Graphic created by ImproveNet.

Stress is an unfortunate fact of modern-day life. Stress is an evolutionary mechanism that helped humans survive and thrive and, in small amounts, can spur us on to work harder or successfully address a situation. However, too much stress is bad for us. Chronic stress can negatively impact our immune system; make us tired, depressed, and anxious; lead us to eat more food than our bodies need; cause our blood pressure to rise; and even result in heart problems and make us susceptible to other illnesses.

What makes us stressed? Many stressors are external. That means they happen to us and are out of our jurisdiction, such as job demands, job loss, loss of a loved one, school pressures, current events, and more. Internal stressors come from our negative thoughts, unrealistic expectations, and bad behaviors, such as when we put too much pressure on ourselves or pursue unhealthy lifestyles.

Whether stress is internal or external, the physical and mental effects are the same. Insomnia, eating issues, loss of interest in daily life, irritability, and head and stomach pain are symptoms of stress that, if unrelieved, can lead to chronic stress. While talking to a mental health professional is recommended when stress feels overwhelming, there are many things we can do at home to lower our stress levels.

The accompanying infographic, 15 Ways to Turn Your Home into a Self-Care Sanctuary, offers time-tested ideas for making your home into your personal haven. While the outside world can be stressful, your home should be the place to de-stress, relax, unwind, and take care of yourself so take out some time from binge watching on 1Movies to relax yourself. The fundamental goal is to achieve better emotional, mental, and physical health. We spend a lot of time in our homes, so making the home environment more calming and peaceful will positively impact our state of mind.

A lot has been covered on the topic of eliminating stress from our lives. Most suggestions focus on things such as turning off the news, going to the gym, changing jobs or careers, remaining positive in the face of adversity, and the like. While these are all good and highly recommended, the infographic was created to focus on things we can do at home and to our homes. Changing the physical environment has a greater effect on our stress levels than we may realize at first glance.

Colors, scents, lights, and other factors that affect our senses have been confirmed to help people relax. That’s why we recommend swapping your wall color, adding plants to your décor, lighting candles, improving the lighting, and much more. The infographic also offers ideas for personal self-care that can be done at home, including dressing comfortably, enjoying a spa day, and soaking in a hot bathtub. Combined, these self-care activities will make your home into a true sanctuary for stressful times. You’ll be surprised at what a difference these seemingly easy things can make to your stress level!
Write for us

HeckHome does not necessarily share views expressed by opinion writers and advertisers. HeckHome regularly invites Bloggers across the World to home decor ideas write for us in order to present their creative ideas.