Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XIX

2 2 8 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I S tress, anxiety, low mood, insomnia and general lack of energy… We've all encountered at least one of these at one point or another. Unsurprisingly in our ever increasing busy lives, the symptoms of these and other negative effects on our mind and bodies are on the rise. There are many ways to combat these aggressors that we should be practicing in our everyday lives, whether we feel them approaching or not. On the whole, it's about mindfulness and allowing the time for ourselves. It may just be ten minutes of time out at any point in the day to reflect, to think of nothing or merely to re-boot. It's important for us all to step back and gain perspective. It's these qualities that have been realised and encapsulated by the organic brand Neom. They offer a vast range of products helping us to achieve this, as well as creating a whole philosophy and support system. We don't realise how strong stress can be, and that to address it in the correct way on a regular basis will not only ease its levels, it will ultimately make us more productive. This, then, will improve all elements of our lives: work, family, relationships, outlook and how we view and carry ourselves. It all sounds good to me. I've been aware of the Neom brand for a while, mainly for their heavenly candles – and with their spa-like aromas, they really do make a difference to how you feel, trust me. To create calm in your environment, or to boost energy levels, you can indeed light a candle, or perhaps try other home fragrances in the reed diffusers or pillow mists to lift your spirits. Then, naturally, the body is catered for. From scrubs to lotions, bath oils to hand cleansers, there's plenty to dip your toe into, literally. I was keen to find out more, so I went to the source. Neom's founder is the British aromatherapy expert (amongst other accolades) Nicola Elliott. I posed some questions to her, both about the Neom line and her approach to all things mindful. What prompted you to start the Neom brand? I was working as a journalist, living in London and working a hectic 60 hours a week. Like most of my friends, the fast-paced life, without taking enough time to take care of myself, was soon taking its toll on us all. Bad sleep, low mood due to high pressure and stress. I trained as an aromatherapist and began creating tinctures of powerful therapeutic treatments, all sorts of complex essential oil blends to help my friends feel good and help them feel more energised or sleep better. It was after doing this, in 2005, that I launched Neom with a range of products which not only smell wonderful but can also transform the way you feel. Which element of wellbeing do you feel is the most neglected? I think all areas of wellbeing are interlinked, so once one area starts to suffer, it has a negative knock-on effect. The Neom Lifestyle Stress Audit recently unveiled that 9 in 10 of us are stressed, with 91% of working mums being stressed and 93% of non-working mums, so no matter what your occupation is, stress is affecting us all! I genuinely think it’s because we don’t unplug; ever. There’s too much guilt surrounding taking that time for ourselves. I have lost count of the times my friends feel guilty for taking that time for a Pilates session or spending money on going to a spa, or having an extra-long relaxing bath. They always say “well I need to attend that meeting or answer that email” or “take my son to his football class”. I am a firm believer in pressing pause and taking time for yourself and your own wellbeing. Stress is a powerful emotion. What can you tell us about it and the best way to combat it? Stress affects us all, and we’re told that some stress can be good; it motivates us and can help us concentrate on the task at hand. But there’s a tipping point, and the consequences of too much exposure to stressful situations can leave you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and burnt out. Tackling high stress levels effectively should involve taking a look at every area of your life: are you getting the best quality and quantity sleep? Are you eating the right foods, doing the right exercise? That’s why we have the 11 experts on our NeomWellbeing Board to offer a 360° support service to our customers. We’ve just released our Neom Wellbeing Magazine which is packed full of fresh content every month to tackle stress (as well as getting good sleep, boosting energy and lifting mood), plus customers are always welcome to leave their stress-related questions on our social media pages and we’ll put them to our experts! How do you make time for yourself? I place a high priority on taking care of myself and my personal wellbeing. After all, we need to be healthy and happy ourselves to be able to take care of others. What works for me is a combination of things. A 360° approach. Yoga with everyday mindfulness techniques which work on my buzzing mind, and making the time to incorporate Neom Scent To Instantly De- Stress™ products into my day. My absolute favourite is using the Scent To Instantly De-stress™ Real Luxury™ Scented Candle whilst sinking into a bath full of the same oil. Made with 24 of the purest possible essential oils, including lavender, jasmine and Brazilian rosewood, it has been expertly blended to help reduce stress levels and help manage the daily stresses of life. Tell us about your latest creations and/or Christmas releases. We’re due to release our amazing new Scent to Make You Feel Good On The Go Collection. The Neom Lifestyle Stress Audit also revealed that 60% of women would choose more time over increased income as the solution to their rising stress levels, so our new little minis are the ultimate reminder to pause and make time for your wellbeing each day. They’re packaged individually in beautiful travel-friendly containers and use our 100% natural essential oil blends, formulated at the perfect level to hit the bloodstream and begin working immediately. How did the treatments in your spa come about? Our four NeomWellbeing Spa Treatments, which I have (luckily) been able to trial over the past few months, have been masterminded by the Neom wellbeing team of experts to draw together the most effective of six therapies: meditation, shiatsu, cranio, Thai massage, trigger point and reflexology. They’ve been created to provide the perfect night’s sleep, energy boost, lift your mood or relieve stress. Every move has a purpose and works hard to help you feel good. Do you have plans to open more wellbeing spas? Our treatments are currently available in a selection of spas nationwide in the UK, with more spa partners coming on board each month. As far our own spas… that’d be amazing! When you come to the Neom Treatment Rooms in Wimbledon you get the full, amazing Neom experience so to have a selection of standalone spas would be incredible. What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given? I wasn’t given this advice directly but I think people like Arianna Huffington are very admirable role models in today’s society as we are all guilty of wanting to have it all at the expense of our health and true happiness. I recently read her latest book “Thrive” where she discusses the third metric, the importance of slowing down and unplugging from our 24-hour world. I love this idea and try to emulate this refreshing approach in business. What's the beauty tip you live by? I believe that beauty comes fromwithin and that if we look after our body and our mind, and feel good, it will show on the outside too. Feeling good is important to me. Neom Founder - Nicola Elliott N E OM