With mindfulness app downloads doubling since mid-March[1] and helping us feel at peace, Boots UK is launching new and exclusive gift cards by Headspace, a global leader in mindfulness and meditation. It’s the perfect gift to encourage a habit of mindfulness – for yourself or others.
The Headspace gift cards are available from Wednesday 10 June via Boots.com and offer six months’ access to guided meditation sessions with four themed meditation collections to choose from: Mind, Health, Sleep and Focus. The gift cards are available for just £30.
Sarah Crawley, Boots UK Director of Wellness, says; “The benefits of mindfulness have become more widely recognised over the years and if you haven’t already started, now is a perfect time to introduce it into your routine. COVID-19 has certainly caused stress for a lot of us so it’s important to take a step back from the chaos and focus on some me-time. Here are some of my top tips on how you can add some mindfulness into your day:
Work Smarter
When we take time out during the workday to stop and focus on the present through meditation and mindfulness exercises, it can help us create a stronger awareness of the mind and improve our focus and productivity[2]. Headspace has a huge range of exercises dedicated to ‘focus’, which I love to use as they teach you about the ways in which mindfulness can help you at work, in just a few minutes each day. Studies show four weeks of Headspace increases focus by 14%. I would highly recommend the 30-day Focus pack to help you declutter your thoughts and sharpen your concentration, even when under pressure.
Healthy Habits
Most of us will have some form of exercise in our daily routine, whether it’s going for a morning walk or taking part in a virtual gym class. I find that times like this – when walking or running, for example – can be the perfect time to meditate on the go, especially with a busy schedule. Did you know that when we stop distracting ourselves from the act of exercising and focus on our mind, we not only improve our physical results, but we can also boost our appreciation of the experience[3]? This way of thinking can be really helpful, and it gives me the extra push when I need it!
Sleep Saviour
When we stop and lie down to sleep, we’re more likely to allow our minds to spiral and become easily caught up in small details from our day, making it harder to relax. Sleep is critical to our overall wellbeing and health, and with so many of us experiencingdifficulty sleeping, it’s no surprise that sleep itself has become a huge industry[4]. There are many daily rituals and meditative techniques you can do to induce better sleep, my favourite being a long soak in the bath and listening to Headspace Sleepcasts”.
Alongside the launch of Headspace exclusive gift cards, Boots also works with other brands and charities that support those who may need a helping hand throughout this time and beyond. Our partnership with BBC Children in Need for example, aims to support children aged 8-13 years old through our ‘A Million & Me’ mental wellbeing programme.
Notes to Editors:
For more information please contact: bootshealth@apteamwpp.com
About Boots UK: Boots UK (boots.com), the UK’s largest pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer, is part of the Retail Pharmacy International Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. With 2,465* stores in the UK, its purpose is to champion everyone’s right to feel good. Boots UK is committed to providing exceptional customer and patient care, be the first choice for pharmacy and healthcare and offer innovative 'only at Boots' exclusive products such as No7, a leading UK skincare brand, Soap and Glory and Liz Earle. Created 170 years ago, the Boots brand is still at the heart of the communities it serves. *As of August 31, 2019 excluding equity method investments.
About Headspace: Headspace was created with one mission in mind: to improve the health and happiness of the world. Reaching more than 65 million users in 190 countries, Headspace was one of the first meditation apps in the world and remains a leader in mindfulness and mental training. Headspace is committed to advancing the field of mindfulness through clinically validated research, with one of the largest research pipelines of any digital health and wellness company. Headspace operates a B2B business (Headspace for Work) to offer its mindfulness products and services to more than 700 companies, such as Starbucks, Adobe, GE, Hyatt and Unilever, to help them build healthier, more productive cultures and higher performing organizations. Headspace supports government entities like New York State and the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) to offer digital mental health tools. Headspace partners with many of the world’s most-recognisable brands, including Apple and Amazon, as well as with Nike, NBA and the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team to offer sport and movement content. Headspace Health is Headspace’s digital health subsidiary pioneering new ways to incorporate the Headspace mindfulness experience into digital medicine. Headspace has been recognized by Fast Company as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies, Apple's Best of 2018, Samsung's Best of 2019 and one of CB Insights' top digital health companies, along with being selected for five Webby Awards in health and fitness between 2018 and 2019. For more information please visit us atwww.headspace.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more information, contact Headspace@eulogy.co.uk
[1]https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/04/21/meditation-up-during-coronavirus/
[2]https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-meditation-benefits-the-working-brain_b_57d15638e4b0273330ac36da