Welcome to Time For You, HELLO!'s brand new series that asks wellness experts for the one thing they do to boost their mood – take notes!
This week we spoke to cosmetic dentist Dr. Uchenna Okoye, star of 10 Years Younger and founder of MySmile by Dr. Uchenna, about the way she winds down – and helps her creativity flow at the end of a hectic day.
Dr. Uchenna, you're so busy – how do you make time for yourself?
"I always make time for a massage once a week, but I realised these aren't simply a luxury. As a busy dentist, I spent a full 10 hours a day crouched over looking into people’s mouths, so a massage is a necessity.
"The one thing that's a true indulgent treat is a candle. I have them everywhere in the house and they've become a daily ritual for me."
Tell us about your candle ritual?
"When I come in from work, I light them and know I am done for the day. My daughter loves it too and gets excited when she sees me lighting them as she knows it is her time with me also, it’s downtime.
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"They allow me to think. I am new to meditating and I find staring into then helps me clear the chatter."
Does lighting a candle help you in any other areas of your life?
"Even though it's part of my wind down routine, lighting a candle does help with my career too.
"I'm hoping to launch new products into my MySmile by Dr. Uchenna range, and I find the focused time, no matter how short. helps my creativity.
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"I am a doer and have tried many different calming methods but this one has just clicked and it helps me focus and concentrate. I also light specific candles depending on my mood.
How often do you treat yourself to a new candle?
"I am always buying them – I normally buy a new one every week. I love discovering new brands and blending different scents to see what works.
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"I can walk from one room to the next and feel a mood change, the power of fragrance is totally underrated, and it is something I use in my dental surgery to help guests relax when they arrive so it really is important to me."
When did you realise candles had such a profound effect?
"I started buying candles during lockdown when I couldn't have massages and just wanted to find something indulgent for myself.
"Growing up in Nigeria I loved candles, the shadows they created and the ambience and when I think back I realised we needed to light them due to the power cuts.
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"Now I choose to switch off the lights and hang out in the semi-darkness."
What's your favourite candle?
My favourite right now is Natural Harmony by The Ampthill Alchemist. It smells amazing and at £14, it's more affordable."
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