How to Create Your Private Relaxation Space

Is there anything more soothing than walking into your favorite spa and hearing the gentle trickle of the lighted fountain on the wall? Soft music is permeating the room. Take a deep breath and imagine releasing all the stress from your hectic week as you anticipate your massage (or manicure... or whatever suits your fancy). Now, what if you could capture that ambience and transfer it into your own home?

Creating a relaxing environment in your personal space, no matter how big or small, will do wonders in filtering out stress from your everyday, active lifestyle. The first thing you want to do is choose an area of your home that is reserved specifically for relaxation.

This can be anywhere and span any size. If you live in a studio apartment, it could be confined to a specific chair in the corner of your "living space." If you have a house to work with, it could be an unused bedroom or the den, or even an unoccupied corner of your own bedroom.

When you designate an area dedicated to the purpose of relaxation, you must truly adopt the mindset that it is where you are to rest and unwind, and do only that. It cannot be tainted by work of any kind--so do not bring projects from the office, schools assignments, or household chores into this space. This will help you get into the mindset that you are in that specific place to find peace and escape the demands of the outside world.

The next thing you will want to do, once you have chosen an area of your home, is to make the lighting appropriate. This does not mean you have to replace your light fixtures or anything of that nature. Try experimenting with the lights you already have.

Try turning off the overhead lights and flipping on a smaller lamp, or see how it feels to burn a few candles on a side-table. Perhaps you will find that you like to sit completely in the dark! Just find out what works best for you, but be sure you make some change, as getting yourself into relaxation-mode will generally be an easier transition if you have a few rituals to get yourself prepared.

Often music can play a big role in carrying away the stress. While soft, soothing, "spa-like" sounds are my personal preference, you may find yourself more at ease with Jazz, ballads, love songs, or any number of genres. If there are others in the house to whom you must be considerate, remember to wear headphones.

Again, try to avoid something you associate with stressful situations. For example, I wouldn't recommend that you listen to the radio station which entertains you during your morning commute. This is because you will distinctly make a connection between your specific relaxation music and your daily trip to work (or school, or taking the kids to soccer--wherever you go in the morning). So choose something that is unique to your private space.

Aromas sometimes trigger discomfort and even headaches in individuals, so if you choose to burn scented candles or incense, again be mindful of others in the area as well as your own reactions. You will also want to be sure that you place anything burning away from flammable items. Burning down the house is not, may I assert, very relaxing.

As you implement these suggestions and develop your own space specific to perpetuating your peace and relaxation, you will find that your life overall has less stress, and you will be more fully able to meet the challenges of everyday life... without a pricey trip to the spa!

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