s our challenge to you over the coming month.Enjoy September.Team Jurlique x“Our vision was to formulate and manufacture the purest skin care products available based on the healing properties of nature and to inspire people to health and wellbeing.” – Ulrike Klein, Jurlique Co-founderThis month’s skin care, nutrition, fitness and mindfulness articles delivered straight to your inbox – sign up to the Jurlique newsletter.
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