At the start of a New Year, we're all geared towards self-improvement and resolutions, but the importance of slowing down and being kind to ourselves hasn’t changed. As we settle into the new year, we want to make sure we’re prioritising self care, focusing on our physical and mental well-being.
This year, we’re embracing Self Care Sunday like it’s every day and building rituals that nurture our lives. By practising self care, we’re not just following a trend - we’re cultivating important habits that reduce stress and make space for self-improvement. Whether it’s through meditation, exercise or simply reading a book, these small acts of self-kindness can have profound impacts on our health and happiness this year.
Grab a cuppa and a warm blanket, because we’re taking you through our self care checklist to make this year a brighter one.
What is Self Care?
The essence of self care is all about looking after yourself. It’s that crucial me-time where you’re prioritising your mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. Self care isn’t a luxury, but a necessity. If our own cup is empty, how can we make the effort to fill anyone else's?
Practising self care looks different for everyone. It could be anything from taking a peaceful walk, indulging in your favourite hobby to just sitting in the sun with a good book. Remember, taking time for you is an important way of keeping yourself balanced and refreshed in a fast-paced world.
Why is Self Care Important?
As we juggle the unique demands of modern life, screen dominated and non-stop, our minds and bodies often miss out on the TLC they desperately need. Self care is key to managing daily stress, keeping your spirits high and boosting your overall self confidence. It’s not just about feeling good - it’s about keeping ourselves healthy in every way. From keeping stress at bay to increasing self-esteem, the benefits of selfcare are vast.
Let’s take a look at our handy self care checklist, full of tips that go a long way to make your life a little easier and a lot healthier.
Our Self Care Checklist
Get moving
The mind and body are strongly connected, and we all know that exercise can lift our moods and our general wellbeing. Whether you’re running, hitting the gym or doing some down-dogs, getting your body into motion is a must for your mental health.
Here at Quintain Living, fitness is built into the lifestyle no matter how you prefer to exercise. There are gyms and fitness spaces in every building which are kitted out with brilliant state-of-the-art equipment. For residents who prefer training outdoors, why not go for a run around the stadium, or around one of the many brilliant running routes in the area. Alternatively, hop on your bike and explore the cycle routes for a fun weekend activity. For a more tranquil collective experience, you can become a regular at weekly yoga classes in Wembley Park.
If you’re not sure where to start, our partnership with Antidote offers everything you could need. With weekly full immersion fitness classes right in our onsite gyms, our residents have worked up a sweat in HIIT workouts, crushed personal records in boxing classes, have done their best in stationary cycling classes and made wonderful memories in dance classes. If your goal in 2024 is to get moving, you’ll find all the support you need with us at Quintain Living.
Eat clean (and sometimes mean!)
Nourishing our bodies with healthy food is a vital part of any self care checklist, because what we eat plays a huge role in how we feel. Think about it like fueling a high-performance engine - the better the fuel, the better it runs. Although, life’s about balance, right? Treating yourself every now and then will always be on the menu.
Any time we learn something new, it’s a major boost to our self-esteem. This includes learning a new recipe! There’s something so satisfying about whipping up a new recipe for yourself, a friend or a family member. Cooking is a fun form of mindfulness, too. Focusing on preparing a recipe is a great way to manage stress and unwind after a busy day. Our kitchens at Quintain are kitted out with brilliant appliances that can help you with your new culinary adventures.
At Quintain Living, we’re all about embracing community. That’s why we’ve got our cooking classes set up with Bread Ahead, where you can get together with other foodies in your community. Learn, share recipes and enjoy cooking in a fun, social setting.
If you’re keen on understanding exactly what your body needs, our nutrition workshops are just the thing. Led by experts, they’re a fantastic resource to help you tailor your diet to your individual needs. Remember, self care looks different for everyone, so pay attention to the foods and activities, like cooking, that make you feel your best.
Learn and grow
Learning and growing can feel absolutely joyful, especially when there’s no pressure to succeed. To support continued learning for our residents, we run regular goal-setting workshops and have two upcoming sessions specifically covering mental health where we’ll provide valuable tools for personal development.
We have worked with the School of Life who came and hosted an inspirational seminar for our residents. It included tailored workshops catering to smaller groups where attendees had an opportunity to share ideas and learn.
Mindful moments
While setting aside time for mindful moments might seem like a luxury, it’s a necessity for the mind. Whether you’re getting wrapped up in your favourite book, creating notes of your thoughts and deepest feelings or practising gratitude in a journal, you are making your mind your centre. At Quintain Living, we have a host of different nooks and crannies around each of our buildings where you can find this solace outside of your apartment.
Deeper still, meditation helps us be one with self. At Quintain Living, we believe in mindfulness, something that can be practised in the yoga studio at the heart of Wembley Park (or right at home in your flat!). Our monthly events, like tranquil sunset yoga and rejuvenating sound bath sessions, are like medicine for the mind and body.
Stay social
Getting to know your neighbours can be incredibly rewarding as there’s real merit to having friends only a stones throw away. Interacting with others, especially those living in your neighbourhood, has been shown to significantly lift our mood. We’re social beings, so it’s easy to understand why experiencing the joy of real-world connections is unmatched.
Our buildings, like Canada Gardens and The Robinson have multiple social spaces designed to bring people together, encouraging our residents to explore an evening as a social-butterfly and even create long term friendships. Some highlights in these areas are pool tables, TV screens, BBQ pits and an adult sized slide. Whether you attend an event hosted by us, or a private rooftop party, we’re here to help foster a genuine feeling of community.
At one with nature & digital detox
Being close to nature and green spaces is essential for our wellbeing. At Quintain Living, every building boasts lush green spaces and balconies, seamlessly blending urban living with the tranquillity of nature. Houseplants, too, play a vital role in uplifting mood and improving air quality. It can even be a fun solo-date to take yourself to buy a new plant.
Going into nature is the perfect excuse for a digital detox. As a resident, you’ll be close to some of the best parks in West London, where you can feel safe to turn your phone off and get lost among the trees and gardens. If you’d love to get your hands dirty in your own garden, Canada Gardens has plenty of allotments and kids gardening events to help them learn the joys of gardening from a young age.
As we wrap up our guide on embracing self care for the most rewarding year ahead, remember that taking time for ourselves each day is essential to our mental, physical and emotional well being. Even if just for 30 minutes a day, going on a peaceful walk, listening to music or enjoying some serenity with a good book, your self care journey should look like the things that bring you happiness and joy.
With all of our resources for self care, from the social spaces to the green spaces, we at Quintain Living exemplify just how important it is to prioritise your health. To get a better look at the ways our buildings can inspire your wellbeing, reserve your spot on a virtual tour and see for yourself how your living space could nourish your life every day.
