Stress.

The past year has given us plenty of the stuff, hasn’t it?

In fact, studies have shown that a huge “62% of adults in the UK have felt anxious or worried” in the face of the pandemic. Unsurprising really, with the uncertainty we’ve faced and the upheaval of routines that we’ve had to deal with.

However, with restrictions easing slowly (we have our fingers firmly crossed!) and with spring well and truly upon us, there’s never been a better time to embrace some new wellness practices. New season, new habits, right?

Getting that Vitamin D 

Vitamin D really is a powerhouse when it comes to your mental health. It’s been shown to play an important role in reducing feelings of depression and anxiety, so boosting your intake is a brilliant way to combat stress.

Getting out in the sunshine is, of course, the natural way to improve how much you’re getting. In fact, it’s recommended that you embrace 10-30 minutes of midday sunlight at least a few times a week. Here at Verdant Alchemy, we try to squeeze a lunchtime walk into our schedule for the sake of boosting Vitamin D.

For added stress-reduction, we listen to the Mindfulness in Minutes podcast whilst we stroll. It’s the perfect way to re-centre if you’re short on time.  

Using an acupressure mat 

Here’s a product we’ve been loving lately!

Acupressure mats certainly take some getting used to, as they can feel somewhat uncomfortable at first. However, it didn’t take long for us to feel a whole lot more zen after using one. 

Acupressure is the practice of stimulating pressure points in the body. And in this case that’s done through laying on a bunch of tiny spikes! We try to do it every night before bed. It might not sound fun, but it’s been shown to relieve stress, alongside improving sleep and relaxing the muscles. 

We love this eco-friendly option from Vision 13. 

Nourishing from within 

It’s not surprising that stress has been linked time and time again to diet!

We try to incorporate foods which have been shown to reduce cortisol levels and, in turn, combat stress. The best part? Dark chocolate is one of them! Bananas, pears and yogurts are less exciting, but are also on the list. 

Bathing more

But you knew we’d say that! This is a bath brand after all.

It’s true: baths are a brilliant tool for finding calm in day-to-day life and they can be incorporated relatively easily into most routines. One Japanese study linked them to less stress, anger, and even depression. 

Add in the carefully crafted blends of essential oils in our salts and oils, and taking a step away from the stresses of modern life is even easier. 

Re-treat yourself!

Our Retreat Bath & Shower Oil is the ultimate indulgence when feeling stressed, created to not only nourish the skin, but to give you a spa-like experience at home. We’ve blended a whole host of science-backed ingredients into each and every bottle, including lavender, ylang ylang and ho-leaf essential oils, all of which promote relaxation.

This month though, we wanted to focus on ho-leaf, which we use as a scent alternative to rosewood, an endangered species of tree. This soothing oil is super calming, whilst also helping to ward off sadness. Plus, it helps reduce aches and pains in the body too.

All whilst imparting a sweet, spicy and woody fragrance!

Shop this stress-free essential here.