Stress Less In 2007

For some people, the New Year can be extremely stressful as they face up to mounting credit card debt from Christmas spending, a heavy work schedule to kick-start the New Year, and rebuilding relationships that may have been placed under added pressure throughout the Christmas break.

This January, instead of launching into the traditional post-Christmas detox, why not take stock and learn to manage your stress levels to help maintain your vitality, relationships and good health. Here are some tips that may help calm your mind, body and soul and put life into perspective:

Relationships
If your relationship with your family or partner has become strained over the Christmas period, advice is available from Relate to help you put things back on an even keel and help prevent future festivities becoming a stressful endurance event. In some areas, calls to Relate may double in the New Year as people seek support to remedy the fall out of relationship problems after Christmas. During this time, Relate increases its operational hours to help you cope. Visit relate.org.uk for fact sheets and details of your local advice centre.

Daytime Support
If things really are getting on top of you and you are finding it difficult to relax or carry-out daily tasks without feeling stressed, you may find a little herbal help could make a great deal of difference to your well-being. Traditionally, medical herbalists use Valerian as an aid to sleep, and the sweet smelling herb, Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.), to relieve anxiety. Modern research conducted by Northumbria University has shown that acute treatment with a combination of Valerian and Melissa Leaf can improve mood and anxiety thus reducing stress levels and promoting calm. MedicHerb Valerina Day-Time is a licensed herbal remedy containing valerian and lemon balm for the relief of tenseness, irritability and stresses and strains of modern living. £5.99 for 80 tablets from Boots or mail order 01453 751395.

Get Organised
Don’t put off what you can do today to avoid unnecessary stress building up. For example, putting your personal documents in order, making a will and registering as an organ donor might be important to you but in today’s 24/7 lifestyle they may be jobs that inevitably slip down to the bottom of your priority list. Now help is at hand from Paramedicall which offers one solution to these three chores and more, in one easy-to-use website facility that will help ensure that you or your family are looked after in the event of a medical emergency or upon your death. It costs £17.50 per annum from paramedicall.com or call 01273 224499.

Night-Time Wind Down
If the daily juggle of kids, work and struggling to get quality time with your partner leaves you frazzled by the end of the day, there’s a night-time treat in store from the Botanics Aromatherapy Time to Unwind Kit (£5.99) which has been formulated to help relieve the stresses and strains of a busy day. It contains Frankinsense, Orange and Juniper Berry essential oils which are known for their soothing and calm-inducing properties. The kit includes: Botanics Time To Unwind Foaming Bath - 50ml, Botanics Time To Unwind Bath, Body and Massage Oil - 50ml, Botanics Time To Unwind Aromatherapy Candle, Botanics - A Guide To Aromatherapy Booklet.