Lisa Goodwin knows about stress.
As director of transportation for the METRA Transit System in Columbus, Ga., she’s constantly managing employee issues, fulfilling city requests and answering phone calls from unsatisfied citizens.
So when 5 p.m. rolls around, it’s important that her home be a relaxing destination.
“The first thing I do is kick off my shoes and breathe a sigh of relief,” she said. “That’s when I feel like I’m connecting.”
As busy as you stay at work, the home should be a place of refuge–one that makes you feel better the minute you step through the door.
Interior decorator Charlie Ann Taylor likes to use the word “shambhala,” which also refers to a form of meditation.
“It means creating peaceful surroundings,” she said.
Taylor has three simple techniques for incorporating shambhala in a room.
“Greenery, candles and lighting,” she said. “When they’re applied, these things can add radiance to any room.”
Plants, whether they’re silk or real, give a fresh feeling, she said. On the other hand, candles provide warmth.
“I see so many homes that have candles, but people never light them,” she said. When you’re in the room, don’t be afraid to have one burning. “You need to use them to truly enjoy them.”
Keeping your rooms free of clutter can also perk up your spirits.
Since most of our offices are piled high with paperwork, the home should be an escape from it–especially in the bedroom.
“I don’t even recommend people keep a desk in their bedroom,” said Nancy Graham, owner of Organizer Unlimited. “It’s too easy to place papers on it.”
Aromatherapy is another way to make your environment relaxing.
Massage therapist Debbie Edwards said essential oils, such as lavender and jasmine, can promote certain reactions in the body–lavender is calming while jasmine enhances sleep. She suggests dabbing a few drops of jasmine onto a cotton ball and keeping it under your pillow.
Sachets with lavender are good for a dresser drawer or closet shelf.
“That way, each time you open them up, you enjoy the scent,” she said.
More Top Picks Best Automatic Litter Boxes For Cats
Lamp rings are another way to diffuse the oil. The metal ring, which rests on top of a light bulb, heats the oil and disperses it throughout the air.
Beware of candles, lotions and oils that boast aromatherapy, Edwards says.
“It has to be a true essential oil in order to promote a physiological reaction,” she says.
Lavender and jasmine perfumes may smell nice, but they don’t trigger a chemical reaction from the body.
Relaxation tips
– Leave a lamp on when you head off to work in the morning. The light will be a beacon welcoming you home at night.
– Keep slippers by the door. When you step inside, kick off the work shoes and let your body know it’s time to unwind.
– Fill tube socks with rice and tie up the end. Heat one in the microwave for 5 minutes and wear it around your shoulders while cooking dinner.
– Have a bud vase on your kitchen counter with cut flowers.
———-
Edited by Cara DiPasquale ([email protected]) and Kris Karnopp ([email protected])