January and February can be some of the cruelest months on our bodies, moods and psyche.

Forget New Year Resolutions

Don’t feel guilty because you lack energy to tackle all the “shoulds” in your New Year resolutions. January is the worst time to attempt lifestyle changes – like exercise – without a strong support system. Hide the New Year resolutions until March or April, when your energy returns with spring.

Get More Light

Our modern culture lives indoors year round, leaving us light deprived. The problem is worse in the dark of winter. Get outside, even on gray days, for a 15-minute walk. Check into light therapy, clinically proven to bust the winter blues for eight out of 10 people who do it correctly.

Eat More Protein

Freeze or give away leftover holiday treats. Skip cereal, bread, cookies and pasta in favor of more satisfying protein and vegetables to avoid sluggishness and weight gain.

Stay Social

Rather than retreat or hibernate after the hectic holidays, schedule regular, low-key, intimate times with friends.

About the author: Marsha Stopa is a health coach who teaches people how to beat the winter blues and seasonal depression at Winter Blues Coach. Her home study course and teleclass, “The LightDiet™: Using Light to Beat the Cloudy Day, Rainy Day, Winter Day Blues,” helps you map out your personal strategy to include an energizing diet of light into your life.

For a short time Simply Clesha readers can get the home study at a 30% discount.

Now, onto today’s giveaway

In the midst of our new year resolutions, this is the perfect item to indulge all of your senses. Tonight relax in a bath of Clear Your Head Herbal Bath Tea. As the scent of dark chocolate washes over you, your body will relax as the seasonal works its magic on your overworked body.

Today’s giveaway question is: What are you doing to enjoy the outdoors this winter?

To enter, simply do one or more of the following:

1. Answer the daily question, at the end of each post, in the comments section below.
2. Go to Twitter and tweet the following:
   1. I just entered to win Clear Your Head Herbal Bath Tea from @simplyclesha. You can to @ http://blog.simplyclesha.com/
   2. Come back and leave a comment letting me know.
3. “Like” Simply Clesha on Facebook. (http://www.facebook.com/SimplyClesha).
   1. Come back and leave a separate comment letting me know.
4. Sign up for my email subscription. The sign-up can be found in the right sidebar.
   1. Come back and leave a separate comment letting me know.
5. Sign up for the Early Bird Notification List at Simply Clesha eClasses, where I teach you the basics of Aromatherapy. You can sign up here: http://eclasses.simplyclesha.com/.
   1. Come back and leave a separate comment letting me know.

Good luck!

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Today is day one of our 12 day giveaway and what better way to get the ball rolling than with a way to destress after all the running around. This is a guest post from Michelle Smith of www.AntiStressAndPain.com.  So, let's bounce back with these great tips and a product giveaway

Holiday decorations are all put away and finally there’s some white space in your daily planner. The hustle and bustle of the shopping season has come to a major slow down. You’ve shopped until you almost dropped.

The holiday season is officially OVER. Now what?

The Season Has Run Its Course

2010 was a year like no other and there will never be another like it. From New Year’s to Christmas and every holiday in between, it’s been a busy year. No. It was eventful.

As soon as November arrived, you were inundated by ads for the latest gadgets and most sought after “stuff.”

Credit card companies love this time of year. It’s the time when people everywhere use the “god of plastic” to spend, spend, spend. Who can resist a sale?

Many people shop for their own self gratification and then there’s the exchanging of gifts and attending of event after event. There’s little room for rest. You know the saying, “Eat, drink and be merry.” It’s a wonder the holiday season is one of the most stressful times of the year.

Preparing for the Bounce Back

The merry-dom has run its course. It’s time to bounce back from holiday stress and prepare for the new year.

If you’re going to make 2011 better than 2010, you need a refreshing from holiday stress and a new outlook. That’s where “Me Time” comes in.

A Complete Plan for Me Time

It’s not what you think. Me time isn’t just about taking a day to indulge in an expensive body treatment, although it could include that.

Real “Me time” gives attention to all the areas that are the essence of what makes you tick: Body, Mind, Emotions and Finances. Neglecting to address these areas will leave you muddling about in a pool of stress – stress that’s probably the result of overindulging during the holidays.

Developing a plan for your “Me Time” is not only good for you. It’s good to you. Let’s take a look at a complete plan:

• Start with a reality check. If you’ve blown your budget and spent your way into debt, take 30 minutes to create a plan to pay off that debt. It may seem counterintuitive to focus on money, one of the major causes of stress.

  Yet, how can you even begin to unwind knowing that you have some underlying financial issues going on? The reason money is a major source of stress for people is because they don’t proactively manage it.

• If you’re not currently doing it, now’s the time to start journaling. As little as 15 minutes a day can help clear your thinking. Dumping negative thoughts and feelings out will refresh your mind and emotions.

• Here’s one you may not have considered: A “Things to Accomplish This Year” book. This is a perfect place to keep track of your goals and dreams. It’s all about you so don’t be afraid to think radically. Doing so helps to refresh your outlook for the future.

• Now it’s time to give your body some much needed attention. You can reduce pinned up stress in a number of ways. Indulging in a day of pampering with a facial, full body massage or other personal care services is just one way to reduce your stress levels.

  If your finances are not quite in shape for a day at a spa, there are affordable stress relievers available you can use in your own home. Aromatherapy products and personal massagers are a few to consider.

The holiday season brings a mixture of fun and stress. When the holidays are over, taking time out to bring back balance to your mind, body, emotions and finances will help you bounce back to face the new year.

Incidentally, you’ve got another 12 months before the next major holiday season rolls around. How will you spend it? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

About the Author: Mom to a multiply disabled little boy, Michelle Howard Smith provides a ton of information on ways to reduce stress. Grab a free copy of her special report on 10 simple stress reducers to help you take back control of your life. Get it at http://stressreducersguide.com

Now, the giveaway

Today's giveaway item is Stress Release Me! Herbal Bath Tea. This herbal blend is made using chamomile flowers, lavender buds, and other great herbs that are very helpful for reducing your day-to-day stress.

Today's giveaway question is: What stressed you out the most over the holidays?

To enter, simply do one or more of the following:

1. Answer the daily question, at the end of each post, in the comments section below.
2. Go to Twitter and tweet the following:
   1. I just entered to win Stress Release Me! Herbal Bath Tea from @simplyclesha. You can too @ http://blog.simplyclesha.com/?p=967
   2. Come back and leave a comment letting me know.
3. “Like” Simply Clesha on Facebook. (The Facebook heart can be found in the right sidebar).
   1. Come back and leave a separate comment letting me know.
4. Sign up for my email subscription. The sign-up can be found in the right sidebar.
   1. Come back and leave a separate comment letting me know.
5. Sign up for email subscription on my new site In Your Secret Place, where I explore the sacred side of aromatherapy and I show you how to create sacred time and space in the midst of chaos. You can sign up here: http://inyoursecretplace.com/. The sign-up box can be found in the right sidebar.
   1. Come back and leave a separate comment letting me know

Good luck!

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The holidays are over and we finally get to take a breath and let out a longgggggggg exhale.  Whew!  I don’t know about you, but I’m tired!  The holiday race from Thanksgiving to Christmas always takes a lot out of me. So, when the new year rolls around, I’m more open to taking time to rejuvenate myself and relax.

Since I’m taking the time to reach a relaxing state of mind, I thought you would enjoy it, too.  That’s why I’m excited to announce I am having a 12 Days of “After-the-Holidays” Relaxation Giveaway!  Yayy!  For the next 12 days, I will be giving away products that will help you relax and tame your post-holiday fatigue and stress. It’s easy to enter and you’ll have five (5) ways to win.

To make it even more exciting, I will have a few guest bloggers to share tips that will help get you mentally and physically back on track. 

The Giveaway
You are allowed to enter up to five times, by following the guidelines below and leaving a separate post for each entry.  Psst…you can also enter everyday of the giveaway.  An awesome way to roll in a relaxing new year right?  I know, that’s what I said!

To enter, simply do one or more (more is better sometimes you know) of the following:

1. Answer the daily question, at the end of each post, in the comments section below.
2. Tweet the giveaway of the day (given each day)
   1. Come back and leave a comment letting me know.
3. “Like” Simply Clesha on Facebook. (http://www.facebook.com/SimplyClesha).
   1. Come back and leave a separate comment letting me know.
4. Sign up for my email subscription. The sign-up can be found in the right sidebar.
   1. Come back and leave a separate comment letting me know.
5. Sign up for the list of the day.
   1. Come back and leave a separate comment letting me know.

That's it! 12 days of giving and six great chances to win! 

A Little Fine Print
The giveaway is open to US residents only and will run from January 1-12, 2011.  Winners will be selected using the random number generator and notified via email for a shipping address.  The winner will have 24 hours to respond before another another winner is selected. The list of weekly winners will be announced on January 6 and 13th.  (Yeah, I know it would be fun to announce it everyday, but who am I kidding. I’m supposed to be relaxing too.)

The giveaway starts tomorrow morning.  Good luck!

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Ahh… the pleasure of a long hot bath. There's nothing like it on a cold winter day. Every once in a while, we all need to immerse our bodies in a tub of  skin nourishing water. a milk bath is a great way to bring nutrients to the skin, and soothe the body. It's rich in proteins, calcium and vitamins, which will leave your skin feeling smooth and moisturized.  The addition of herbs and essential oils makes for a wonderfully luxuriant bath.

Bringing it home
Creating a relaxing milk bath at home is easy to do, and so worth the time.

You'll need:

•  1/2 cup of dry milk
•  1 tablespoon of  dried lavender buds
•  1 tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers
•  4 drops of lavender essential oil
•  1 muslin bag

In a clean glass bowl, mix all of your dry ingredients. Add the essential oils and gently mix. Open your muslin bag, and add your milk bath mixture (good for one or two baths).  Draw a warm bath, and while the water is running, add your muslin bag directly under the faucet. Before stepping in, give your water  a stir. Step into the bath and soak for 20 minutes. When you are done, pat dry and moisturize your skin.

Tip:

I like to use a muslin bag when using dried herbs in the bath. It helps to protect your drain from becoming clogged, and keeps you from a messy cleanup after your bath.  Your muslin bag of herbal mixture can also be used as a gentle exfoliate in place of a washcloth.

If you omit the dried herbs, this mixture can be added directly to the bath while the water is running. You will still get all of the benefits of this skin nourishing milk bath.

Related posts:

1. Q-T Tip: Milk Baths
2. Summer of Lavender

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For years I have suffered a restless night’s sleep.  Getting to sleep wasn’t always the problem, staying asleep was.  It was usually from to much on my mind, distractions outside my bedroom window, or some other situation outside of my control.  It was so bad, I sought help from my doctor.  She gave me a few suggestion that I partnered with my own aromatherapy know-how to help me get some shut-eye.

Doctor Suggested: Here are a few things my doctor suggested

• Clear the clutter out of your bedroom – freeing up space will free up the energy in your bedroom
• Use your bedroom for sleeping only – do not use it as an office, computer lab, etc.
• Turn off the TV at the same time very night – this will signal your body that it’s time for bed
• Take the electronics out of your bedroom

Aromatherapy Suggested: Here are a few of the ways I used aromatherapy to help usher in sweet dreams

1. Diffuser with a relaxing blend
2. Milk bath with soothing lavender buds and chamomile (does wonders for the skin!)
3. A gentle aromatherapy massage to relieve tension
4. Herbal Tea (I enjoy Celestial Seasonings’ Bedtime tea)
5. Journal

While I still have the occasional restless night, I can say that sleep comes easy and, more often than not, I manage to sleep through the night uninterrupted. 

Give these suggestions a try or tell me how you prepare for an uninterrupted night of sleep in the comments below.

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