In today’s economic climate most of us are under some form of stress. Any amount of stress can take a toll on our mental and physical health. It’s been proven that stress can cause a variety of health issues and can lead to premature aging. So, here are a few tips to help you relax, relate, and release!

Re-Program Your Mind

Relaxation is a state of mind. It’s hard to relax when the first thing you do after walking through the door is kick the dog and yell at the kids. Now I know bad habits are hard to break, but instead of reacting to that pile of dishes in the sink – just take a deep breath and walk away from the situation (the guilty party can be punished later). Make the decision to embrace peace no matter what is happening around you.

Mood Lighting

Lighting can effect our thoughts and attitudes; and poor lighting (weak or intense) can lead to negative emotions. So, use soft layered lighting throughout your home and avoid overhead lighting whenever possible. Also, you can use lighting and color to impart a particular “feel” to your home. To invoke a sense of rest, use low brightness patterns, no visible light sources, subdued color, a dark upper ceiling and low wall brightness. To invoke a sense of warmth, use colors at the red end of the spectrum—pink, orange, amber and yellow. For coolness, use colors like violet, blue and green.

Enhance Your Senses

Essential oils can seal the deal on setting a stress free atmosphere. Fragrant oils such as Clary sage, lemon, lavender, ylang ylang, jasmine and patchouli oils aid in relaxation, stress relief and emotional happiness. Here are a few blends that will give your home an emotional lift:

* 3 drops Clary Sage
* 1 drop Lemon
* 1 drop Lavender

* 3 drops Grapefruit
* 1 drop Jasmine
* 1 drop Ylang Ylang

* 3 drops Bergamot
* 1 drop Geranium
* 1 drop Frankincense

To use your blended oils in a diffuser, multiply your blend by 4 to obtain a total of 20 drops of your chosen blend. Add your oils to a dark colored glass bottle and mix well by rolling the bottle in between your hands. Add the appropriate number of drops from your created blend to your diffuser by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Ladies, use these tips in your home and feel the difference a stress free home environment can make on your overall health.