Author: relaxwithlucy

We are talking Tea! Not Tee Tree!

Bedtime, Food and Drink

Hello my lovelies!

The British love their cups of tea right? It is something which we are known for over here! Although I do not like regular builders tea myself, I can see why people drink so much tea in Britain!

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I think most people have a cup of tea as a form of relaxation, a comforting, warm drink that many people have in the morning, at work and even before they go to bed!

A recent survey was conducted in the UK which asked individuals ‘how many cups of tea, on average, do they drink per day?’ A majority of 37 percent of respondents were shown to drink at least two to three cups of tea per day, followed by 26 percent who drink one or less. These are quite key stats!

IMG_4095However, un beknown to many, tea contains caffeine, similar to that of coffee. Caffeine is what is known as a stimulant which therefore helps to keep us awake and alert. Therefore, although many people believe it is a good idea to have a cup of tea before bedtime, they could not be more wrong!

IMG_4087This is why I always stress about herbal and fruit teas! There are loads of different types, flavours and purposes! They are so much better compared to drinking regular tea before bedtime!

The typical health benefits from drinking herbal tea include relaxation, pain reduction and the improvement of digestion but lets look at some more…

  1.  It Can Help You Relax
  2. Boosts Your Immune System
  3. Reduce Pain and Soreness
  4. It Stimulates Brain Function

Drinking herbal tea’s can have both short-term and long-term health benefits. Fruit teas can help you beat a cold quickly and can also help you stay healthier in the long run. 

Although I have tried Chamomile tea, different types of fruit teas and green teas, this Twinings ‘Defence’ tea takes first place!

The ‘Defence tea’ is a calming herbal infusion with blackcurrants, acerola extract (vitamin C) and echinacea; all natural ingredients that are traditionally used to help your natural defences!

IMG_4074Twinings have also added 15% of your RDA of Vitamin C which really helps to contribute to your immune system. WOW!

Naturally caffeine free and the tea is amazing for when you are feeling down and under the weather!

Personally, I am not a fan of strong, sweet herbal teas but If i let this tea brew for only a minute or so compared to the stated 2-3 minutes, it is so lovely!

I would really recommend trying this herbal tea! Its light, not to sweet and a great drink just before bedtime to calm yourself down!

Click here to visit the Twinings website!

Product rating 4/5

Why not even try making your own blend of herbal tea? Check out Jamie Oliver and his own homemade turmeric and orange tea! 

 

Thanks for reading

L x

My Top 5 Essential Oils

Essential Oils

Hi all,

Today I have decided to strip everything down to the basics. Many of the best products relating to relaxation, meditation and healing contain what we know to be ‘Essential Oils’ and this is what I am going to be counting down today; my top 5. 

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Essential oils have actually been used for thousands of years for both medicinal and health purposes. Because of their antidepressant, antibacterial and calming properties, essential oils are once again gaining popularity on the high street as a natural and cheap source of therapy and relaxation.

There’s no wonder why, considering the high cost of prescriptions and the potential side effects of conventional medications, adding essential oils to your personal medicine cabinet can make a world of difference. We have a whole cupboard dedicated to them in the downstairs loo at home.

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Essential Oil Stockpile at home!

The many benefits of Essential Oils include:

  • boost immune system
  • support digestion
  • balance hormones
  • improve brain function
  • reduce anxiety and stress
  • help aches and pains
  • help skin healing
  • promote sleep

So here comes the main event….

My Top 5 Essential Oils Countdown!

5. Lemon OilIMG_4072

Wow! So Fresh! Lemon Essential Oil!

Lemon Oil is one of the most recognised oils because of its refreshing and uplifting scent. I feel like I could take off and drift away it’s so light.

The benefits of lemon oil can be attributed to its stimulating, calming and detoxifying  properties. Lemon Oil is a fantastic mood booster! – you can simply diffuse in the room or place a few drops in your hands, rub and inhale.

I try to use lemon oil when I am struggling to concentrate at home or start to get a massive annoying headache whilst doing University work.

4. Rose OilIMG_0569

My favourite flower!

There must be a special reason why this floral scent has been used in absolutely everything from perfumes to night creams.

Rose Oil is not just relaxing, but it has also been shown to relieve anxiety, stress, and depression.

The way I use Rose Oil is when I want to go to bed. I simply dab a small amount onto my pillow to help me drift off to sleep.

It always reminds me of Turkish Delight so I am always torn between wanting to simply use it or eat it. Ha. No that’s a bad idea.

3. Eucalyptus Oil

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Eucalyptus oil is made from the leaves of selected eucalyptus tree species.

From what I have researched, the trees belong to the plant family Myrtaceae, which is native to Australia, Tasmania and nearby islands.

There are more than 500 eucalypti species, but essential oils of Eucalyptus salicifolia and Eucalyptus globulus  are retrieved for their medicinal properties.

Hundreds of years ago, eucalyptus oil was used as an analgesic agent that helped to relieve pain. It was valued for its anti-inflammatory properties and its aid to improve respiratory conditions.

Eucalyptus oil benefits are extensive, and the oil is now commonly used in healing ointments, perfumes, vapor rubs. Therefore, eucalyptus oil is a great oil for cleansing the air and creating a clean surrounding.

I love this oil before bed time! If I have just had a shower I tend to turn my diffuser on and drop some oil into it to retain that lovely clean feeling you have just after a shower!

2. Peppermint OilIMG_4055

This was a close second!

I love Peppermint oil! It is really used to treat colds, headaches and muscle aches but similar to lavender, I find that Peppermint makes me sleep so much better!

I think it is simply because it feels like it is going to clear my head.

1. Lavender Oil

OF COURSE! It has to be Lavender oil!

When used in aromatherapy,  lavender oil is a brilliant yet mild sedative which helps to reduce stress!

Lavender is also believed to help balance hormones, to reduce feelings of nervous tension and some studies have even proven lavender oil to reduce feelings of depression!

However, from my own experience, lavender oil has been the best thing to both help me sleep and also just relax! Most of my beauty products and sleeping pillow sprays contain lavender and honestly, the oil is the best thing to have graced the planet in terms of helping me to get great night sleep! I can not live without the stuff.

Introducing lavender oil into my bedtime routine has honestly been an absolute blessing!

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one of my most favourite ladies in the whole world.

Once again, my gran was right.

 

L x

Mindfulness – A good start

Reading

The life changing book which everyone really needs to read!

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Mindfulness – Mark Williams and Danny Penman

So, I first came across this book a few years back when my mum was signed off work through stress from being a full-time teacher. She really hated working full time at a school and it honestly sent her mad.

I can’t actually cast myself back to the time of seeing her read the book but I can remember it playing a large part in her road to recovery.

I think she was given the book by another teacher at school who had also experienced chronic stress and had read it herself and then passed it onto my mum before she was signed off work.

Inside there is also a DVD and I just remember walking into my mum and dads room and  seeing my mum lie on the bed listening to this meditation DVD and just saying “what the heck are you watching?”.

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Mindulness CD tucked inside the book

At the time I would have been around 13/14 and I would not have understood at all what she was going through. After all, I didn’t have a care in the world. No job, no exams and no stress. But now, after experiencing stress myself I feel awful that I wasn’t very understanding and I should have done more to help.

I was a child who probably didn’t do much around the house, threw my dishes in the sink without a thought to who was going to wash them and these little things I now realise, would have made matters ten times worse for my mum.

Years on, my mum is still a teacher but only works two days a week at her school, simply because she does not want or does not think she could ever do it full-time again. That and also the fact she has a two-year old toddler to look after now and all she wants to do is be a fantastic mum. She is. She is honestly incredible and the strongest person I know.

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Me and my lovely mumma

But, even the strongest of people can be broken.

Anyway, so when I first started with stress symptoms, issues with self-confidence and anxiety last summer, my mum told me to read the book. She said it was amazing and it massively changed her outlook on life. Things that she would have screamed about three years ago, she now just puts it all in a box and imagines putting the box on a shelf and not opening it again until tomorrow and not to worry about it right now.

My thoughts were: ‘Well, I don’t like reading as it is. Bloody 280 pages of just rubbish, great. I won’t have the attention span to read a book which is just a load of rubbish about  how to chill out and then have someone telling me to relax and imagine I’m on a beach drifting fast sleep…… YAWN.

Well, I was completely wrong. No surprise. I still don’t like to give my mum the satisfaction though.

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Chapter one of Mindfulness

From the first chapter, I was hooked. It seemed as though the book had been written especially for me!. I think this is ultimately what the book sets out to do. It’s a book by which everyone can relate to, even if you haven’t experienced much stress in your life but still get agitated by certain things from time to time.

The aim of the book is to help people who may suffer from depression or types of anxiety-related disorders and to help challenge them. Questions are asked to the reader such as ‘What is it that makes me feel anxious?’ and ‘ Why do I feel so down and depressed lately?’. The book also aims to teach people how to look at life as it really is, seeing the true positives of incidents through clear eyes. With the aid of relaxation techniques and meditation, the reader can then start to develop coping strategies.

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Backcover

The teachings within this book fall into CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), and whilst the book should not be regarded as a substitute for professional guidance, it provided a great start on my journey.

In terms of my own experience within Cheshire, the waiting list to start my CBT was 3 months. So, you can imagine the downward spiral I was stuck in between the time being first being registered for CBT and my first appointment. Not a great system is it? So the book was a great thing to delve into in the meantime, helping to keep my mind busy and challenged.

I suppose I did treat it as my initial introduction to the therapy process. I would recommend this to anyone who is going or has even gone through the rubbish process of waiting on the mental health register in the UK to just read this book. It helps, it really does and it even put my mind to rest that It wasn’t just me going through this, how could it be? A whole book dedicated to retraining our thought processes and gosh how brilliant it is.

I am so grateful to this book and how I was consistently able to apply its techniques to my own life. I would certainly recommend it to anyone, even those who are not suffering from depression, for a thorough insight into how to become more compassionate, loving and patient towards ourselves and those next to us.

Click here to buy ‘Mindfulness’

Click Below on this Video to listen to the numerous mediation techniques discussed within the book. 

Overall Book Product Rating – 5/5

L x

Cool as a Cucumber with Body Shop ‘Cooling Eye Mask’

Bedtime

Hi Guys,

So today I am going to show you my ‘Cooling Gel Eye Mask’ from the Body Shop. Well, when I say mine, It is actually my mums but it always somehow seems to find its own way into my room miraculously! I wonder how…

Anyway, I bought this eye mask for my mum as a birthday present a few years ago so it must be successful enough product for The Body Shop to keep it going on the high street. I think at the time it was bought, because my mum couldn’t locate her material cotton one, I bought it for her as a replacement. People had mentioned the product to me before and I had already seen similar items in TKmaxx and online. I thought. why not? I ordered it for my mum on The Body Shop website and I think it cost be around £6 but I’m pretty sure I had some form of discount on top of that because I bought so many items and qualified for a discount code off my total order which Im sure they still do now. I can remember when my mum opened it.

Click here to buy The Body Shop ‘Cooling Gel Eye Mask’

She knew what it was straight away and she had also seen it before and was going to get herself one at some point actually. It must be a mother daughter thing.

Eye masks are actually believed to be one of the best tools to help overcome sleeping problems to make sure that you get enough deep sleep. When our brain’s sense complete darkness, It causes causes the production of melatonin, the chemical of sleep.

Here comes my A Level Psychology knowledge…

Melatonin production is prevented if light hits the back of our eyes whilst trying to get to sleep because our brain thinks that It is still day time and the light is what keeps you awake. It has something to do with our internal body clocks. So, when my dad always told me to not go on my phone before bedtime on a school night, I suppose there was a really good reason! So with the help of an eye mask, it blocks out any light possible to ensure that you really reap the benefits of sleep to the max.

The mask seems to be of a high quality material, like a soft plastic which is really silky. I suppose that is a really good thing as its so soft on your eyes. Ive tried this product a few times cold but I have never warmed it up in the microwave. Worried it might singe my eyes off to be completely honest. Anyway, the product is good! It really does do what it says! The cold on my eyes was really relaxing and calming at bedtime.

However, the mask isn’t really something that you can wear at bedtime. The fastener around the head is very wide and made out of velcro. I would be worried about sleeping with it on as it can be tightened really tightly around the eyes and might even do more harm than good. If you just want an hour lying in bed to chill out, then yeah it is ace! But… I really would not try to sleep with this product on. I think it’s a different type of eye mask than we know and love. Honestly, I would just stick with the normal material ones when sleeping. But, this product is great for a few hours of relaxation!

I would recommend buying a simple eye mask then. Usually cheap and one of the best products to gain a great nights sleep!

Here is a simple silk one from Amazon at £2.12

Or here is a more advanced one for £6.99

Bedtime product overall review for ‘The Body Shop Cooling Eye’ – 2/5

Great product but just not for bedtime!

L x

 

 

 

 

Learn to ‘Sleep Better’ with Tisserand Pillow Spray

Bedtime
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My Tisserand ‘Sweet Dreams’ Pillow Spray

Hi guys!

So, over the past couple of weeks I have tried to introduce this ‘Sweet Dreams’, now renamed as ‘Sleep Better’ Pillow Spray by Tisserand into my regular bedtime routine. I wanted to try this product at times where I was maybe slightly more stressed than usual to see the full effect. This was another product that was given to me as a gift for christmas so I was really looking forward to trying it out and whether it actually does what it says on the bottle; ‘create a sense of serenity’.

Like I said before, I believe that Tisserand have actually renamed this product as ‘Sleep Better’ and changed the colour and design of the pillow spray bottle. I have tried to search for my exact ‘Sweet Dreams’ bottle online but it seems that they must have decided to eradicate the old product completely.

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New Tisserand ‘Sleep Better’ Pillow Spray

I think you can still get the ‘Sweet Dreams’ Body Oil from Holland and Barrett for £9.95 but I do think the pillow spray has been taken off the high street completely. However, I do believe the new ‘Sleep Better’ spray has pretty much the same ingredients and essential oils as the old one so if you like the sound of the product from my experience, then I would go out and buy the new Tisserand Pillow Spray which I’m sure will give you the same result.

In terms of the ingredients, both the Pillow Spray’s contain Lavender, Sandalwood and Jasmine. As discussed in my blog post Sleepy; The miraculous £8 Lush bedtime body lotion I absolutely swear by! Lavender seems to be the key essential oil for a goodnight’s sleep, reducing stress and helping to create a calm tranquil surrounding.

However, this pillow spray also contains Jasmine and Sandalwood. Similar to Lavender, Jasmine is regarded as a great scent for relieving anxiety and promoting deep sleep. Some studies have even shown that jasmine can reduce the amount of movement during sleep, ensuring that you get the maximum amount of time completely still to heal and repair. Some people have even said that simply having a Jasmine plant in your bedroom can help

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Sandalwood home fragrance

Alongside Jasmine, Sandalwood aids mental clarity and helps to create a calming effect on our nervous systems. This is because sandalwood is a sedative in nature and helps to eliminate feelings such as tension and agitation by calming our nerves. This is why it’s often used during meditation and aromatherapy. The essential oil therefore can help to reduce mass stress at bedtime.

My Experience

I actually use the pillow spray pretty much every other night just before I climb into bed. I spray the contents about twice, just onto my pillow and then a few times on my mattress in case I do my usual trick and not even sleep with my head on any pillows.

The product is quite impressive. It did help me get to sleep pretty quick but I couldn’t help but notice how fast the mist disappears into the air and how you are not even aware the mist is there after a few minutes. I don’t know whether this is the purpose of the product, as I suppose if the mist is hanging around your head for hours, it could even make it harder to get to sleep and actually give you a headache. Maybe I just got used to the smell after a few minutes and although I couldn’t heavily smell the essential oils, maybe they were doing the trick. Anyway, the mist does seem to help even if it is only slightly, just enough to help me fall asleep with ease.

Where to buy

The Tisserand ‘Sleep Better’ Pillow Spray is available on the official website for £8.95 for 100ml. Postage and packaging is usually £3.95 which makes a total of £12.90.

Pretty steep for a pillow spray do you think?

Anyway, if you would like to buy the product for this price click here.

However, I have seen this product before In TK Maxx.

However, TK Maxx do not get regular items in store all the time due to being a store with high-end products at reduced prices. Although, it might be worth regularly looking on the website or keep popping in your local store if you are desperate for this pillow spray but at a cheaper price.

In addition, Amazon sell the 100ml Sleep Better Pillow Mist for £8.95 with free delivery and even next day delivery if you have Amazon Prime.

Click here to buy from Amazon

In conclusion, the Sleep Better/ Sweet Dreams pillow mist is a lovely quick, easy product for a good night sleep. Instead of taking the time to lather yourself in an essential oils body lotion, this product may be better for people who just want the light calming smells drifting around their head at bedtime which isn’t too heavy on the mind. A few sprays and the product should work wonders for anyone at bedtime.

Bedtime product rating 4/5

Many thanks,

L x

Sleepy; The miraculous £8 Lush bedtime body lotion I absolutely swear by!

Bedtime

Hi Everyone!

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Sleepy Body Lotion by Lush

At christmas, I had the absolute pleasure of testing this miracle bedtime body lotion which everyone in the UK is raving about when I discovered it in my stocking on christmas morning. I had actually seen the product before inside my nearest Lush store at the Potteries Centre in Stoke-On-Trent and seen the massive hype about the product all over Instagram and Facebook. I prayed that santa would bring me this product. It’s almost as if he knew I was struggling to get to sleep.

I am one of those people who procrastinates for long lengths of time when I go to sleep, thinking about the ins and outs about my next shift at work, worrying if I am going to get up on time in the morning and even what we are going to have for tea tomorrow night. It  sounds ridiculous but I really struggle to just relax at bedtime. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I just collapse into bed and that’s it, out. However, most of the time I do really struggle.

My Gran always tells me about qualities that lavender oil has and the ways in which it can help in day-to-day life, but I honestly did not realise how good it was until now.

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My lovely yet silly gran who nearly blinded herself with tee tree!

I swear she carries a little bottle in her bag everywhere she goes. Lavender oil and Tee Tree oil. Tee Tree Oil that she nearly blinded herself once, mistaking them for eye drops one night. But that is another story all together!

Honestly, this product massively lived up to the online reviews. It’s made with naturally occurring ingredients that are never tested on animals and is also packaged in recycled containers which feels really good knowing this when using. The main element of the lotion is lavender, which endless studies have shown can help decrease stress levels, reduce heart rate and make it far easier to relax.

It isn’t going to knock you out as soon as you hit the pillow but gosh it does make it easier to nod off! Honestly, once you try this dreamy body lotion also combined with an oatmeal infusion, you will never stress sleep again. It smells gorgeous. Every person who has tried the product in my family has said it is one of the best things that they have ever smelt. I’m sure I can smell notes of ginger but the ingredient isn’t even in the tub! How does that work? It smells different every time you use it. I’ve tried other lavender lotions and pillow sprays before but they do not work anywhere near as good as this.

Before I go to sleep, I sit upright in bed in my pajamas and pick up the pot which is permanently placed right next to my bed on my little side table. Yes. This is how much I rely on the product. I simply lather the smallest amount on my arms, neck and chest in a thin layer so that way I can smell the cream when I’m lying down, trying to get to sleep. The first time I tried this, I couldn’t even tell you how long it took me to fall asleep. I can’t remember. It must have been instant. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I don’t put it on because I don’t think I have time and just simply want to go to bed straight away but gosh, I do suffer. 

In terms of where to buy then Lush Sleepy Bedtime Lotion, Im afraid there is only one place. Lush

If I am being honest, the price of Lush stuff is always going to be slightly more expensive than other places such as The Body Shop but for this product, it is honestly worth the price and double. I recommend buying the smallest tub to start with. From personal experience, I have had the tub since December and I haven’t even used a quarter of it because you only really need a thin later. So unless you really like the product and want a tub that will last around five years, go for the 95g. 

  • £8.75 – 95g Small Size Tub 
  • £15.95 – 215g Medium Size Tub
  • £26.95 – 440g Large Size Tub

Click here to find your nearest Lush store

Overall, I would recommend this product above every bedtime sleeping product that I have ever tried whether that be roller ball essential oils and mood lights. This is down to personal preference however. Some of you may hate body lotions or might even be allergic to the stuff. Regardless, if you are someone who cannot sleep very well, like myself, introduce Lavender into your sleeping routine. Honestly, It will make a world of difference. 

Bedtime Product Rating – 5/5

Thanks for reading,

L x 

About me

About me

Hello fellow stress heads!

My name is Lucy, I am a 20 year old University student who is simply seeking to find peace in such a frantic world.

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On the beach in Corfu with no worries in the world

In the last year, I have been personally suffering with the effects of anxiety and stress during both my academic studies and in family life. In this period of time, I have found it increasingly hard to take my own ‘time out’ away from everything to simply relax, rest and unwind. Between work and home we have to manage a lot of responsibilities as individuals and alongside this comes the inevitable – stress. 

Scientifically proven, we all know that stress is not good for both our physical and mental health and can be something which can effect our lives for many years…

Stress is ultimately our body’s response to pressures from a situation or life event. What contributes to stress can vary hugely from person to person. Some common features of things that can make us feel stressed include experiencing something new, something that could threaten yourself, or feeling that you have little control over a situation.

So if we can’t avoid stress, whether it be acute or chronic, how can we reduce it?

In this blog I will therefore be aiming to share the best products to relax, de-stress and boost your overall wellbeing.

Whether it be related to herbal teas or scented oils for your pillow, I will help as best as I can to express my own journey as an individual who experiences stress on a daily basis and the ways I try to relax and stay calm.

Therefore, after reading through my posts, hopefully you will soon be able to gather some of your own ideas together to make your own life a little less stressful.

Enjoy! L x