Our Approach

Press Pause: The Science of Mindful Moments 

Self-care is often pictured as a bubble bath or scented candle. A nice indulgence. But true self-care goes deeper. It’s about small, intentional moments that let your brain and body respond rather than react, helping you feel more in tune with your day.  

Many people tell me they’ve received beautifully packaged self-care gifts that end up gathering dust. Not because they don’t care, but because they’re unsure how to use them. Our kits are different. Each one is a guided experience that combines sensory treats, with creative activities, reflective prompts and energizing playlists. Every element has a purpose, encouraging you to explore a mindful experience rather than leaving you guessing where to start. 

And it’s not just a feeling. Research shows that engaging the senses, expressing creativity, listening to music, and taking time for reflection can all influence how our brains and bodies respond, supporting calm, focus, and emotional wellbeing, if you choose to make space for it.  

Sensory Science

Our senses do more than help us navigate the world. They shape how we feel within it. Research across healthcare, built environments, and long-term care shows that engaging touch, sight, sound and scent can reduce anxiety and improve mood to support physiological balance [1–3]. Sensory-rich experiences, like a texture under your fingertips, a scent that lifts your mood, or a soothing sound, may offer gentle ways to help restore balance in a busy mind. 

Creative Expression

Few things are as simple, or as satisfying, as putting pencil to paper. Studies show that structured colouring (think mandalas) or free-form drawing can ease anxiety, let the brain slip into a meditative state, and even reduce stress markers like cortisol [4–8]. Engaging in short bursts of creativity may provide space for your mind to reset, offering you a chance to feel calmer and more present throughout the day. 

Sound and Mood 

Music isn’t just enjoyable, it’s scientifically linked to emotional and physical wellbeing. Combined research findings show music therapy can reduce anxiety, lower stress, and even ease physical discomfort [9–12]. Opening yourself up to an immersive music session may subtly guide you towards calm, creating an opportunity to refresh your mind without ever leaving the room.

Reflection & Self-Awareness

Taking a few intentional moments to reflect can have a measurable impact on wellbeing. For example, practicing gratitude, as in noting things you appreciate each day, increases positive emotions that can help reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms when practised alongside other therapeutic approaches [13]. Likewise, cultivating self-compassion, as in being kind to yourself during tough times, is linked to lower stress and better mental health [14]. Taken together, these snippets of research suggest that short moments of reflection can provide an opportunity to observe your thoughts, practice self-kindness, and consider what supports your sense of balance.

Holistically, these elements of touch, colour, sound and reflection may serve as small, intentional moments that offer a gentle way to press pause, reconnect, and reset.  

Mindful living doesn’t have to hinge on hours of meditation or expensive retreats; it can begin with simple, sensory-rich practices woven into your day. 

Your mind is ready for it. The question is, what could a few intentional moments do if you give them a try? 

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  2. Spence C. Frontiers in Psychology. 2021;11:611280.  
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  4. Curry NA, et al. Art Therapy. 2005;22(2):81–85. 
  5. van der Vennet R, et al. Art Therapy. 2012;29(2):87–92. 
  6. Jakobsson Støre S, et al. Art Therapy. 2022;39(4):173–181. 
  7. Carsley D, et al. J Am Coll Health. 2020;68(5):518–527. 
  8. Kaimal G, et al. Art Therapy. 2016;33(2):74–80. 
  9. Lu G, et al. Psychiatry  Res. 2021;304:114137.  
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  11. Lee HY, et al. Asian Nurs Res (Korean Soc Nurs Sci). 2023;17(3):138–149. 
  12. Bradt J, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021;10(10):CD006911.  
  13. Diniz, G. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2023;21:eRW0371. 
  14. MacBeth A, et al. Clinical Psychology Review. 2012;32(6):545–552.