The micro way of life is eco-friendly and capturing everyone's mind. We have micro-start-ups, micro-travel, micro massages, micro self-care, micro-naps, micro-workouts, micro-breaks... Micro wellness is the new movement in the pandemic. With virtual meetings exhausting everyone and email fatigue becoming a real thing, it’s time to tune into some micro wellness in 2022.
Dr Frank Lipman, Gwyneth Paltrow’s wellness doctor, says, “You should follow the ‘Micro’ wellness approach, it’s about encouraging people to pay attention to the little things they do on a daily basis – what they put in their bodies, their sleep habits and their stress levels. We need to check what we do with daily self-care. To be healthier, incorporate micro changes and feel better.”
The world is adapting to small, easy, focused way of doing things. Here's how people are adapting to the micro wellness wave in different ways and simplifying the complexity of life.
Micro Self-Care
Self-care—such as rest, relaxation, fitness or meditation—has morphed into micro self-care. Starting small is the new big. Like taking five-minute micro power naps. Says fitness expert Leena Mogre, “Indulge in sporadic microbursts of physical activity. For instance, the 'Seven Minute Workout' app, which been downloaded by over two million people and is the number one fitness app in 127 countries. Micro workouts are the future. A new workout trend is about doing more in less time. Instead of working out for an hour, people are using micro workouts to supplement their gym routine. In the pandemic, micro workouts can be anything from—brisk walking, jumping rope, jumping jacks, climbing stairs and bike riding. The idea is that short bursts of high-intensity actions are as taxing as longer workout routines.”
Micro-habits
Micro habits are big, with everyone wanting to optimise personal growth and experts argue that they could be game-changing in the pandemic. Says Blossom Kochchar, beauty expert, “During the pandemic, it may be helpful to look for smaller opportunities to make different choices. Manageable micro habits help to minimize such feelings of self-criticism and help fulfil goals.”
Micro-breaks
Micro-breaks are short, voluntary, and impromptu respites in the day. Micro-breaks include activities such as having a snack, chatting with someone, stretching, or working on a crossword puzzle. Five-minute breaks can be golden if you take it at the right time. Micro-breaks help you manage your energy resources over the course of the day. We suggest you try some ‘green micro-breaks’ walk for five minutes in greenery or try some ‘micro yoga poses’. You will be energetically recharged. Author of Chill: Turn off your job, Turn on your life, Bryan Robinson talks about how everyone should learn how to take ‘microchillers’ to de-stress. The new science of Microchillers shows how you can distill the de-stressing benefits of meditation in a matter of minutes without stopping workday routines. Says Robinson, “Learn to chill to reset your life.”
Micro-steps
Don’t underestimate the power of micro steps in a pandemic. Taking small steps in work-life and relationships have the power to change and turnover your life. Micro-steps is about taking action, doing things, however small. Micro-steps, are the foundation of behaviour change, they’re small, incremental, science-backed actions we can take that will have both immediate and long-lasting benefits to the way we live our lives. The best way to convert our willpower into habits is by starting small. Make the change easy. Micro-stepping is the new big in wellness; it’s about creating mini-goals. From micro-habits to micro-steps, you are transforming your life.
Micro Travel
Welcome to the world of micro travel. More people are opting for focused, one-destination, experiential, less-frantic travel plans. This brings an art to traveling experience that is about appreciating single destinations slowly. Travel enthusiasts are tired by frantic frenzy of do-it-all itineraries. Says travel blogger Shivya Nath, "It's like breathing, living into a destination. Not just superficially experiencing it." Homestays are fast becoming the preferred options than sanitised hotels. This is a world of very private, micro-travel style, with a bespoke itinerary. You see less but you see more. The pandemic has made this a desired option.
Micro Living
The Japanese term, “ichigyo-zammai,” means concentrating on a single smallest act. In his blog, spiritual author Leo Babauta writes why we rarely are fully involved in the moment with any single, micro activity. “Just walk” or “Just read” or “Just drink tea.” Says life coach Ravneet Gandhok, "Micro living is about being fully present in the daily activities of practical living.” It's also about how you are simplifying your life, say by living minimally in micro habitats with micro wardrobe. It simply means that you need to become a master at simplifying. We are witnessing the concept of micro living because people want to enjoy their life full capacity. Especially working professionals, who are living away from home, are overburdened by their daily chores and feel the need to have a way out and add some 'me time'. With micro living they unburden themselves.
Micro spirituality
Ever used ‘micro spirituality' to centre your chaotic life? Try it. For 5 minutes, stop everything you are doing. Either pray, meditate or do some deep breathing. Slow it down. It becomes possible to breathe deeply, to think spaciously. Once you return to “normal activities", stress will vanish. Says spiritual guru, BK Shivani, "The secret is to be aware. Slow it down. It slows down your mind. And you feel the heaviness of your mind lifting. Observe one minute silence after every one hour, micro-silence meditation works wonders. Traffic control of the mind. Observe your thoughts. Wherever you are. Put an alarm, app gentle reminder. Take one minute of silence. Pause. Check your thought process, come back energised." During the busy day, just take some micro-spiritual breaks.