I walked the NY NOW Gift Show on January 31 to February 4 looking for a common thread.

It wasn’t obvious. I saw a lot of do-it-yourself products like iKen watches , Wolf clocks and Hella Bitters kits and thought, “maybe,” but it wasn’t enough.

I had come straight from the Outdoor Retailer show in Utah so maybe my perception was skewed, but I noticed a lot of gifts that bring the outdoors inside. There was The ReCYCLEr which transforms old bikes into amazing furniture and eye-catching art. I love the delightful life-like birdhouses from Home Bazaar. Chesterfield skin rugs felt quite outdoor inspired as well.

Then it came to me. Almost everything I saw on the show floor had the ability to de-stress in some way.

Hear me out.

Movement

What could be more relaxing? Bamboo Rockers by the Vermont Cedar Chair company are made with bamboo, the most sustainable furniture material known to man.

Magnolia Casual shows a swing hammock and casual chairs with brightly colored pillows suspended by roles that come with a tote.

I was relaxed just looking at it. Swinging calms people of all ages from infants to the elderly.

Organization

The fastest way to relax is to control your clutter.

Semikolon makes a messy home office look collected and professional so you don’t have to compromise your living space.

Livliga makes portion control dinnerware, tableware and glassware that helps you eye-ball your portions so you can manage your weight, health and nutritional intake.

OYOBox keeps your collection of spectacles safe and in order.

Rest

Sleep releases stress and chances are you know someone who has a hard time catching their Zzz’s. There was an overwhelming selection of pajamas at the show.

Eat Sleep Doodle is a fun company out of the UK that makes bedding you can scribble on. There are all sorts of studies out now about how doodling reduces stress.This product makes it possible to doodle anywhere.

I also personally love Branche’s Silk Pillow Cases and Eye Masks. Rumor has it that’s how Angelina Jolie gets her beauty sleep.

Bath

I discovered Turkish-T Towels that turn bathing into a luxurious spa treatment for your skin and hair because they dry so quickly that they maximize hydration which is especially important this time of year.

LinenMe showed colorful linen bath towels and sheets.

Retail Therapy

The phenomenon of “austere prosperity” has moved beyond self-purchase to purchasing for others.

You can buy Capabunga wine caps to extend the life of a high priced wine.

Luca Chiara has prestigious accessories look like luxury but cost less.

Tattoo Bella add a little bling with gold tattoos.

Fire

Fire is possibly the first way man de-stressed. I have a HearthCabinet ventless fireplace so that I can cozy up around a fire year-round even in my SoHo loft. HearthCabinets are deemed safest by the New York City Fire Department so I never worry but the designer fire extinguishers from Prestige Identity caught my eye and I want one for every room of my house just in case because they are so clever and cute.

It’s no wonder many men like to unwind with a good BBQ. GrilLight sheds some light on cooking outdoors with durable grilling tools that light up in the dark. I also saw Social Light Decorative Lights that should make matches to light candles and fireplaces obsolete and FirePit Art, amazing functional steel sculptures that are safe and fun.

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Nancy Trent is a writer and speaker, a lifelong health advocate, a globe-trotting trend watcher and the founder and president of Trent & Company, a New York-based marketing communications firm. Trent & Company grew out of Nancy’s personal commitment to helping people live longer and healthier lives.  A former journalist for New York magazine, Nancy has written seven books on healthy lifestyles, serves on the editorial boards of several magazines and travels around the world speaking at conferences and trade shows on trends in the marketplace. She is a recognized expert in PR with more than 30 years of experience creating and managing highly successful campaigns. Nancy can be reached at (212) 966-0024 or through e-mail at nancy@trentandcompany.com.  You may also visit www.trentandcompany.com.

Posted on WholeFoods Magazine Online, 2/20/15