My first "Mood Board"

So, I've been an insomniac for as long as I can remember. I am also super busy like ALL.THE.TIME.

Often, by the time I'm rolling into bed, I'm exhausted but not sleepy. I historically have lain in bed for sometimes hours before falling asleep and that's really not good. 

What can a person do? Besides actually getting OUT of bed until such time one is ready to sleep, there are a couple of things I have found work for me. These things are the subject of my first "Mood Board". Mood boards are also called Inspiration boards and can for just about anything! 

So, what IS a Mood Board? According to Oxford Language, Mood Board is a noun that means: an arrangement of images, materials, pieces of text, etc. intended to evoke or project a particular style or concept.

Businesses use them to envision their branding, interior designers use them to create a colour wheel for a particular room. Why can't WE use them to inspire us, or even just to remind us of things that help our well-being? We CAN!

This mood board seen above is my first one. It is a small collection of the things I know have helped me in the past with my sleep issues. Having this printed out near my bed helps me remember... instead of being frustrated when I can't sleep, get up and make some tea, smell some lavender... hold my amethyst for a few minutes while calm breathing, put on my water soundscapes. 

But, couldn't one just remember what works without the help of a mood board? Sure, maybe some could, maybe you could sometimes, but... when we get into that "nothing is working" mindset, it is so easy to overlook pretty much EVERYTHING in order to wallow. The mood board close by is a VISUAL FOCAL REMINDER to get out of that "can't do" attitude and take care of your mind/body/soul WELLNESS!

It's easy to make and Canva (where I made mine) has a number of free templates to get you started, just search "mood board"! I would love to hear about yours, comment and tell me about them!

Spring Equinox! It's HERE!

If you're more like me than you are my friend Sunna (who truly loves cold and snow), then you're likely quite ecstatic about today, the Spring Equinox! Day and night will be equal and days will then get longer, giving a summer baby like me, more bright hours to bask, and warmer nights... because I love spending dark hours outside with the Moon, gazing at the stars and dancing with the fireflies. I know I'll have to wait a bit longer for that, even with the Equinox approaching it's still in the 20's at night here, so, no basking for me quite yet. But, the promise is there!

As we transition into a new season (at least for those states that HAVE four of them -sorry California, I love ya, but you only have two), especially one which tends to perk people up, it's a great time to look at your Wellness routine and see if there's anything to add, or subtract. 

A Wellness Spring Clean if you will. 

Stress is bad for you, whatever the season, getting out and playing in some dirt after work, or on the weekend is great for stress relief! Plant some wildflowers, or other flowers, herbs, or vegetables that are hardy enough to resist the coldest Spring temps in your zone. Find your zone: HERE (If you're still a little to far from the warmer zones, try utilising a DIY mini greenhouse to get things started!) Click HERE for some super groovy up-cycle greenhouse ideas.

Meditate! Outdoors! Or Yoga! Yes! Meditation and yoga are two activities that people use to relax, to reach inside to their inner selves, or to convene with their divine. Ground yourself by doing these activities out in the grass or dirt (see what I did there?). 

Pack a picnic lunch and take the family, or a group of your friends out for a day in the park. Get that heart and adrenaline pumping with a game of frisbee, biking, or any other physical activity you and your body can handle (health problems mean you can't run for flag football? Try ring toss or cornhole!)

Spring is a great time to try out some fruit infused water, many of these can be used to do a Spring Detox, others just taste good, but at the same time offer something better than juice or soda... I can't wait to make watermelon mint infused water, as soon as it's warm enough for my poor over-wintering mint to come back up! Wellness Mama has some great recipes to try!

Ah yes, the dreaded one... CLEAN! Clean, de-clutter, and organise! This may seem like the least fun of the list so far, but doing these things can go a long way for your overall wellness. Clean, uncluttered, organised spaces just FEEL and FLOW better, which in turn can affect mood positively. Throw open those castle curtains, open a window, put on your favourite tunes, light a soft or floral incense and make your space sing! Go through closets and donate items that no longer fit you/your vibe, rearrange and organise. It took me a LONG time to get this (and I admit, I still struggle at times). Clutter is so out this year (and every year), find a spot for it, or maybe... just maybe... you don't need it anymore.

After all that cleaning, treat yourself to a nice herbal and salts bath, or, if you can afford it, a spa day!

What are YOUR favourite ways to welcome Spring? Comment below!

Namaste & Latcho Drom!

Self-care for Daylight Saving Time

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, Spring is on the way. While the weather in some places-like where I live- doesn't reflect this (it snowed three days in a row this week EDIT: AND again overnight!), the beginning of Daylight Savings Time (Sunday March 10th this year) says otherwise. "SPRING forward" and all that.

According to timeanddate.com, "Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting the clocks forward one hour from standard time during the summer months, and back again in the fall, in order to make better use of natural daylight."

Benjamin Franklin first proposed the idea of DST all the way back in 1784, but the modern version was suggested in 1895. In 1916, Germany became the first country to implement DST nationwide. But, enough history...

The act of changing the clocks, in this case forward an hour can wreak havoc on people's sleep and mood. A little self-care during the transition time may help alleviate the effects. We're going to lose a whole hour of sleep. To some -like myself, who has never had anything even closely resembling a sleep pattern- this may not be a big deal... my husband on the other hand can be "off" for a week or more after. So what can you do? 

1. Go to bed an hour early on Saturday, and get up an hour earlier on Sunday (yeah, I know it's the weekend, you want to sleep in -unless you have to work- but getting up early on a day you won't get in trouble with the boss helps you adjust without jeopardizing your job). If you can't handle the whole hour, do 30 minutes early to bed, 30 minutes early to wake. Try not to nap on Sunday! (If you have time, try starting off tonight at 15-30 minutes early and get up the same amount of time early in the morning.)

2. Avoid caffeine at night, opt for a cup of soothing chamomile or mint tea, or drink water.  Turn your electronics off earlier for the transition. The artificial light can trick our minds into thinking it is earlier than it is. Instead, if safe, light a scented candle and put on some ambient music while enjoying that tea. 

3. Go all out with a therapeutic bath! (I love these!) While drinking your relaxing tea, and listening to ambient music by candlelight, why not take it a step further? Draw a warm bath and put in some lavender herb (in an organza bag if you have one to avoid having to scoop the herb out before draining the tub), lavender oil, or your favourite bath salts. Jasmine oil is also considered a great sleep scent, or if you have a personal scent that you find especially soothing, use that!

4. Even if you don't have to get up early to work or go to school, do so anyway and get some sun! Weather permitting, a brisk walk, yoga or light exercise will go a long way in getting that morning energy up and get your mind and body on the new schedule. If you have kids, get them up for a little early morning movement with you. It will help them transition better as well. Plus, sun = good for you! If you can't get out into the sun, sit near a sunny window and soak up some rays.

5. It's not all about sleep... our mood can be affected by the time change, so pamper yourself on Sunday. A mani-pedi, some dark chocolate, a day out with friends, meditation, family movie matinee with healthy snacks... whatever lifts your spirits, make it a point to do soul and psyche uplifting activities.

Great Morning Yoga Poses to get going:

The Cat-Cow Pose

 Warrior (1) Pose

 Warrior (2) Pose














Check out this article for 5 more Morning Yoga poses.


What are ways YOU help yourself transition during the Spring time change? Comment below!






Namaste & Latcho Drom!