How To

5 Ways to De-Stress Your Home

Written by Mint.com
Published Aug 30, 2013
2 min read
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Modern life is high-tech, fast-paced and stressful. It’s a jungle out there!

Turning your home into a sanctuary from the always on, always-connected world we live in is not only good for your mind, it’s good for your health!

Make your home a relaxation zone with these design fixes.

Let in light.

Sunlight is nature’s stress-buster, because it positively impacts both physical and mental health.

Lift the blinds and lift your mood. If you’re lacking in the natural light department, mirrors can be used to brighten up a room, instead.

Dim down at night.

While light boosts energy levels, darkness can soothe the soul, so balancing the two is key.

In the evening, keep certain spaces (such as your bedroom) low-key by reducing overhead lighting and using a candle or two.

The low light will help transition your system to a relaxed state and prepare you for sleep.

Frame your loved ones.

Remember that fun vacation with those amazing people? You should. Every day.

Reliving happy memories breeds an upbeat outlook and framed photos will do the trick.

Surround yourself with snapshots of friends, family, places and pets for a daily jolt of positivity.

Simplify.

Clutter is the enemy of calm.

Pick one especially disorderly space in your home (the kitchen, closet or living room are three good options) and spend ten minutes sorting your clutter into three piles: keep, discard and relocate.

Eliminate the “discard” pile and move the “relocate” items to their proper places in the house.

Add nature.

Plants are a great way to make any room feel tranquil and peaceful.

Whether you make a statement with a single staghorn fern or scatter jars of wildflowers throughout your home, you can’t go wrong.

In addition to the high-traffic display spots, we recommend placing plants in obscure places (like the kitchen, home office or your bathrooms) to keep the natural vibe alive through and through.

Power down.

The electronics in our lives can drain more than electricity. Surrounding ourselves with screens – computers, TVs, tablets – can take a toll on our sleep habits, too.

Hide them if you can, at least an hour or so before bed. The blue light emitted from most electronics actually affects your REM cycle, so you don’t sleep as well.

And nothing knocks your stress levels up a notch like a poor night’s sleep!

BrightNest is a free site that provides tools and tips to homeowners to help them save money, get organized and keep their homes in great shape. Sign up for a free BrightNest account today!