Many of us do our best to escape the stresses of everyday life. However, there’s no denying it’s much easier said than done. Sources of stress come in many forms, be it personal confidence or a hectic work schedule. At the end of the day, you need a place to unwind to reduce stress. Especially if you’ve had one of those days you’d rather just forget. Making your home a hub for relaxation is great for relieving stress, and there are some simple tricks to prevent your home life adding to your troubles.
Make yourself a relaxation room
If you’re lucky enough to have a spare room in your home, this is the perfect place to start. Set it up in a way that appeals to you, and retreat here if you need a little time to yourself. You can put in a TV, comfy seating and blankets – whatever’s likely to relax you. Making the most of natural lighting can improve your mood, and even give your creativity a boost, if you like to keep yourself busy with creative hobbies to relax. If there’s low levels of light, try lighting some candles which release familiar smells. Different scents can affect your mood in different ways, as well as bringing up particular memories.
Keep happy reminders around your home
When stress levels are high, it’s important to remember positives – be it current or past feelings. Placing reminders of happy memories around your home will help you to see the bigger picture. This can be framed photographs of your favourite family holiday, or even blasting out your favourite playlist that brings back happy memories. This small piece of escapism is sometimes all it takes to take away stress, and help you focus on positives.
Get some exercise
These dreaded words need not be feared. Some of us aren’t natural enjoyers of exercise, but that doesn’t mean we should dismiss the incredible benefits it can have; both physically and mentally. Exercise is known to release the chemical serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter linked with reducing depression and regulating anxiety. Even 30 minutes of exercise can make the world of difference, and it’s a big pay-out for a small amount of suffering. If you enjoy exercise, this will come easy to you (lucky you!). If you are feeling particularly stressed, a short run might help to clear your head.
Bring natural elements into your home
Incorporating nature in your décor is a popular reliever of stress. Plants around your home help to circulate more oxygen and keep the air fresh, as well as adding more colour. If you’ve got a particularly black thumb, succulents are a great way of keeping indoor plants without the hassle of regular upkeep. Other natural elements will help here, such as an exposed brick wall, an indoor water feature or wood flooring.
Get organised and get rid of clutter
A clean home is a happy home, and getting rid of your clutter can lead to a tidy mind. A messy home is just another stressor that can pile on top of you, so taking the time to put everything in its place is important. It’s more difficult to get things done if you’re constantly falling over misplaced items – and we all know how frustrating it is to lose something amongst piles of clutter. As well as your home, you should take some time to organise yourself. Plan your work week, plan the jobs you need to do at home, and write it down so everything’s in one place. Being unorganised is a leading cause of stress, so doing what you can to mitigate this is crucial.
There’s no uniform way to reduce stress at home, or in the wider world for that matter, but there are ways to figure out what works for you. Take on board some of these tips, or do your own research. See if you can make positive steps to reducing your stress levels.