We can all probably agree that the past two years have been stressful for pretty much everyone. From the pandemic to career changes to home life and beyond, it’s been a hard time for most which directly affects the way we feel about ourselves and our lives. If you feel like you’ve lost your sense of self recently, you’re not alone. The idea of living a life with purpose has been a huge topic of discussion throughout the pandemic and for good reason. So now is the perfect time to reassess your priorities and put yourself on the road to a well lived life.
Learning to live in the moment and love it
As women, we are so used to multi-tasking and putting ourselves last. Sometimes it feels like we’re running in circles. Making sure the house is in order, the kids, our careers, appointments, errands, and so much more that it’s easy to forget to focus on ourselves and our own needs. Since the pandemic hit, more and more people have started discussing this idea of creating a life well lived– but what does that mean? In a nutshell, it’s to find balance, and purpose, to fall in love with every little moment. It’s all too easy to drift aimlessly into a mundane weekly routine that leaves us feeling bored and dull. So, it’s important to see the beauty in every single thing we do whether that be daily tasks like cooking dinner or more exciting bigger events like taking a vacation. As humans, we’re so used to anticipating things in the future– the weekend, a birthday, the holidays, a vacation, and so much more. This leaves us looking forward instead of just living in the present. Finding the silver lining in our daily life forces us to enjoy the present moment so we don’t have to dread Mondays or doing weekly chores.
Life isn’t about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself
The definition of a life well-lived is, of course, different for everyone. But to make a great life there are some basic foundations that we can all build upon. Creating a life well-lived means taking time out of your day to do nothing but focus on yourself. If you’re not used to spending time focusing on yourself, you’re not alone. It can be a tough task for women who spend their days catering to everyone around them but even if you can only spare 10 minutes a day, your mind and body will thank you for it. Doing simple, daily tasks that focus on you will help you fall in love with your daily routine again and boost your overall self-confidence.
Create daily rituals to love your life and body
Whether you can spare 10 minutes or an hour per day, try to carve out time to focus on yourself by doing simple things that make you happy! You will be amazed at the positive effect this will have over time.
Create healthy meals
The foods that we eat directly affect how we feel mentally! While we all love to indulge in a big bowl of pasta or a large slice of cake from time to time (which is okay!), it’s important to build a balanced diet of lean proteins, complex carbs, and fresh produce, and fruit. Eating lean proteins can help boost dopamine levels in the brain, complex carbs are known to increase serotonin, and fruit and veggies are high in nutrients and antioxidants that have been shown to boost your mood. If you’re feeling in a funk, try adding some light and fresh meals into the mix to help increase your mood and make you feel good!
Cooking can be looked at as a time to decompress from the day and just focus on fueling your body. It’s the perfect way to take time to focus on yourself and your health.
Connect with yourself and nature
Having a spiritual practice helps you to find balance in life. It allows you to go inward, get quiet and connect with your higher self. If meditation or prayer is not your thing, being in nature has the same effect because you regenerate and reset every time you connect with mother earth.
Clothes make the woman
Build your dream wardrobe
The way we dress can have a huge impact on our self-confidence and how we feel about our lives. This means that curating a wardrobe of styles that you can feel comfortable and confident in is crucial. At Stella Carakasi, our goal is to create garments that are stylish yet cozy and can be worn by women of any age, body shape, or size. All of our designs fit perfectly into any woman’s closet whether you spend your time at the office, on the go, at home, or a little bit of all three!
Endless outfit opportunities
Get inspired!
There is a sense of spontaneity in the way the styles work together, an implied comfort– true to the brand’s roots. Minimalism with a twist and easy luxe fabrics have long been Stella Carakasi’s signature, and this fall collection doesn’t disappoint. Discover the season’s early offerings on our Looks We Love page, it only takes a few styles to create a wide variety of fresh looks!
Mix & match statements
Our New Mood Top is a must-have for your autumn collection. This ultra-cozy jersey top features a flattering bateau neckline, dolman sleeves with gathered cuffs, and a unique herringbone print that fades into a solid black. It can be worn with comfortable leggings at home or can be layered with a blazer and a chunky necklace for the office! Looking to stay warm, cozy, and stylish? Look no further than our Go To Cardigan. It’s the perfect layering piece and comes in three neutral colors to match with any outfit you have in mind! The Go To Cardigan is made with comfy combed cotton but has a unique mixed stitch knit which makes it a step above your average cardigan.
Role reversal
Speaking of layering, our new Reversible Step-Up Cardigan is all you need to go from the office to dinner and beyond! You have endless outfit opportunities with this reversible dual-color cardigan that can be worn over button-ups, jersey tops, sweaters, and more. It’s the perfect blend of style and comfort, and best of all it comes in three fantastic colorways that go from classic neutrals to savory fall-inspired shades.
A tunic for all occasions
Nothing screams versatile like a classic button-up shirt. Our best-selling Tiburon Tunic will have you feeling stylish in the office without sacrificing comfort. The easy A-line shape flatters many different body shapes and sizes to have you feeling confident all day long!
Master the on-and-off duty style with our newest release
Equally casual as it is refined, the Downtown Shirt features an unconventional zipper treatment that gives this modern, organic cotton shirt its edgy sophistication, while the relaxed fit delivers all-day comfort.
Stretch, bend, repeat
Comfy flattering pants you’ll wear on repeat
Who says you can’t wear leggings to the office? Our Slimming Ankle Pants feel like you’re wearing traditional leggings but look like you’re wearing pants with their flattering slimming style lines. Do they have a hidden elastic waistband for comfort and the best part? They’re made from sustainable Tencel®Ponte fabric.
Is it a legging or a pant?
If leggings aren’t your thing but you still want the comfort, check out our Lounge Dress Pants. They’re wrinkle-free, made from a sustainable Tencel® Ponte knit, and have a comfortable elastic waistband with classic tailoring details. You can wear the Lounge Dress Pants from the office to your yoga class!
Make the last layer count
California casual meets edgy urban femininity
Smart details, and exquisite pattern play. Our exclusive “Metal Lux” cotton/metal twill amps up the charisma of this season’s “must-have” jacket. Bold details like the moto-inspired zippers and cozy rib-knit accents keep the Favorite Jacket’s cool factor and comfort level intact while the front and back princess lines give this style a subtle shape and sophistication. The back rain flap amplifies this remarkable piece with some added utility and punctuates the irresistible and enduring charm of this smart fashionable coat.
Body, mind & spirit
Indulge in an extravagant skincare routine
Our morning and nighttime skincare routine is the perfect opportunity to focus on ourselves. As we age, our skin changes and our product needs shift as well. By our 40’s, we start to focus more on moisture and collagen-building to help with signs of aging. And while our skincare routine does ultimately improve the way we look externally, it also improves how we feel internally because we’re spending time doing something that only affects us!
Consume conscious media
It’s all too easy to sit on the couch and binge on Netflix for hours or scroll on social media but if you are looking to watch something, try a show that expands your mind instead of distracting it. Think inspirational documentaries, interesting history shows, wellness videos, and more. We’ve been loving the media library from Gaia that is focused on conscious-expanding programming!
Remember that everyone’s journey to loving their life is going to look different and we may make mistakes along the way— and that is okay! Focus on your happiness and do the things that make you feel good.
The post Living A Life With Purpose And Creating A Life Well-Lived appeared first on Stella Carakasi.