{"id":107961,"date":"2021-08-01T08:00:55","date_gmt":"2021-08-01T07:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/?p=107961"},"modified":"2021-10-11T09:05:04","modified_gmt":"2021-10-11T08:05:04","slug":"the-joy-of-little-things","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/living\/emily-c\/the-joy-of-little-things\/","title":{"rendered":"Making calming moments around the home"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we’re seeing loved ones more and more, you’d be forgiven for feeling a bit overwhelmed by an overload of events and catch-ups. It can be difficult to seize those calming moments we all need in between the exciting times, whether that’s taking a quick break at work or snatching a second of relaxation on a Sunday.<\/p>\n

There’s never been a better time to sit back and give yourself permission to take in the joy of little things around your home, savouring time to yourself in whatever form that takes. That’s why we got talking to our Joyful Living experts, Amy Burrows, Anouska Lancaster and Gill Gauntlett, to hear about their daily rituals that help instil a sense of serenity into their lives and the small steps they take to relish the little joys along the way.<\/p>\n\"\"\n

As the day begins<\/strong>
\nThough all of us lead busy lives, mornings can be the perfect opportunity to find a bit of serenity amongst the mayhem, and for our experts, it’s all about taking a moment to switch off from the rigid demands of our phones and laptops to soak in a bit of calm before the day begins. ‘My friends laugh, but I still use an old-fashioned alarm clock rather than my phone to wake me up in the morning,’ Amy Burrows says, ‘It allows me to leave my phone on airplane mode until I’m ready and dressed for the day. When I open my eyes, I don’t want my initial thoughts or even my mood to be shaped by social media or emails, and I like to leave some space first thing to gather my own thoughts and ideas for the day.’<\/p>\n\"\"\n

Leaving the phone alone for a moment will help you tune into yourself instead of the lives of so many others, and according to Gill Gauntlett, if you can get out into nature for a moment to let that phone cleanse sink in, all the better. ‘If possible, I start my day with a dog walk. I’m lucky enough to live in the beautiful countryside with fabulous walks that really help me to relax and start the day just right.’ If there’s a park or green space nearby, or even your own garden, just a few minutes absorbing the sounds and sights of nature can serve as the perfect break from a tech-filled day, and Amy agrees. ‘I live by the sea and love nothing more than getting out for a walk along the seafront, either by myself or with a friend. It completely clears my head, snaps me into the present moment and just reminds me to breathe!’<\/p>\n

Finding those few minutes to yourself in the morning can be tricky, but adjusting your expectations to twenty or even ten minutes can help you sneak that moment into your schedule. Anouska Lancaster recommends rising a little bit early before the rush. ‘I\u2019m always the first up, so it\u2019s my 20 minutes of calm and quiet before the children wake up and the chaos begins!’ And her secret weapon? ‘A frothy coffee \u2013 I can\u2019t function without one! Whatever time of year, whether I\u2019m waking up to sunshine or snow, a coffee is what gets me ready for the day ahead.’<\/p>\n

A simple morning ritual like this will help you to work in a moment to unwind, whatever the day has in store for you!<\/p>\n

Downtime<\/strong>
\nWhen work is done, creating a serene space can be more of a challenge, because the day is in full swing and time can run away with you. That’s why putting in a bit of extra effort to set up an area for relaxation can make all the difference, whatever ‘me time’ looks like to you.<\/p>\n

Anouska recommends finding a room or area in your home that you can dedicate to yourself for a short while. ”Me time’ is really important, and my favourite room in the house is my bathroom – mainly as it\u2019s the only room in the house with a lock on the door! The bathroom is my place to take out some time for self-care. It could be a long soak in a bubble bath with candles, or time spent on my beauty regime with products from QVC.’<\/p>\n

Candles are a favourite among our experts to transform a room into a relaxation station, whether you’re giving yourself a well-deserved pamper or simply setting the ambience for a calming evening ahead. ‘I really enjoy the ritual of lighting candles in my living space,’ Amy says, ‘Going around with a box of matches and lighting the tea lights and votives feels like it signifies the end of a work day and the start of downtime and relaxation.’<\/p>\n