A RELAXED HOME
CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER
Living in a tidy, clutter-free environment can have a big impact on your stress levels. Think about the last time you were late because you couldn’t find your car keys or a clean shirt. Having a place for everything is calming, and being able to locate things you need quickly means that you are less likely to be in a rush. Decluttering your entire house or flat in one go might appear to be an overwhelming task but breaking it down into smaller, more manageable sessions will make it less daunting. Dedicating just 10 minutes a day to getting rid of items that you no longer find useful, or that no longer give you any pleasure, can be immensely satisfying and calming.
TIDY HOUSE,
TIDY MIND
PAINT YOUR ROOMS BLUE
The colours we choose to decorate our surroundings with can have a huge impact on our mental well-being. Red shades tend to trigger the body’s stress response, making us more anxious, while lighter, cooler shades calm us down. Blue is thought to be a soothing colour that helps calm the mind, slow the heart rate, lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety.
FIND YOUR
OFF SWITCH
HAVE A PYJAMA DAY
Spending the whole day in your pyjamas might not be something you choose to do very often, but occasionally it can be intensely relaxing. Having a whole day dedicated to resting and doing whatever you like, such as reading or watching movies, can be very restorative. The only rule is: you are only allowed to do things that you enjoy.
BAKE A CAKE
From weighing out the flour, sugar and butter to beating the mixture and enjoying the end results afterwards, baking has a calming, meditative quality that can help to ease anxiety. And if you’re baking bread, the simple repetitive action of kneading the dough can be especially soothing, creating space for thoughts to come and go. The aroma of baking bread is one of the most comforting smells there is, and the sense of satisfaction you get from creating something that looks and tastes delicious can be huge.
If you do what you Love, it is the best way to relax.
CREATE A SLEEP SANCTUARY
The more calm and peaceful your bedroom is, the more likely you are to view it as an inviting place that you associate with restfulness and sleep. Experts recommend keeping your bedroom cool, dark, clean and clutter-free. Remove all items to do with work or study, including electronics such as TVs or smartphones. Invest in a high-quality mattress and comfortable bedding that will make you look forward to bedtime. Soothing scents such as lavender and jasmine help create a calming atmosphere.
CLEAN IT UP
If you’ve had a stressful day, sometimes the best thing you can do is roll up your sleeves and get scrubbing. The act of cleaning your home, if done properly, has the added benefit of giving you a good workout, which can be great for relieving stress.
Running up and down stairs, carrying things from room to room and scrubbing windows or floors can burn calories, release endorphins and help you blow off steam – especially if you put on some upbeat music while you work. And at the end of it, you get the satisfaction and enjoyment of having a clean and tidy living space in which to relax.
NOURISHING THE SOUL WILL INSPIRE DREAMS
LET AN OPEN FIRE CALM YOU
Sitting by a cosy log fire when it’s cold and wet outside is the perfect antidote to those dark winter evenings. Now studies have even shown that watching the crackling flames and flickering light causes blood pressure to drop and leaves us feeling more at ease.
The relaxing effect is believed to be evolutionary, harking back to prehistoric times, when Stone Age man socialised around camp fires, feeling safe and warm while bonding with friends. If you haven’t got an open hearth, downloading a video of a crackling fire as the screensaver on your smart TV or computer can induce a similar effect.
GET OUT IN THE GARDEN
Planting, pruning, raking leaves or even just pulling out weeds can restore your equilibrium after a busy or stressful day. When the weather is warm enough, going barefoot and feeling the grass beneath your feet will heighten the experience.
PLANT A ‘GOOD MOOD’ HERB GARDEN
Getting your hands dirty in the garden is great for combating stress. Even if you don’t have access to your own green space, you can still plant your own ‘good mood’ garden of edible herbs in pots or containers, which can be kept on a balcony or kitchen windowsill.
Oregano, for example, is rich in caffeic acid, quercetin and rosmarinic acid, all components that combat fatigue and anxiety, and what’s more, as with most herbs, oregano is easy to grow. Seedlings can be bought at a local nursery or supermarket, then potted and watered as needed.
It is nice finding that place where you can just go and relax.
LUXURIATE IN A HOT BATH
A warm bath can help increase blood flow and reduce stiffness and pain in joints and muscles – and less pain equals a more relaxed body and mind. It is the perfect place to let your mind wander and appreciate the soothing feeling of the warm water against your skin. Light a candle and enjoy watching the flickering shadows dance against the wall and reflections in the water. For an extra bubbly bath, add two mugs of sodium bicarbonate and immerse yourself for 20 glorious minutes.
There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them.
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.
SOOTHING SCENTS
Sprinkle a few drops of lavender, tea tree, or another essential oil into your palms or on your pillow and inhale. These soothing scents reduce stress and anxiety by stimulating smell receptors in the nose that connect to the part of the brain that regulates emotions. Keeping a scented candle or reed diffuser on your bedside table can also help send you off to sleep.