What’s the first thing you do when you get home? Like most people, you probably breathe a sigh of relief. You unloose that tie or bodice and kick off those shoes. Perhaps you pour yourself a glass of wine. Maybe you head straight for your bed to catch a quick nap before making dinner. Sometimes, only a long hot shower or luxurious bath will help you recover from the day.
Our home is our sanctuary and we’ve devised many ways to relax and de-stress once we get there. With COVID 19, it has become more important to find ways to do this, since most of us are now confined to our homes with the additional stress of homeschooling children and remote working.
Here are some innovative ways you can still get that relaxation and maintain your physical and mental health.
1. Use candles
Candles bring a soothing, restorative feel to any space in which they are lit. Sitting and meditating on the flickering flames has a surprisingly calming effect, while the low, diffuse light they emit has the power to soften your surroundings, bringing almost instantaneous relaxation. Add to your enjoyment by using scented candles. Some of the most relaxing fragrances include lavender, jasmine, cinnamon, and lemon.
2. Take a long hot shower/bath
The rejuvenating powers of warm/hot water are legendary as anyone who has soaked in a tub of steaming suds can tell you. Feel the day’s stresses drain away as the water runs down your body in a shower. Showering or bathing in hot water also has important health benefits you will like. It lowers blood pressure, helps muscles relax, and helps you sleep better.
3. Give yourself a spa day
A day at a spa is a treat many of us occasionally indulge in. How would you like to make it a weekly event, or even create that spa environment whenever you want? It’s easier than you think.
Carve out some personal time for yourself by letting others know you will not be available for a certain amount of time. Load up your bathroom with your favorite personal care products and relaxing music that you like and you are ready to go.
You’re free to choose which activities relax you the most. Give yourself a facial, a manicure, a pedicure…or all three. Feel free to indulge in your favorite food and drinks while you’re at it.
4. Sweat the stress away with a sauna
Continuing on our spa theme, if you really want to up the relaxation notch, you can install a sauna in your home. These days, you can purchase a prefabricated sauna, or build one from scratch if you’re handy with tools.
For your do-it-yourself sauna, you can choose traditional materials like cedar wood or go with stone or concrete. You will need a sauna heater for your home-built model. You can take your pick from a selection of sauna heaters here, or if you really want to be a traditionalist, construct one the old way. If you are worried about cost, you may be surprised at the range of options available, with prefabricated sauna models starting at a few hundred dollars.
Regular sauna visits also have undeniable health benefits. You can slow down your aging process, as well as detoxify your body from harmful chemicals and heavy metals.
5. Practice yoga and meditation
This is another power relaxation technique and you don’t have to attend classes at a studio.
Clear space in your garage, or bedroom, for a mat and your laptop or phone. Put on an instructional video and follow along with the teacher.
Starting a yoga and/or meditative practice doesn’t have to be difficult either. You can start meditating for as little as five minutes a day and build from there.
6. Listen to music
That old saying about music calming the savage beast has merit. Invest in upgrading your home music system to give you surround sound relaxation. Put on your favorite tunes and hum, sing or even dance your stress away.
This is another activity that doesn’t require a lot of space. The privacy of your bedroom is fine as you listen to the music that means the most to you.
7. Unplug from social media
We all know how stressful social media can be. The constant flow of alarming news and comparing your life unfavorably to others takes its mental and physical toll. One of the simplest ways to stop the damage is to designate a period where you do not check in with your social media.
Making your home a center of peace and relaxation does not take a lot of time or money. All it requires is some innovation and you can incorporate several of these suggestions in your home in no time at all.
Discover: Change Your Home And Feel Fresh With These Innovative Ideas
Comments are closed.