Victoria & Albert Museum, London
As August’s easy amble ends and the months begin to turn cool, the UK’s cities fill again with students, workers, and other busy people eager to keep up with the brisk pace of urban life. As our own little remedy to the stress that comes with hustle culture, here is a Poetry Pharmacy-approved list of ways to nurture your peace of mind, and help avoid any looming burnout!
Take ‘reset walks’ in parks and gardens
Green space is a rare and treasured thing in most cities, particularly in the summertime; on a sunny day, these fields and gardens glow with life and light-heartedness. However, as we approach autumn, walks in city parks offer new and quieter promises. Darker days give us morning mist drifting over grass, golden leaves, and billows of coffee steam from our cups- gifts beloved by contemplative and unhurried minds. ‘Mental health walks’ are an increasingly popular activity, and getting outdoors just for the sake of it is a balm for our nervous systems- if not for the exercise, then just to be able to watch the world go by.
Become familiar with your local library, museums and galleries
Another very self-explanatory suggestion, but nonetheless a true and reliable one. In the bustle of the city, sensory overwhelm can be a big factor in raised stress levels, and quiet public spaces can be valuable sanctuaries for those looking to slow down.
While libraries are well-known for their environment of calm, galleries and museums can provide similar restoration in a slightly different way. Walking around these spaces with the intention of observation is an inherently mindful practice, naturally and gently bringing you into the present. In an era where online information is boundless and unrelenting, focusing on small, tangible pieces of art or history and learning first-hand can feel much more wholesome and meaningful; these spaces are embodiments of the slow and steady, step-by-step approach.
Create a landmark that grounds you
Amidst ever-moving surroundings, it can help to focus on something still, even just for a moment. One method to avoid feeling swept up in the rush is to pick out personal ‘landmarks’ on your regular routes, and establish them as signposts of mindfulness. Whether it’s a pretty tree, a coffee shop, or a simple bench- anything will do! Using landmarks as reminders to soften and exhale can help sprinkle calm into any commute, and allows you to turn something ordinary into a beacon of solace; a self-regulation station.
Seek community spaces
Garden centres, studios, crafting clubs, library groups. As simple and as social as you would like them to be. Most cities have so many wonderful spaces to explore and get involved with, places created specifically for unwinding and bringing the ‘life’ to the work/life balance. Having a space of rest to rely on, while engaging in an activity that brings you joy, can be truly restorative.
Coexisting amongst so many strangers can make a city feel vast and isolating at times, and investing in community events has the added charm of melting some of those impressions into warmer ones, through seeing more familiar faces, if not new friends, in day-to-day life.
Let poetry be your companion
While we may be biased, the Poetry Pharmacy believes the right words can do wonders, and poetry is our tincture of choice for calming the mind and soothing the soul. The best part? It works anywhere! For utmost ease, we recommend a light or pocket-sized book to dip into and refresh your headspace throughout the day. Our favourite poems for a sense of solace can be found in the Calm collection on our website.
Small joys and slow moments are key to combatting the all-too-common urban overwhelm, and it is up to us to create them. For today, we leave you with this lovely extract from our First Aid anthology.
from ‘The Word’
by Tony Hoagland
Down near the bottom
of the crossed-out list
of things you have to do today,
between green thread
and broccoli, you find
that you have penciled ‘sunlight’.
– to cheer you up,
and to remind you that,
among your duties, pleasure
is a thing
that also needs accomplishing.
Written by Ifor Lawson