A Little Bit of Self Care

Wellbeing focus

We’re all incredibly busy and stretched in this buzzing modern life of ours, and I am too, so I want to focus our wellbeing offering on things that I think will help us all,will fit into our busy lives, and that can have a lasting effect on our mental and physical health.

So I’ve decided to focus on three things:

  1. Managing our nervous systems

We are all frazzled, all of us. We had a wonderful group hypnosis with Jenny Lidster on Friday, and the things we were worried about were so similar - too much to do, no time to rest, an inability to be present and to stop and smell the roses. We’re still shellshocked from lockdown and from tumultuous global political and economic upheavals, as well as the concerns of climate change. Add to this, we are constantly “on call” due to our phones and without the support systems in place that human beings were meant to have. Put simply, we’re only barely surviving and many of us are struggling physically and mentally from it all.

So we’ll be focusing on regulating our nervous systems and managing overwhelm, stress and anxiety by focusing on being active, nutrition, and management techniques including breathwork and - yes - ICE BATHS (hooray!).

  • Nourish…at High Grange Saturday 24th June 9.30am-5.30pm - the Summer solstice is on 21st June and the sun will remain in a similar place for a few days after this, making it an auspicious time to come together round a fire pit, to cook and eat, and to rest and relax with yoga and breathwork. We’ll be announcing the next in this series of High Grange retreats shortly but we’re so excited to bring together our food and wellbeing offerings for the first time.

  • The Sacred Pause Sunday 2nd July 10am-1pm - A half-day retreat with breathwork facilitator and reiki master Rebecca Baker with refreshments, breathwork, journaling, nature walks, sound and relaxation.

  • Abi Adams is running her Project Women Experience - a half day retreat for busy women with lunch by Luke on Sunday 9th July. It includes movement, breathwork, discussions of feminine health and diary planning. Take a look at her plans for the day!

  • The brilliant Lisa Monger is doing her Elements retreat on Sunday 20th August, including movement, nutrition, breathwork and yes, an optional ice bath. Lisa is THE local ice bath expert and if anyone can get you empowered enough, she will. Lunch is by Luke.

2. Living a more sustainable, natural, slower life

Many of us are searching for spiritual connection, both with each other and with nature, and finding that living a slower life that is more in tune with our natural world is better for our happiness, our health and our bank balances. We’ll be looking at ways to nurture ourselves and our environments, living more in tune with nature and its seasons.

We’ll look into green cleaning, non-toxic natural skincare, gardening and growing, and bespoke seasonal events and retreats to bring us closer to nature.

  • Green Cleaning Workshop Thursday 22nd June 7pm - Debbie Parsons who works with DoTERRA is doing a session on non toxic green cleaning using kitchen stapes like bicarb of soda and vinegar. You’ll come home with your own multi-purpose spray and lots of DIY recipes. She will also lead a session on managing your hormones on 20th July, and making natural sweet treats in September.

3. Being creative, curious and having FUN!

Life is incredibly serious and intense right now. So many of us are searching for things that will take us out of the monotony of our lives. Studies have proven that learning new skills, being creative and being curious about the world have a really profound impact on both our connection with our communities and our mental health.

We’ve got creative writing, poetry readings, floristry, nature walks and drawing, and talks on everything from foraging to fossils, poetry to palaeontology, ink painting and sketching and the use of tech. We’ll learn, campaign, be frivolous and silly, we’ll play and pause, and make the most beautiful things.

Wellbeing looks different to everyone. If you’re support network is a dry martini with extra green olives, that’s OK.

Self Care TIP

What have you done this week for your mental health?

I’m discovering it’s often the simplest things that work the best. We all know them - getting outside, a daily walk, writing our feelings down, drinking enough water. This week, I’ve done the simple act of leaving my phone downstairs before I go up to bed, and its been revelatory. Its given me an extra hour every evening that I might have spent mindlessly scrolling, to read a book! Tidy my bedroom! Light a candle! And, even better, I don’t go to bed with a running to do list of things I have to respond to. In the morning, I wake up deliciously refreshed, without grabbing my phone straight away to be bombarded with more requests for my attention.

AND it makes me get up quickly to run downstairs to have some me-time with Instagram and a cup of tea. I feel more in control of my time, more present and mindful. Give it a go!

Celebrating the Summer Solstice at Lyme Regis Beach, 21 June 2022

The Summer Solstice

The word ‘solstice’ comes from the Latin words for sun (sol) and to stand (sistere). It's the time of year when the position of the rising or setting sun stands still in its movement along the horizon. The Summer solstice occurs on the longest day of the year, usually 21 June, although the sun stays in just about the same place for a few days either side. During the summer solstice, he sun is at its highest point in the sky and it’s the longest day of the year with the shortest night.

Since ancient times, Summer Solstice traditions have included gathering with family and friends to celebrate the return of light, sunlight and a good harvest ahead. Traditionally, people celebrate by gathering together to watch the sun rise and fall, with outdoor feasts and festivities, fire and food.

We’ll celebrate this year with a sunrise swim with friends in the Lyme Bay, and our Nourish retreat on Saturday 24th, round our stone circle fire pit.

Every Sunday on our High Grange Wellbeing instagram page we have a little Sunday self care tip. We also have my musings on wellbeing and psychology, and countless calming footage from our beautiful East Devon coastline. Join us there!

Sara x

High Grange Devon