To Relax and Recover

Dear Sweet Gifts,

I’ve been dying at work for the past six weeks! My deadline is tomorrow and I’ve finished my project. I’ve decided to take this Friday off so I can have a three-day weekend and I’d like to spend Friday relaxing and recovering. What can you recommend as a gift to myself to unwind?

Thank you in advance!
Tina, NSW.

We recommend starting the day with some light morning exercise to wake your mind and body and to get your blood moving. You may wish to try some yoga or meditation to re-center your consciousness and re-establish your sense of well-being. Follow up with a revitalising shower to get you ready to face the day.

Stress can suck the nutrients right out of you, so load up on a light and healthy breakfast of luxurious and refreshing fruit like peaches, strawberries, grapefruit or watermelon to give your body a hit of natural sugar. Fruit salads can be topped with plain natural yoghurt, which is light and slightly tart, and won’t leave you with that heavy dairy feeling afterwards. Avoid the oily or fatty sausages and fried egg breakfast for the day and you’ll already feel cleaner, crisper and refreshed!

Maintain the good morning vibe throughout the day by not letting yourself stagnate (you can spend Saturday and Sunday doing that!). Reading can be mentally stimulating, but activities that allow you to sit or lie for too long can leave you drowsy and listless. Put on some music and dance while you do the laundry – this keeps you active as well as laundry-free for the rest of the weekend. Be sure to get out of the house for an hour or two, whether for some more fresh air, catching up with some friends or even shopping.

Some great self-appreciation purchases include handbags, earrings, shoes or hats. Or if you like to be entertained, CDs, DVDs or even an MP3 player will be a constant reminder of how much you’ve achieved.

Start your evening by taking a warm bath, treating your skin to a moisturising scrub to slough off dead skin cells. Use aromatherapy to aid in relaxing and revitalising your mind and body – citrus or mint to refresh, lavender to relax, or sandalwood for that sexy feeling.

Have white meat (chicken is the easiest!) + veggies for dinner. To keep up the healthy feeling, go for something made with breast meat, like a Chicken Filo Mango with Tangy Cream Cheese from your local Lenards store. Despite the popular belief that breast meat is tough and tasteless, the secret to good breast dishes is in the cooking time. For dessert, go for something easy on the stomach, like a cool sorbet or fruit tartlets.

And finally, the most important bit – wear the good pyjamas because you deserve it!

Enjoy your weekend, Tina!