Tag: stress

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Wellness Lessons from New Zealand : Part Three

Bees, Chocolate and the Joy of Curiosity – Napier

Our next stop on my trip to New Zealand was Napier, known as the Art Deco Capital of New Zealand. With only a few hours available we dashed through the beautiful countryside before stopping at Arataki Honey to learn about bees and sample delicious local honey.

New Zealand’s Manuka Honey has wonderful therapeutic properties and is rich in methylglyoxal, bioflavonoids and phenolic compounds. This gives potent restorative properties that enhance and support the body’s own defences and immune health. Great for wound healing, as a digestive aid, and for helping to relieve coughs and sore throats amongst other things.

Then it was off to the Silky Oak Chocolate Factory and Museum. High-quality dark chocolate and raw cacao offer therapeutic benefits due to high polyphenol, antioxidant and flavonoid content. It may improve cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure, protecting brain function, improving mood and reducing anxiety. There are claims that it can also aid in muscle recovery. Good to know that indulging in some high quality dark chocolate and cacao can support a healthy lifestyle!

On our way back to the ship, we toured streets filled with beautiful Art Deco buildings. Then at the dock and getting ready to re-board, we were greeted by dulcet tones of the Art Deco Jazz Band, The Twin City Stompers. Serenaded by “Georgia” it was a great way to end our visit to Napier.

Travel days like this are full of movement, curiosity and sensory experiences. And that’s actually very good for the brain.

Learning something new, whether it’s about bees, chocolate, local history or architecture, stimulates the brain in ways that support mental health and wellbeing.

Curiosity activates areas of the brain associated with motivation, learning and positive emotional states. In many ways, curiosity can be a powerful antidote to stress.

It shifts the mind from worry mode to discovery mode.

An easy way to reduce stress and reset can be simply getting outside. Explore something new and stay curious about the world.


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LESSONS FROM NORFOLK : Part Three Boundaries

Norfolk is a beautiful little gem of an island in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, approx. halfway between Australia and New Zealand, 1600km northeast of Sydney.

Extremely remote, Norfolk Island territory includes the much smaller and uninhabited Nepean and Phillip Islands which can be easily seen from the original Kingston settlement (see photo below).

In order to maintain its pristine natural beauty and the health and safety of its inhabitants, limits and boundaries have long been put in place.

With its isolation, sea and air transport is relied upon for vital supplies including vehicles and white goods.

Because of its rugged coastline, large ships cannot dock at Norfolk, they have to anchor about a kilometre offshore (see photo of the pier below).

Cargo is then unloaded at sea and taken ashore via small boats or “lighters.”

Originally used as whaling boats, over the years they have evolved and have been widened to carry heavy cargo (see photos below)

This means that bad weather has a huge impact on supplies and there are times when Norfolk runs out of certain foods and items.

This has led to the implementation of boundaries to protect the island and it’s inhabitants.

Norfolk used to be a popular port of call for cruise ships until the negative impact of 3,000 passengers flooding onto the island took it’s toll on the infrastructure and so boundaries have now been put in place and cruise ships no longer visit.

Now tourists only arrive by air, with numbers limited and closely monitored.

Here’s the interesting thing, there are lessons we can learn from Norfolk to protect our own health and wellness.

Many people are stretched to the limit, on the verge of burnout.

The demands and busyness of modern day life, without implementing boundaries and support can cause chronic stress, anxiety, pain and overwhelm.

Protection and preservation of our precious energy and resources are needed for continued health and wellbeing.

For the past 25 years, I’ve helped thousands of clients with pain, stress, anxiety, boundaries and overwhelm.

I can work with you on-line so that you get the help you need from the convenience of being at home.

You don’t need to suffer, email me if you’d like to discuss how I can assist you to change your life!