"Stress Relief for Busy People"

Attention Small Business Owners

By Marilyn Zink
The Herbal Collective Magazine

Used with permission

Relaxing, slowing down, catching some down time.

Most of us wait or plan a specific time for that down time and many of us have a hard time finding it.

For Lisa Rickwood, author of: Escape The Pace:100 Fun And Easy Ways To Slow Down And Enjoy Your Life, building down time into every day is important for our mental, physical and emotional balance.

The Nanaimo resident wrote the book after deciding the pace of her life was too fast. she has divided the book into sections such as: quick retreats, spectacular spa getaways, mental relaxation, quiet mini holidays and more. At the end of each section is an escape plan to try.

Under Bath Bliss, for instance, is a recipe for making bath bombs. There are also yoga escapes, aromatherapy, massage and feet treat escapes.

Calming candlelight, located under Unique Rituals, is one many women can relate to and enjoy. Herb gardening, visualization and office Feng Shui are other escapes to try that add peace and balance to your life.

Lisa says one of her favorite escapes is the Great Escape Box, which she describes is like a "portable sanctuary."

Her box is filled with many interesting keepsakes and momentos. These include things like: a tiny fridge with magnetic words and a light that works.

"I got the fridge when I visited Saltspring Island." Lisa says.

There's a mini book called Simple Pleasures and a Serenity Kit that has a tiny wind chime. She also has pictures of her two sons hamming it up, a mini spa book, a velvet bag with rocks, incense, a notebook, fruit stripe gum (her favorite childhood candy not found in Canada) and a heart-shaped rock.

"I've got so many people hooked on collecting heart-shaped rocks," chuckles Lisa, who first discovered them on the beach while hiking at Neck Point Park in North Nanaimo.

Lisa also enjoys other escapes like making bath salts, spritzers and bath bombs with essential oils.

"I make a lot of body care products using pure essential oils. It's therapeutic, fun, relaxing and saves money. I enjoy it because I know what's going into it. "

Since she published her book, she has sold numerous copies. It's available at The Mulberry Bush Bookstores in Parksville and Qualicum Beach, Falconer Books in Nanaimo and The Little Shop Of Novels in Chemainus. Lisa's working with a distributor so the book will be available in more places as well.

So take the time to read the book so you can relax, slow down and catch some down time.

I look forward to being of service,

“Small Business Stress Buster”