Relaxing at Home

Oops, sorry... does “relaxing” and “at home” fit in the same sentence? If you’re saying, “Yeah…Right!” while you look at piles of bills, un-done laundry and a mounting stack of things to do... there’s help on the way.

Your home has a powerful impact on your sense of calm and well-being. Your home is an island of calm in a chaotic world. Or it can be! If your current home is untidy and cluttered, you know it can make you feel stressed out.

A bright, clean home can create a happy and loving atmosphere for you and your family. You’ll be able to take a sigh when you walk in the door. You’ll find that you can deeply relax in your sanctuary.

Your senses are key to creating a calm restful environment. Jump on a magic carpet ride to an uncluttered and restful home. Let’s get started!

Light

Natural light is restful for your eyes. Have desks near a window. Open the blinds or curtains. Take advantage of any natural light from windows, doors or skylights. At night, candles can create a serene atmosphere.

Space

An uncluttered space is restful and relaxing to look at. Do you really need to have everything on the counter? HINT: Clear surfaces are easier to keep clean.

Sound

Noise can be incredibly distressing. Turn down the volume on TV, radio, phone rings. Turn the TV off during meals and conversations. Explore soothing sounds of music that you like.

Smell

From flowers to aromatherapy—explore your sense of smell. Check out your local health food store for herbal infusions such as rose water or gardenia water. A spritz of this will change your home in an instant.

Touch

Add your care by touching all the corners of your home. Do things as you see them —remove your shoes at the door. Do the dishes after a meal. Pick up random clutter when you see it—get a bit of exercise in the process.

It’s a process—small changes will make a difference over relatively short period of time. Take fifteen minutes each day investing care in your personal sanctuary. Over a few days, you’ll see, feel and notice a huge difference.

Take This With You

Pick one area of your house for today’s fifteen-minute investment. What can you do to create a bright, positive atmosphere today?

Milly is author of Beyond Words: A Guide to Drawing Out Ideas. She is co-author with Thomas Sechehaye of just-released Design Yourself and SOS: Stress Options and Solutions available at http://www.better-stress-advice.com

Milly and Thomas translate field-tested methods, from 17 years at Hands•On Graphics corporate trainings, to practical tools to help you reduce stress today!

Discover the newest visual and holistic approaches to manage stress and reduce information overload.

http://www.better-stress-advice.com