By: Laura

It’s inevitable, relentless and will impact your life one way or another. Stress is a part of life, the first step in alleviating it, is to admit it’s there. Often times we try to shrug it off and just power forward, like a shrill game of peek-a-boo. But taking practical steps to combat tension can improve your mental and physical health, helping you to live a happier life and make better judgment calls.

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1. Progressive relaxation Developed by American Physician Edmund Jacobson in the 1920s. The technique is tense up all the muscles in your body, head to tip, then release each muscle group one by one actively. Exhaling while you do this relaxes the mind.
2. Light yoga Deep breathing and poses that focus all your mental energy on balance are a great way to calm the nerves and listen to your body.
3. Turn the phone off Instead of looking at the screen every few minutes, switch it off and go for a bike ride or a walk through your local park. Afternoons and weekends are your time away from work, so use it for anything other than.
4. Taste buds and endorphins Taste is one your most powerful sense when your taste buds receive something they like, endorphins release in your brain. So diet or no diet, get a scrumptious treat once in awhile.
5. Chew gum Scientific studies show chewing gum can reduce the level of cortisol in your bloodstream, which subsides nervous tension​
6. Regular naps Napping when you’re tired instead of waiting for the usual time you go to bed restores energy and revitalizes muscles harboring lactic acid from overworking.
7. Deep tissue work Go for a massage, when you do, ask the masseuse to give you a deep tissue massage. This technique penetrates deep, dissolving knots, releasing entire muscle groups at once, and draining your body of toxins.
8. Go to a spa Book yourself in for a spa day where you’ll be pampered, and your skin will get exfoliated and replenished.
9. Sex Studies back up the notion of sex relieving stress, by lowering blood pressure and emotional distress.
10. Find a hobby Find something that you can really dig your teeth into, something that’s just yours e.g. arts and crafts, start writing a diary or a scrapbook of your life, knitting, gardening, etc.
11. Sports Join your local tennis club or aerobics class. You’ll meet new people and challenge yourself to get fitter and stronger.
12. Get a pet Animals are known to calm the nerves of those who have social anxiety as well as play a pivotal role as a loyal companion. By taking the dog out for a regular walk, you also cleanse your mind of household chores.
13. Tea for coffee Instead of regularly drinking coffee as an energy boost, drink black tea instead. Tea isn’t as sharp, and you don’t need as much sugar to balance out the bitterness with lots of sugar. There’s nothing better than a hot soothing cup of tea at the start of the morning.
14. Laughter Laughter is the best medicine they say, well how will you know this is true if you don’t try it? Go to a live standup gig or watch a comedy film. Humor is a way to make light of the world around you.
15. Stop being too serious It’s time we all accepted, life is difficult, and some things are just out of our control. Shift your attitude from being controlling to being able to adapt to any situation life throws at you; roll with the punches.
16. Spend time with kids If you have children, they can be so tiring and at times infuriating. But, remember that they’re yours, spend time with them on their school projects, and you might see something in them that you recognize as being part of your personality.
17. Listen to classical music Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, the three most famous classical music writers. Their splendid tones and complex yet calming notes are a window to a distant land of birdsong and long open meadows.

​Melbourne is one of my favourite cities, if you’ve ever been and experienced the delightful cafes, laneways and eclectic shopping you’ll know what I mean. It has a classy european feel about it, which is different to any other city I’ve been to.   
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Australian fragrance label, TÄNDA Modern, have recreated this feeling in a scented candle which is so reminiscent of my times in Melbourne.   

Made with pure soy wax and with a natural soft wooden wick, which I have never seen before.  I was  intrigued to see how well the wick would work, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it burns very well and it gives off more of a natural scent.   It also makes a soft crackling sound, which reminds me of an open fire. 
 
The candle contains the gorgeous scents of roasted coffee and dark chocolate. It reminds me of sitting in a dark cosy cafe, surrounded by amber lighting and eating a delicious creme brûlée. Or perhaps enjoying a caramel latte after a day of shopping and exploring the amazing parisian style shopping arcades of high end fashion or my favourite vintage boutiques in Melbourne.

It’s amazing the power that scent can have on someones mind, if you could smell this candle, you’ll know what I mean.    Everyone who has walked past it in my home, has said to me, omg, what is that scent! It smells good enough eat!

It really makes me want to fly away to a long weekend in Melbourne!  but seeing as I can’t do that right now, I’ll keep on sniffing this beautiful candle.  

Completely organic and vegan, burn range times are from 30 to 90 hours.

Available at TÄNDA Modern.

By: Wendy Dessier

Someday experts will look back at this time in history and they may very well define it as the age of fear and stress. We live in a fast-paced world where much is demanded of us. The pressure builds and we become stressed. We are afraid we cannot do what we need to do. We stress over things we cannot control. We are afraid we will never reach our dreams. Sometimes it is that fear that prevents us from doing so.

Stress and fear are sisters. They are like opposite sides of the same coin. To conquer one is to conquer the other. We are going to share with you some expert tips on doing just that.

• Plan and prepare

Often we are so afraid of something that we do not allow ourselves to think of ways to cope. Instead, we focus on the fear and allow it to grow until we are overwhelmed. The way to stop this is to plan for the event. If you are afraid of running into someone that you are in conflict with, make a plan on what you will say and do if you find yourself face to face with them. How can you graciously remove yourself? Once you make a plan and prepare your actions mentally, the fear will subside.

• Associate with positive and fearless people

We all know them. People who seem unafraid to take on life. They are the ones who volunteer to try something new. They are the people who laugh at their mistakes. You need to be around people like that! They have established the habits in life that you are working toward. Being around them will motivate you to live life to a fuller level.

• Stay away from prescription or over the counter medications

Our society has learned that there is a pill for everything. There is a pill to wake you up, and a pill to help you sleep. Here is the problem. Medicated sleep is “borrowed” sleep. Every hour you sleep under the influence will be paid back with hours of restlessness. Because medications have a half life, we often find ourselves reaching for that energy pill to get us moving the following day. You are walking through a fog and you are less effective. Instead, try all natural nootropics. These are healthy supplements that allow you to regulate your body in a healthy way. You rest better and are more effective. Corpina is an industry leader in this field.

• Encourage others

Remove yourself from the center of your universe. Look beyond your own insecurities and see the struggles of other people. Encourage them. Point out things they do well. Give them positive reinforcement. You will find that as you build others up, you build yourself up.

• Be honest

You cannot deal with a problem that you do not acknowledge having. Even if you keep it to yourself, be honest about it. Write it out. What are you afraid of? What is the worse that can happen? If the worst does happen, would it be the end of the world? Of course not. Be honest with yourself. Acknowledge your fear and create a plan of action to address it. Your stress level is guaranteed to lessen.

• Baby steps

Do not try to do everything all at once. If you are stressed out at the idea of speaking in public, begin by presenting a toast at dinner. A small display of speaking to a small group of people can be your first baby step. Maybe the next step is speaking up in an office meeting or a company function. As you grow, your fears and struggle fade away.


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​This wonderful travel essence mist, from Australian Bush Flower Essences, has been my quick fix every night to spray in my bedroom before I go to bed.  I need the space I’m living in to smell clean and beautiful.   The great thing about this bottle is I can place it in my hand bag and carry it with me.     I can spray it in the car or around my desk at work.  I dislike stuffy smells and this spray helps to make me feel fresh and able to think more clearly, especially in the afternoons when I need a mental pick me up.    This is very helpful in closed office situations!

On top of this, the mist is great for rejuvenating skin, with it’s fresh organic ingredients.  It can be applied to face and body.

The spray is also good for jet lag, when you just arrive at your destination and need an energising boost.   I felt this spray to be very calming.   Spray this lovely mist in your hotel room and around your bed and it will help to make you feel comfortable in your own space.    

Travel Mist contains the following Bush Flower Essences:
Banksia Robur, Bottlebrush, Bush Fuchsia, Bush Iris, Crowea, Fringed Violet, Macrocarpa, Mulla Mulla, Paw Paw, Red Lily, She Oak, Silver Princess, Sundew, Tall Mulla Mulla.

It has a beautifully refreshing scent, as it also contains soothing essential oils and herbal extracts such as lavender, frankincense, geranium and chamomile.    

​Completely natural and organic.    

Available at Australian Bush Flower Essences.

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