Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Seattle, WA); 1/2/1999

After the busy holiday season, what most of us need is a chance to relax, rejuvenate and quietly contemplate the new year. While it's easy to get caught up in a busy schedule and neglect these basic needs, remember that relaxation and stress reduction are vital to maintaining good health.

Here are suggestions for ways to ease into 1999:

Take a bath: Very few activities are as refreshing as soaking in a warm bath. It can calm you, ease insomnia or provide an energizing boost. Herbs, essential oils and other natural bath ingredients can do wonders for your skin and state of mind. They'll also fill the room with amazing fragrance.

You can make sachets and drop them right into the bath water, or bundle several herb sprigs together and hang them from a ribbon under the faucet, so the warm water flows through them. You'll probably need to do a little shopping for bath basics; an herbalist or health-food store should have everything you need. Small muslin drawstring bags are ideal for filling with herbs to make sachets.

Oatmeal is soothing, especially for dry or irritated skin. Clay, sea salt and seaweed (powdered or in flakes) are thought to draw out impurities. Rose petals are delightfully perfumy; calendula petals will comfort dry, itchy skin.

Choose a variety of essential oils that suit your taste. Many are reputed to have healthful benefits: Lavender is thought to have a balancing effect - calming or energizing, depending on what you need; bergamot is stimulating; rosemary is rejuvenating and has a gentle astringent effect; lemon is antibacterial; eucalyptus is wonderful for relieving respiratory congestion; and sage is purifying.

Always mix essential oils - a few drops is all you need - with a spoonful of another oil, such as almond or castor oil, before adding to bath water; this helps distribute the potent essential oils evenly.

Before using any herbal or cosmetic product, it is wise to do a patch-test: Rub a small amount of the solution on the inside of your arm, cover and wait 24 hours. If you have no reaction, it is most likely safe to use.

Some essential oils and cosmetic products are not safe for pregnant women or children. Check with a doctor before using any new product.

Drink your tea: After weeks of consuming rich holiday treats, a natural, warming herb tea can be very satisfying. These infusions have been used since ancient times to relieve symptoms of flu and other ailments - and they are soothing even when you feel good.

Ingredients such as peppermint and ginger are known to relieve nausea; licorice can be a cough suppressant; and goldenseal is thought to be antibacterial. You can create tea blends with ingredients found in a health-food store.

Treat yourself to an indulgent dessert: Resolving to start a healthful diet is common at New Year's. But a sudden purge of all things sweet from your kitchen can leave you feeling deprived. Why not compromise with an indulgent dessert that's also good for you?

The recipe below is light and nutritious, yet deliciously sweet. It's even simple to make. Serve it as a fondue-style dessert for company, or make it as a snack for your family - or just for yourself - anytime. For the most attractive presentation, offer as many different dried fruits as you can find.

Dried Fruit With Chocolate Dipping Sauce

2 tablespoons Dutch cocoa

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup nonfat sweetened condensed milk

1/2 to 3/4 pound mixed dried fruit (apricots, plums, pineapples, bananas, pears, papaya, mango)

In a small bowl, combine the cocoa, sugar and 2 tablespoons of water, and stir until smooth. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the condensed milk and cocoa mixture and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, about 1 to 2 minutes. Pour into a bowl and serve with dried fruit.

Serves 4.

Estimated preparation time: 5 minutes. Cooking time: 2 minutes.

Record your thoughts: Once you feel calm and rested, you can begin to take stock and prepare for the coming year. Sit down with your new calendar and mark all the important dates that you need to remember throughout the year, such as birthdays, special occasions and reminders to schedule appointments.

And rather than simply making a mental list of New Year's resolutions, start a resolutions journal. This is a place to record your hopes and wishes for the months ahead. You can track your progress as you achieve or reassess those goals.