Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2019 i In The Moment

Download your bonus papers While I love February’s crisp, cold days with its frosted leaves and watercolour blue sky, for many of us it’s the month we notice a dip in motivation, as the honeymoon period of the new year has passed and January’s intentions begin to feel a little less appealing – the early morning walk, the daily yoga practice, the healthy eating plan… and it’s easy to slip back into old habits. So our themes, this issue, are motivation and self-confidence – for we cannot have one without the other. It’s something I think we can forget. We judge ourselves, and sometimes others, harshly for a ‘lack of motivation’, or staying power, when actually we have the will, we just haven’t yet found the way. So often, what…

Llama karma We’re all familiar with the Dalai Lama, but have you heard of the Dolly Llama? We hadn’t either, but we’ve discovered that he has a lot to say about spirituality and wellbeing in a witty new book, The Dolly Llama: Words of Wisdom from a Spiritual Animal. “The Llama Karma tradition to which I belong teaches that the best way to keep a happy mind is through ‘cuditation’ (a hybrid of meditation and chewing),” he explains in the book. “Cuditating can sometimes mean standing in a field and chewing cud blankly, yet it can also involve finding time to repeat to oneself positive teachings.” He shares such llama life-inspired teachings in each chapter, addressing everything from hope to compassion and discipline: “Discipline is something we practise, just as…

Amy Christiansen Si-Ahmed is a social impact entrepreneur, having founded her own socially conscious luxury fragrance house, Sana Jardin, in 2015. “My grandmother, Mary Pomeroy, co-founded The United States Delegation for Friendship Among Women. She gifted me with the desire to work towards social justice and empower women economically,” says Amy, who spent 20 years working as a social worker in the non-profit sector. To do this, Amy started the Orange Blossom Project, working with non-profit organisation, Nest, and Moroccan oral supplier, Les Arômes du Maroc. “We created a cooperative for the indigenous women who harvest orange blossom used in our perfumes, enabling them to upcycle oral waste into their own line of products. They then sell these products under their own brand name, Annammaa, retaining 100% of the proceeds,”…

A busy schedule can make it hard to find time to relax, and giving ourselves a regular dose of TLC often slips down our list of priorities. Swiss herbal sweet brand Ricola works to a philosophy of always prioritising our wellbeing, and is committed to finding different ways of taking time out for ourselves – regardless of where we are or what we’re doing. Ricola’s sugar-free herbal sweets, for example, have been designed to make precious moments of calm, enjoyment and appreciation possible for everyone, even when we’re out and about. Made using a unique 13-herb blend and free from artificial flavours and colours, the deliciously refreshing sweets come in a range of flavours including LemonMint, Elderflower, Mountain Mint, Cranberry and Herbal Caramel. Having a packed diary doesn’t mean you…

I knew sports marketing was my dream career from my first interview. I was successful in a world I loved. Better still, I’d achieved it for myself. The industry is male-dominated and I got such a buzz from breaking down misconceptions and gaining the respect of old-fashioned senior managers. I was where I was meant to be. I still glow when I talk about it. Unfortunately, while on maternity leave, the company re-structured, meaning potential redundancy. Then, I was offered an amazing opportunity with a huge brand. But in reality, returning to work at a new company to deliver the biggest project of my career (and the company’s history) – while also juggling being a new mum to a nine-month-old baby – didn't work. Following a psychological breakdown, I made…

1 MIND www.mind.org.uk Mind is a UK-based charity that offers lots of advice for coping with loneliness. It also has an online community, Elefriends (www.elefriends.org.uk), if you need someone to talk to. 2 MEETUP www.meetup.com This handy website is a great way to find activities and groups in your area, covering everything from walking to life-drawing classes. There’s no fee and no obligation to go to any meetup. 3 THE GREAT GET TOGETHER www.greatgettogether.org Set up in memory of British MP Jo Cox, the Great Get Together is a bi-annual event aimed at bringing communities together. 4 THE LONELY HOUR PODCAST www.thelonelyhour.com Listening to the experiences of others can help you to feel that you’re not alone. This podcast presented by writer Julia Bainbridge ended in 2017, but there are…

Q I’m having a total nightmare with my neighbours. I’m 39 and I want a nice settled life in my flat, whereas the people who live upstairs are in their early 20s and still love partying. Annoyingly, they slam doors, play loud music day and night, have friends round constantly and they have even hosted rehearsal sessions for their band. I own my at while my neighbours upstairs rent, and although I know it’s just as much their home as it is mine, it does make me angry that I’ve worked so hard for so long to be able to afford somewhere nice, and now it’s being ruined by really inconsiderate people. I have tried to speak to them about it calmly and politely and they say they’ve taken what…

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February can be a bit of a challenging month. It lacks the excitement and fresh-start feeling January has and it falls before the uplifting energy of spring. The daylight is minimal, it’s cold and lots of us will be wrangling with the realities of Christmas debt. The ‘calendrical’ doldrums, so to speak. But actually, February can be a really delightful month. Candlemas, Valentine’s and Galentine’s Day are all lovely excuses for celebrations with friends and loved ones; something I believe is particularly important at this time of year. If you look carefully, the coming spring is gathering momentous energy below ground, too. As I’ve got older, I’ve begun to understand the necessity of the changing seasons more – specifically, the need for a time to be fallow, which is critical…

My bedroom is messy. You’d be forgiven for imagining that I am a teenage girl but no, I am a 35-year-old woman – and my dad can no longer ground me when I don’t tidy up. Now, pop over to my house unannounced and you’ll see an immaculate living room and kitchen. But the bedroom – don’t even ask to go up there. And while I can offer reasons for this – my five year old’s penchant for emptying cupboards, my ‘floordrobe’ tendencies when getting dressed in a hurry – the real reason is something deeper. When it comes to our homes, we tend to prioritise the bits that other people see. It’s why we tidy the toys away for that Instagram snap, but leave them be for our own…

Why do we hear the call of the ocean, feel the itch to swim in the sea? For me it’s a strong desire to be in wide open spaces, free from built-up places, looking out at empty horizons. I find sea swimming hugely beneficial for a busy, anxious brain – there’s something about the rhythmic nature of the sea’s tides, the steady wash of the waves and the repetitive pull and push of front crawl that leads quickly to peace. It’s easy to forget all about the joys of wild swimming come winter. When daylight hours are precious and it’s bitterly cold outside, we naturally want to hibernate. But if you’re brave you might find that cold weather swimming is an amazing coping mechanism for fighting off the winter doldrums.…

1 It boosts your circulation and gets your heart pumping without straining it. This means that a daily stroll could reduce your chances of suffering a heart attack, stroke or other cardiac malfunction in later life. 2 It’s good for your mood. A 2010 study by Jules Pretty and Jo Barton from the University of Essex showed that walks improved feelings of self-esteem and helped combat depression. 3 It will help prevent varicose veins. Luis Navarro, medical director of the Vein Treatment Center, New York, says that walking strengthens the muscles and veins in our calves and feet and helps to maintain a healthy blood flow back up to the heart. 4 It can help you to maintain bone density and strong muscles and, if it’s your goal, to lose…

Photo comp winner! Our latest Instagram photography challenge theme was ‘cosy’ and this picture sent in by Natalie (@zen.lens) definitely fits the brief. “Christmas has allowed me to slow down and spend valuable time with my loved ones; sharing stories of the past and realising how far we have all come,” writes Natalie. “However, the period between Christmas and New Year always makes me want to get organised! What goals do I want to achieve in 2019? I love the feeling of complete freedom to pursue whatever we fancy!” Natalie wins this lovely tea set by T2 worth £35 (t2tea.com). See last month’s shortlist & find our latest photo competition on our Insta. Moments of clarity I had a couple of mini revelations while I was reading issue 21 of In…

Head off on a last-minute adventure. February to April are off-season for many countries, so now is the perfect time to plan an escape. From Greece to Bali, beating the rush will mean that you can make the most of the must-visit spots, find lower-cost airfare and more accommodation options – just check the weather before you go to know what to expect. Send a little bit of love out into the world this Valentine’s Day with the huggg app. The idea is simple – pick a food or drink treat for a loved one and write them a message, then pay and your gift will be sent straight to their phone, for them to redeem and enjoy. It’s a lovely way to let someone know you’re thinking about them,…

Usually, we’re encouraged to put down our phones while we focus on a good book, but new technology is allowing us to combine the two to engage even more in the stories we read. Developed by the Ambient Literature project, this immersive new genre of novels is written for smartphone, allowing the story to sync to the reader’s surroundings and then change according to how they interact with their environment. The idea is to redefine the rules of the reading experience, helping us to adapt to digital advancement, rather than reject it. Just be careful to watch where you’re going as you read! You can find out more about the project and download the four stories currently available at research.ambientlit.co…

Fear can be useful when it gives us pause to consider, or protects against, something detrimental to us. But when fear becomes more than a warning signal, and when the anticipated threat has become bigger than its likelihood, then we find ourselves refusing experiences or possibilities that might be positive. One of the problems with fear as an emotion is that we have a physical response to it, caused by a surge of the stress hormone adrenaline. This gears the body up to the fight/flight/freeze response, putting us on red alert, making the heart pound and our breathing faster. It can feel horrible and we can in fact become fearful of that feeling, so learning to manage this becomes important. But how? Naming your fear in order to face it,…

“I’m really, really happy when I sleep in Yoga Nidra because it’s like wiping my hard drive” Hands up if you’ve ever hankered after a better night’s sleep, or longed for a time when your mind wasn’t swirling with a million and one thoughts? Quite a lot of us, then! Yet we can feel so bogged down with never-ending to do lists and overstimulated by our digital devices that switching on can seem impossible. So, on a quest to unwind fully and reach peak relaxation, I decided to try Yoga Nidra, AKA yogic sleep. It has been likened by devotees to that magical time just before you nod off, when your body is fully relaxed and your mind is lucid. Finding a class at triyoga in London, I meet Leela…

Scandi fresh If the stuffy, drying winter months cooped up indoors leave you longing for the clean air of Scandinavian forests and lakes, then buddy up with Nordic White Body Oil – your skin’s new best friend. Feel soothed by frankincense, restored by pine and revitalised by sweet notes of starflower. What’s more, it doubles up as a hair treatment oil, too. £42 www.bodhiandbirch.com Handy nail boost With skin vying for attention in winter, it’s easy to forget about our nails; moisturising will keep them looking fantastic for when you whip off your mittens. Slather on skin-loving ingredients cocoa butter and honey, sure to restore your nails to health and make them shine. The ingredients in Akamuti Cuticle Moon Hand & Nail Butter are fairly traded and organic. £6.95 www.akamuti.co.uk Terrific twosome…

∗ GIBI ASMR American ASMRtist Gibi (pronounced gee-bee) is one of the most popular on YouTube. She has over 1.5 million subscribers and more than 7 million views on some of her most watched videos. Gibi is a good safe bet to start you off with ASMR, as her channel incorporates many of the most common triggers. ∗ WHISPERSRED ASMR Dr Thomas Hostler recommends the WhispersRed channel, which is run by one of most followed ASMRtists in the UK, Emma. She has a warm, motherly appeal and is a particularly good option if you are thinking about trying ASMR to help you sleep. ∗ LILY WHISPERS ASMR ASMRtist Lily particularly appeals to teenagers or younger women as her channel includes ASMR role-playing videos, where she becomes your best friend at a nail…

Sitting down with my daughter after her first day at secondary school, I red a barrage of questions at her. “Did you make new friends? Were the teachers nice?” She, however, was ravenous and entirely focused on getting herself a sandwich. Nothing fancy you understand: just a piece of cheese wedged between two slices of bread. She looked at me pointedly and said: “Mummy, I’ll tell you all about it in a bit. I just want to enjoy eating this sandwich in quiet. Without any distractions.” So I bit my lip, held my tongue and watched my daughter as she closed her eyes, smiled blissfully and said “Mmmm” as she chewed – and I finally appreciated what it meant to eat mindfully. Though I’d attended courses, read books and completed…

Home is our sanctuary; the place we feel safe and secure, where we retreat to after a long day, the space where we can recharge our batteries. No matter the size, location or style, our homes should be the place where our shoulders relax as soon as we step through the door and where we feel at our most comfortable and content. Yet, many of us are missing a few tricks when it comes to making the most of the space we have, and with just a few small changes we can ensure that our homes really are a haven, helping to boost both our physical and emotional health. Becoming more mindful about what you have around you is the first step to ensuring that your home contributes positively to…

I have always loved the seasons. They are steeped in traditions and unwritten laws of bygone days. I welcome them with elation and anticipation, each one bringing a constant reminder that life goes on. It is the idea of renewal and hope that enthrals all of us. Every season brings with it a bounty; nothing is more magical when wandering along a lane in late winter than suddenly coming across a glorious clump of snowdrops in bud about to burst open. My thoughts turn immediately to spring and I can’t wait to get home and start creating a fresh look to reflect this time. It’s the same for each season, and year after year the excitement never wanes – that is what I cherish. In Scandinavia, seasons play a very…

Swim Wild print We all need reminding to get off the sofa and into the water sometimes, especially at this time of year. Display this charmingly simple swim-themed screen print by Helena Tyce Designs somewhere in your sitting room – it certainly makes us want to down tools and go for a dip immediately. As the poem by Steven Corbett it features reads, ‘What’s a worry, once you’re in?’. £19.50 notonthehighstreet.com Sink or Swim shampoo bar If a dip in the salty ocean or a chlorinated pool tends to make your hair feel rather straw-like, swap your regular shampoo for this lovely, all natural solid version. As well as being an eco-friendly, vegan way to wash your locks, its infusion of rosemary, lavender and nettle will naturally cleanse your hair, while…

A sojourn by the sea is an invaluable way to recharge, reconnect and harness the power of nature away from the commitments and distractions of day-to-day life. Winter or summer, rain or shine, there’s something truly uplifting and calming about the ocean – and with more than 700 picture-perfect places to stay around the coasts of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight, Classic Cottages is your go-to for a heavenly seaside retreat at any time of year. Head to the clifftops near Kingsand, Cornwall, and you’ll find Rockwater Cabin, a luxury, dog friendly hideaway for three with a terrace perfect for al fresco dining and a backdrop of mesmerising sea views. The Lizard Peninsula in the far south is home to Maen Eglos, a modern yet…

The Southern Highlands is the perfect destination for a long weekend as part of an Australian odyssey. To get there, it’s best to fly into Sydney and then hire a car. The drive from Sydney takes around an hour and a half and a car makes travelling between the towns, and reaching some of the more out-of-the-way walks and wineries considerably easier. That said, if rail is more your style, there is also a train between Sydney and the Highlands which stops at Bowral, Moss Vale and Mittagong.…

Ever since I completed my first short story at the age of six, I had dreamt of being a writer. My family always thought I would be one, as did my friends. It was my thing. But what people didn’t realise, to my shame, was that I wasn’t doing any writing at all. I was just a dreamer, letting life, feelings of self-doubt, and excuses get in the way of pursuing my dream. It was coming up to Christmas in 2015, and, as always, I desperately wanted to be able to tell my friends and family, “Yes, I’m working on something great”, when they inevitably asked about my writing. This year, I realised that I didn’t just want to say it to them; I wanted to say it to myself…

KAREN EDWARDS Karen is a travel and lifestyle journalist who has been travelling the world for the past few years, raising awareness of climate change and ethical travel. Read more about her adventures at www.travelbutterfly.com This issue, karen writes about finding our identity; read her story on page 20 SUZY GLASKIE As a certified health coach and lifelong foodie, Suzy knows a thing or two about what we should be eating for both body and mind. She shares her knowledge online at www.peppermintwellness.co.uk How we eat is just as important as what we eat, writes Suzy on page 62 CAROLINE ROWLAND Caroline is the founding editor of interiors and lifestyle publication 91 Magazine. You can read more from her and enjoy her interior style picks on her website: www.patchworkharmony.co.uk. Caroline…

How did you come to start working with food? After I finished my degree in African History, I decided to take the summer off before looking for a ‘proper’ job in autumn. Two friends and I set ourselves the challenge of going to London and finding a job in a day to earn some holiday money. I went to Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden and got a job at the bakery, supposedly because I was wearing the same shoes as the woman who interviewed me! The business was a cooperative, so we ran all parts of it, learning everything from accounts to serving tea. Looking back, my four years there were my happiest time. How did your career then progress? In 1984, I moved to Bath to open Broad Street…

1 MY DAD WROTE A PORNO No comedy podcast list would be complete without this one. Host Jamie is joined by friends James and Alice to read aloud chapters from an erotic fiction penned by his father during his free time. The result is as awkward and hilarious as it sounds! 2 DOPE QUEENS The queens in question are Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson, who record a live comedy show each week with some of their favourite comedians, talking about everything from race to feminism with a sharp wit and on-point jokes. 3 PUNCH UP THE JAM If you’re a music fan, this one’s for you – comedians and best friends Miel Bredouw and Demi Adejuyigbe break down well-known songs, hilariously picking apart problematic lyrics and hidden meanings, then recreating…

∗ Make a list of everybody in your life who is ‘on your team’. Look at that list and you might go: ‘Oh my goodness, there are all these people who are in my corner’. Seeing a list of names is very galvanising. But if you feel you’d like more people on your side… ∗ Make time to nurture your connections. Ask yourself whether you’ve nourished that relationship recently and what you need to do to strengthen your connections. ∗ Play to your personal strengths. Think about the various people who are part of your life and how you can engage with them in the most constructive way. Different people have different strengths, so we come together in different ways. Some individuals are naturally gifted at being there for you…

While guided classes are preferable and available in yoga studios across the country, you can make Yoga Nidra part of your night-time routine by listening to a CD in bed and then drifting off to sleep. Go to www.leelamiller.com for more details. Apps like Kardia, which let you set a gong at regular intervals to assist with your deep breathing, can also recreate some of the effects of Yoga Nidra. Doing 10-20 minutes, while listening to soothing music and going to your ‘happy place’ will help clear your mind of any stresses and set you on course for a good night’s sleep.…

Crystals have been revered by different civilisations throughout history; they’ve been used to symbolise power and wealth, as a form of protection, and for their medicinal and healing properties. It wasn’t until the 1980s, after the New Age movement, that crystal therapy as we know it today became popular. At the time, books were starting to emerge on the topic and work carried out by American scientist Marcel Vogel into the subtle energies in crystals, plants and humans was gaining media attention. Crystal therapy works on the principle that energy owns throughout the body and if this becomes stagnant or blocked, it can result in poor health. “The aim of a session is to retune your energy system naturally, bringing your body, mind and spirit back into balance and restoring…

1 COURAGE & SPICE If you struggle with self-doubt, this podcast created by Sas Petherick should be your go-to series. Sas has an MA in Coaching and Mentoring – specialising in self-doubt. “Personally, my self-doubt is one of my greatest teachers and richest sources of growth. It still feels awful when it strikes, but now I see it for what it is: a completely understandable response to psychological risk,” she says. Each episode covers a different theme with regular guests. @saspetherick 2 THE CALMER YOU Anxiety can be exhausting, but Chloe Brotheridge is here to help. Hynotherapist and author of The Anxiety Solution, she also hosts The Calmer You Podcast. Chloe says: “I started the podcast because I wanted to create something that would be a friendly, informative and reassuring…

1 TALLY RYE Tally is a personal trainer who prioritises health and happiness over weight loss or body transformations. For her, having nutrition and diet advice available at the touch of a button is a challenging topic: “There is so much conflicting information out there, and what suffers most is our relationship with food. We forget what food tastes like and how it makes us feel, and start focusing on the numbers.” Tally encourages both her clients and her online community to create a positive relationship with food through her online posts, sharing information and inspiration to help us reconnect to eating intuitively. @tallyrye 2 LAURA IU Describing herself as a non-diet dietician, Laura is a registered nutritionist, yoga teacher and founder of Nourish New York, helping people to find…

Essential oil candles Give your sanctuary – and yourself – a warm glow. Candlelight is essential for a relaxing evening in, but make sure to opt for non-paraffin wax versions. Join London candles are created from soy wax with essential oils. They are also vegan, made from 100 per cent recyclable materials and don’t contain parabens or synthetic colours. from £10, www.joinstorelondon.co.uk Linen throw When it comes to textiles, aim for natural fabrics where possible to soothe body and soul. Ren sells a range of gorgeously tactile linen homewares. This beautifully understated throw is printed by hand and is extremely versatile. Use it as an extra layer on your bed, or perhaps even as a tablecloth. £125, www.renlondon.co Uplifting prints Be ready when self-doubt sets in, with some inspirational prints around your…

“The moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow,” said poet and historian Henry David Thoreau, nicely summing up what contemporaries Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin also believed, and what the peripatetic philosophers of ancient Greece had long known – the path to creativity is a long and hard road best accessed on foot. As someone who unfortunately has a very close relationship with writers’ block, I’m right there with Thoreau. Walk and thought are inextricably linked. When my brain shuts down and I find myself lost for words, I hit the streets. Sometimes when I’m out wandering, a feature that I’ve been struggling with, one that has hung structureless on the computer screen like a crumpled shirt on a hanger, begins to take shape in my…

Tim Pears’ West Country Trilogy began in 2017 with The Horseman. In a Devon village in 1911, we meet 12-year-old Leo Sercombe, the son of a gifted horseman with a preternatural talent of his own; and Lottie Prideaux, daughter of the local squire, who is similarly skilled at riding and tending to horses. Pears’ portrayal of country life is not idealised, but there is an appealing innocence to it, and to Leo and Lottie’s burgeoning relationship across the social divide – an innocence shattered in a shocking climax that sees Leo cast out from his home and family. Book two – The Wanderers – followed Leo in his exile, and ended as World War One was beginning. So this concluding volume, called The Redeemed, opens with our horseman now a…