How to handle the end of year (and Christmas) like a boss
Are your stress levels rising as the end of year approaches? Try this handy hack to help you sail through the silly season.
Tis the season to be… jolly stressed, if you’re like the majority of us!
Let’s face it, instead of basking in celebration and good cheer, many of us are feeling overtired and overcommitted as we head towards Christmas and the end of the year.
The pressure of wrapping up work commitments, gift-buying, negotiating family dynamics and meeting the expectations of creating “the perfect day” on December 25 can make the so-called festive season fairly stressful.
One survey saw 62 per cent of respondents describe their stress levels as “very or somewhat” elevated during the Christmas season, with only a meagre 10 per cent reporting no stress at all.
Turning the jangle back into jingle bells
If end-of-year commitments are already leaving you feeling as grumpy as the Grinch, a well known herb known as kava may help ease some of the nervous tension.
A member of the nightshade family of plants and native to the South Pacific islands, kava has been traditionally used in Pacific Islander medicine to help calm the nervous system and induce sleep.
Traditionally Islanders prepared the herb from the roots of this tropical evergreen shrub (official name Piper methysticum), grinding them into a fine pulp and then adding water.
A natural water and herb root blend to help with mild anxiety
The active substances in the root pulp are known as kavalactones, which have been studied scientifically.
The University of Melbourne carried out a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study to assess kava’s effectiveness in treating stress and found it helped reduce mild anxiety.
Another study in Germany found kava to be more effective than a placebo at improving sleep quality.
The different forms of kava
While jumping on a plane might be just what you feel like right now, we’re happy to tell you that these days, kava is available in tea, capsule, powder and liquid forms.
Which means you don’t have to head to the Pacific Islands to find kava.
Thompson’s One-A-Day Kava 3800 comes in a handy one-tablet-a-day dose, and as a 100 per cent water extraction it also has no artificial colours or flavours and has no added gluten, lactose, nuts, shellfish, dairy, egg, fish or sesame seeds.
Along with Thompson’s commitment to quality products every active ingredient is rigorously checked during the Thompson’s manufacturing process to provide for consistency and potency, which is just one less thing to stress about.
Don’t forget too, that managing to carve out a little “you time” among the chaos, will also help you get through to Boxing Day and some genuine down time in early January!
Written by Liz McGrath.
This post is brought to you by Thompson’s. This product might not be right for you. Read the label before purchase. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist talk to your health professional.
