Creating a Relaxation Room: Your Personal Space to Destress
Stress is something we all deal with daily. Our modern “always connected and on-the-go” lives may be exciting, but they also result in many of us experiencing (and holding onto) way too much stress. And lately, with the lines of work, school, and home more blurred than ever before, many of us have found our stress levels ascending to even higher levels. A relaxation room might be a good fit for you!
Finding a few minutes daily to unwind and escape from it all is a healthy habit. Creating a space in your home designed explicitly for decompressing from each day’s stress can boost mood, immunity, and wellbeing.
Having a room, niche, or nook dedicated to relaxation helps remind us of the importance of taking time to dial down our stress and anxiety. This relaxation room doesn’t have to be big or elaborate, but it should evoke a sense of peace and tranquility. It should inspire you to let go of your stress from the moment you enter.
There are a few guidelines to embrace when creating a space to inspire relaxation and a serene, calming energy.
Seclusion
Find a place tucked away from noise, people, pets, and especially electronics. It should be a location with privacy, whether that is a door, a niche, nook, or corner of a room separated by a folding divider. If you are unable to achieve complete privacy or avoid all interruptions, noise-canceling headphones and a “do not disturb” sign can remove unwanted sounds and disruptions.
Clutter-Free
Untidy and clutter-filled spaces amplify stress and anxiety, so identifying (or creating) a tidy area enhances our ability to embrace a sense of calmness. Keep your destress space minimalistic – the fewer items in it, the more benefit you’ll gain. Avoid family photos, bright colors, harsh lighting, exercise equipment, piles of clothes, boxes, or objects that will distract from the sense of tranquility you want to achieve.
Comfort
Your dedicated relaxation space should have enough space to comfortably sit or lie down. This could be a cozy chair (chairs that sway or rock can lead to a relaxed state), a thick rug or yoga mat, or a pile of plush floor pillows. Find what allows you to achieve a posture that enables you to relax quickly.
Warmth
Warmth is appealing and can guide us toward a place of calmness. Ways to add warmth include natural light or warm, diffused light sources, cozy blankets, and soft rugs. Sipping a cup of warm tea is also quite soothing and destressing.
Appeal to the Senses
Our senses are vital to embracing quietness and calm.
Sight: Choose peaceful colors like soft blues, greys, greens, and whites.
Sound: Sounds of nature (rain, waves), tinkling wind chimes, or spa-like music are great choices.
Smell: Choose candles, diffusers, or aromatherapy with scents that evoke stillness (lavender, eucalyptus, sandalwood).
Touch: Soft, natural fabrics and textures are another way we can inform our body and mind to let go of unwanted stress.
Connect With Nature
Nature allows us to achieve a sense of tranquility. Whether your relaxation space has a view of your garden, is a peaceful print of the ocean or forest on the wall, or you have a plant (real or artificial) tucked in the corner, adding in greenery or other organic elements forges a connection with the natural world.
Personalization
Designing a relaxation location that appeals to you will only enhance your ability to let go of stress and unwind. The goal is to create a calming, harmonious atmosphere, yet one that also instills joy and lifts your mood. This could be a beautifully soft blanket, a textural rug, a unique light that casts a warm glow, your favorite scented candle, or a piece of artwork.
No matter its size, a dedicated space to retreat into stillness and away from interruptions and demands can help us let go of our stress and enhance our health and wellbeing. Reducing stress and anxiety also boosts creativity, energy, resiliency, concentration, and focus.
If you want to dive deeper into understanding your personal level of stress and wellbeing, you can take a free survey offered by the HeartMath Institute.
