Lockdown restrictions may have eased and the pandemic may have abated – here in the UK at least – for now, but we still need to look after ourselves. Cue: the “micro-moment”.

A wave of creatives are encouraging their fans and followers to carve a space out of their day to practice self-care. But what is a micro-moment, exactly, and how can we build the practice into our own lives? Good question.

According to psychologist and wellbeing expert Dr Justine Grosso, micro-moments are a way to counteract the “negative attentional bias” that’s embedded in all humans – a survival mechanism, but also the root of mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety, and depression. “One way to counteract the negative bias is by purposefully bringing your attention to micro-moments of joy, awe, creativity, or connection,” Grosso tells Dazed. “You can embed this practice into your life as you walk through nature, or do activities you know you already enjoy or are masterful at.”

“Bring purposeful attention to what evokes awe in nature, the movement and colours of creating art, the vibrations and rhythm of singing or music, or the experience of taking in a friendly face. This can calm your autonomic system’s sympathetic stress response, or bring more energy into your system if you’re feeling foggy or disconnected from yourself.”

Several creatives also offer a template for micro-moments in a new project from Calvin Klein. Comprising several short films featuring CK classic jeans and underwear, the project offers a glimpse into chilled bedroom jam sessions, hazy days by the beach, and intimate moments shared with a loved one.

“My micro-moment to me means peace,” explains singer-songwriter Anajah, whose alone time involves singing ethereal melodies as she lounges in bed. “Making art is sacred, it’s me being honest and open with myself, it’s me finding my voice and finding the calmness within me. I love that I have this gift [of] creativity, not only for the pleasure of sharing it with the world but also for the excitement of self exploration.”

Similarly, Josef Michael’s micro-moment – “a moment to myself, a moment of peace, a moment to reset” – features a dreamy jam session as he hangs around his apartment. Getting creative isn’t necessarily part of the process, though. For others, it’s more about taking time to soak in an experience.

“To me, a micro moment is taking yourself shopping or going on a picnic alone. Doing something you love while getting to know more about yourself as a person,” says Amanda Quach, whose monochrome clip shows her relaxing by the ocean. For Syro Shoes founders Henry and Shaobo, meanwhile, it’s about: “Sharing moments of queer expression alongside friends… pure triumph: over the past, over society.”

A recurring takeaway from the creatives’ videos is the necessity to cut ourselves off from the chaos of everyday life every once in a while, and embrace the pleasant moments that life throws our way. “For me, a micro-moment is spending time being my own comfort person,” suggests the model and activist Dronme Davis, who also hits the coast for a sunset stroll. “Finding the space, amidst all the world’s wreckage, to cocoon a little bit. Check in with myself, see what my heart and my body are needing, without the constant buzz of external influences and internet connection.”

Taking a connection with the natural world one step further, Magda celebrates a micro-moment with a dip in the sea, Calvins and all. “These are romanticised moments reflecting the simple beauties that can be found in a normal day,” the influencer says. “I love the sun hitting my face in the mornings; waking up next to a loved one; listening to my favourite music in the car; enjoying a city view. In my ideal world I’d be swimming everyday with just the sound of the sea surrounding me.”

Watch eight creatives enjoy their micro-moments below.