I’ve been told time and time again that leaving 15 minutes for myself to meditate in the morning would make a major difference in the way my day plays out. While that sounds amazing in theory, it takes about all the energy I can muster not to hit the snooze button more than twice once my alarm goes off—and inevitably, I am faced with that rush-fest feeling straight from the get-go. If I can accomplish anything outside the realm of just getting to the office (reading the paper, grabbing a coffee, running a quick errand), it’s a very big victory in my day.
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Of course, that constant hurried state doesn’t help my stress level. That’s why when I saw Amayori’s Zen Morning Mood Spray ($49) I was ready to start sipping on it (which is definitely not its intended use) if it promoted what the name promised. It comes in the prettiest of delicate glass bottles, and everything in the line is inspired by Japanese bathing rituals and intended to promote mindful energy (it even comes with a little instruction card for how to walk yourself through the “ritual”).
Even just a quick spritz first thing in the morning delivers a stop-for-a-minute experience. The aromatherapy mix is fresh and invigorating (the official notes are blood orange, bitter orange and a touch of Japanese mint), and leaving the pretty bottle on your desk is a nice reminder to just relax for a few minutes, breathe and refocus.
