There’s a lot of aspects to life that we’ve found ourselves having to adjust to amid the ‘new normal’.
For many Brits, working from home is one of those aspects.
Companies of all shapes, sizes and industries are looking to embrace the concept of working from home a lot more as we head into the coming months, but when the stresses and strains of uncomfortable working positions just end up getting on top of us, we all deserve to treat ourselves every now and then, right?
Thanks to online gifting retailer Prezzybox, here are some of the best at-home massage products on the market right now to do just that – treat yourself.
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Vibrating Body Massager
Prezzybox
This fantastic handheld massager means you no longer have to travel anywhere other than your own home when the daily stresses and strains of life have you feeling a little bit uptight at times.
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It’s your very own massage assistant at your fingertips.
The vibrating ball-shaped massager has special pads for the right pressure to ease any tension, has soft-coloured LED lights to help on your journey to relaxation and is retailing at just £7.99 on Prezzybox.
You can get your hands on the Vibrating Body Massagerhere.
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Vibrating Neck Massager
Prezzybox
This vibrating neck massager can help soothe muscle aches and pains in your neck after a long day of working.
The soft and pillow-like massager has innovative therapeutic vibrating technology, can be wrapped around your neck to allow for hands-free pain relief, is the perfect size to carry wherever you go post-lockdown and is retailing for just £14.99 on Prezzybox.
You can get your hands on the Vibrating Neck Massagerhere.
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Mini Massage Cushion
This small-but-mighty massage cushion is the ultimate relaxation accessory.
It’s powered by a UK mains adapter, meaning no more pesky batteries, has rotation massage features and four pressure points – plus an optional ‘heat mode’ for aches and pains – and provides deep tissue relief for any part of your body.
It’s also the perfect size for post-lockdown travel too and is retailing on Prezzybox at £29.99.
You can get your hands on the Mini Massage Cushionhere.
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Eyezone Massager
Prezzybox
This Eyezone Massager has three revolutionary features.
It combines massage therapy, pinhole therapy and magnetic therapy, all in one clever little tool. According to the product description, “a lot of the stresses we feel living in today’s world have a technological cause [and] it’s therefore sensible to approach relieving these stresses and strains in a scientific manner”.
It helps to combat headaches, eyestrain, fatigue and insomnia, and is retailing on Prezzybox for just £9.99.
You can get your hands on the Eyezone Massagerhere.
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Lower Back Massager
Prezzybox
This portable Lower Back Massager is a handy and efficient way of dealing with the muscle strain and posture issues that are brought on by working from home, because according to the product description, “we often neglect and take for granted the way that the body copes with strains and tension”.
It’s easily attachable, can be worn around the waist or across the chest, helps to ease pain by releasing heat in soothing waves and is retailing on Prezzybox for only £9.99.
You can get your hands on the Lower Back Massagerhere.
News
Hundreds of staff at four Greater Manchester hospitals to strike AGAIN next week
Emily Sergeant
Another round of strikes has been called at a handful of major Greater Manchester hospitals.
Amid ongoing disputes following the first set of strikes at the end of last month, it has now been announced that more than 350 Northern Care Alliance Foundation Trust (NCA) employees – including nurses, clinical support workers and housekeepers – who are members of the union UNISON will once again walk out for three days next week.
According to the union, the dispute centres on the NCA’s use of an outside agency called NHS Professionals (NHSP) to manage overtime.
When covering staff shortages, workers are entitled to time-and-a-half pay – however in some cases, staff earn less than they would on a normal shift, and some have even been missing out on more than £80 per shift, the union added.
Operating theatre staff were previously on picket lines in June, and although an option to resolve the row was initially tabled by NCA bosses, this has now fallen through.
Hundreds of staff at four of Greater Manchester’s hospitals are set to strike next week / Credit: Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)
This means that staff at Salford Royal Hospital, Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, and Fairfield Hospital in Bury are walking out next week on Monday 14, Tuesday 15, and Thursday 17 September.
The union’s North West regional organiser, Kevin Dolan, said the trust had given ‘no indication’ that it’s willing to re-enter negotiations, adding that operating theatre services were ‘chronically under-staffed’ and staff were choosing to work extra shifts to cover shortages.
Ahead of the August strikes, the trust declared a critical incident to help it secure extra support and keep urgent surgery running, while also announcing that some procedures would have to be postponed.
Understandably, some disruption is expected at each of the hospitals on strike days.
But Gertie Nic Philib, who is the chief people and strategy officer at the Northern Care Alliance, said that the trust will do ‘everything we can to minimise the impact on patients’ and ‘maintain high standards of care and quality at all times.’
“We also have contingency plans in place for emergency situations,” they concluded.
Featured Image – Pxhere
News
Stockport man jailed for life after kidnapping and sexually assaulting teenage girl
Emily Sergeant
A Stockport man has been sentenced to life in prison after kidnapping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl on her way home from the library.
Paul Sharpe has been sentenced to life imprisonment with an eight-year minimum term in prison after being convicted of a number of offences when subjected a teenage girl to what police called a ‘terrifying ordeal’ that lasted several hours back in May 2026.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that the victim had been studying at Sale Library before beginning her journey home with friends at around 5:50pm and contacting her parents at 6:10pm to let them know she was on her way.
Twenty minutes later, she spoke to her boyfriend on the phone and said she was approximately five minutes away from home, but that her phone battery was about to die.
This was the last contact received from the victim that evening.
While walking along Bradgate Road in Altrincham, the victim noticed a grey Ford parked nearby and a man wearing a high-visibility jacket pressing doorbells in the area.
As she walked past, Sharpe approached her from behind, placed her in a headlock and threatened to stab her if she did not get into his vehicle.
Concerned that their daughter had not returned home, the victim’s family contacted police at 9:22pm to report her missing, and officers immediately launched an investigation to locate her.
Over the next several hours, the victim was subjected to and placed in a number of terrifying situations.
Sharpe drove the victim to several locations across Greater Manchester and Cheshire, before police located and arrested him at around 3:40am on 19 May 2026.
Following his arrested, 56-year-old Sharpe was convicted of kidnap, committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, threats with a bladed article, and administering a noxious substance with intent to injure, annoy or aggrieve.
“This was a terrifying ordeal for a young girl who was simply making her way home,” explained Detective Inspector Karl Perry, from GMP’s Criminal Investigation Department.
“Sharpe targeted a vulnerable victim, subjected her to hours of fear and intimidation, and went on to sexually assault her.
“The victim has shown immense courage throughout the investigation and court proceedings. Through her bravery and actions, she no doubt made it harder for Sharpe to carry out whatever acts he had planned.”
Emily Sergeant -
3rd July 2020 
