Many of us struggle with stress - and everyday treatments such as meditation, exercise and journaling can go a long way to beat those blues.
But it can be difficult to keep on top of our self-care routines while juggling the pressures of modern life. If you're looking for a simpler fix you don't need to think about, Hapi Patch may have the answer.
The company say their range of wearable patches can induce a relaxing sleep, banish your hangover or boost your sex drive. But I wasn't interested in any of these, and instead opted for the brand's 'Calm Vibes Only' patch.
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Sporting the patch for 24 hours, I was determined to see whether it would bliss me out and create a sense of zen. "Do you find yourself overwhelmed by anxiety and stress?" Hapi Patch's website reads. "Experience tranquillity with the Calm Vibes Only Patch, the ultimate solution for natural anxiety relief.
"Unlike traditional methods, this patch provides a steady flow of calming ingredients, including the highly acclaimed Ashwagandha, to soothe your mind and body throughout the day. Designed for anyone prone to stress or anxiety, it's perfect for those difficult moments when you need calmness the most. Infused with a powerful blend of natural extracts and vitamins, our patch is here to help you find your peace."
The patch also contains valerian extract, which Hapi Patch claims "helps reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality"; passionflower extract to "enhance relaxation, reduce anxiety, and alleviates insomnia"; Vitamin B6, which supports brain health, reduces anxiety and enhances mood; and, finally, Rhodiola Rosea, which is said to alleviates stress, fight fatigue, and improve resilience to anxiety.
It's a lot for such a small patch to live up to, but I was optimistic that this all-natural solution might be just the thing I need to boost my mood and see me through the week. The patch claims to slowly release all the nutrients you need to relax over a 24-hour period, at which point you should swap it out for a fresh one which should be applied on a different patch of clean skin.
Each pack of patches retails for £12.99 and contains 15 patches, enough to keep you in a state of zen for more than two weeks if you were to wear them consecutively. I couldn't see whether the company recommends or advises against this, so I decided just to try the patch for one day and see how I fared.
The patch itself is very comfortable to wear, so much so that I forgot I was wearing it. When my 24-hour trial was up I nearly didn't remove it, as it had slipped my mind that I had even put it on in the first place.
Personally, I didn't notice any significant change in my mood or stress levels, although this may be because I was already in a pretty good mood when I tested out the patch. That said, there are plenty of positive reviews for the convenient stress-busters.
"Amazing! Within 40 minutes I will see a significant reduction in anxiety. It has become an integral part of my self care routine," one person wrote on the company's website.
"What sorcery are these?? I got diagnosed with severe anxiety last year, on medication for it now. Had an anxiety attack 5 weeks ago, haven't been able to shake it off. Stuck one of these on today and.....WOW......I am as calm as a cucumber. A definate firm purchase from now on. THANK YOU HAPI PATCH," wrote another.
However, not everyone is as convinced. "Not what I thought it would be have been using for a week not much different from what I was like before I started to use these," said another.