Transforming Your Home Into Your Sanctuary: The Role of Therapy Plants in Creating Peaceful Spaces

This post was developed via a partnership with BetterHelp. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.

Have you ever walked into a friend's house and immediately felt a sense of peace? You admired the comfortable feeling. The space felt cozy and inviting and it was a place you liked being in.

It’s a memorable experience.

Similarly, many of us scroll social media, admiring beautifully decorated homes. It starts as an entertaining pastime or a way to gain inspiration for our own home transformations. But eventually, we feel a pang of envy and discontentment with our living space.

Our homes are more than just places to eat and sleep. Our home is a reflection of who we are. Feeling safe, comfortable, and joyful in our homes can significantly enrich our mental and emotional lives.

If you’re feeling a little lackluster about your home, what can you do to turn things around? Furthermore, why should you bother?

Why Your Feelings About Your Home Matter

Creating a home that resonates with our personal style and brings us joy can improve our well-being. Studies have documented that things like clutter in a home can increase stress levels. This is just one way our environment can have a profound impact on our mood.

A cluttered or chaotic home can be both a causal factor and a symptom of mental health challenges. However, keeping a tidy home with possessions that reflect our identities can have beneficial effects.

The contents, but also the design of the home are important. When our space is functional, it's easier to keep clutter at bay. It's a breeze to display our possessions and satisfaction may increase. Everything has a place that feels right.

In this post, we'll explore the importance of transforming your home into a joyful, peaceful space. Whether renovating or redecorating, you'll find practical tips and strategies for improving your home.

We'll also explore the therapeutic benefits of incorporating nature into your home, and how living elements can affect your mood.

Renovating And Redecorating

There's more than one way to transform a home. Renovating is more involved, often requiring contractors and structural changes.

Redecorating can be a DIY endeavor, or happen with some professional help.

Each approach has its own benefits and considerations.

Renovating Your Home

You may choose to renovate if you need additional storage space or rooms. These more extensive home improvement projects can offer cosmetic changes too. New flooring can be functional and aesthetic, for instance.

Renovating can be costly and time-intensive, but it can also yield dramatic results. It may even improve the value of your property.

Redecorating Your Home

On the other hand, redecorating is mostly cosmetic. These projects focus on improving the look and feel of your living space. You can choose a new color scheme, update furniture, and add or remove decor.

Redecorating is more time-efficient and generally less expensive than renovating. This is particularly true if you do it yourself.

There are certain professionals who specialize in decluttering and organizing as well. These contractors can help homeowners get their possessions under control, which can improve the feel of ease and flow in a home.

Redecorating might not solve structural issues, but visual improvements can create a more inviting and harmonious atmosphere.

Creating Peaceful & Meditative Spaces

It can be pleasant to feel that your home is your sanctuary. When you enter, a sense of peace envelops you. When your home is inviting and calming, it's more than just functional.

It's a place to leave the stress of the day behind. It's a place for self-care. It promotes wellness practices like meditation and even mindfulness.

No matter what size your home is, you can deploy a few tips to make it peaceful.

Declutter

Spend a day decluttering or hire a specialist to help. Determine what items bring you pleasure or help you. It might be time to eliminate some outdated, broken items. Creating display spaces can organize keepsakes and help you appreciate them.

Improve Functionality

A trip to the home store for appropriate bins and baskets creates functional storage solutions. You might be surprised how much better you feel when your home feels fresh and open.

Functional furniture and storage options are so popular, you might fall in love with the aesthetics of your solutions too. 

Freshen Up

A good spring cleaning can also help and you don't have to wait for spring! Find cleaning products with a fresh scent you enjoy and put on some music. 

Cleaning floors and walls can brighten spaces. Don’t forget to consider freshening up carpet and upholstery as well.

Some people prefer to clean top to bottom while others enjoy setting time aside each day to do a little at a time.

Greenifying Your Home

In addition to decluttering, bringing elements of nature into your home may bring enjoyment. Some evidence suggests that the connection to the natural world creates increased mental well-being. So, why not bring some of the outdoors in?

Incorporating nature into your home may include using natural materials for surfaces and flooring. Wood, stone, and natural tile may be easy options.

Houseplants are another simple way to connect to nature inside your living space. They even have some tangible benefits.

NASA research supports findings that plants purify the air indoors. Although the benefit may be subtle, it can feel reassuring.

A Journal of Physiological Anthropology study reports that living with houseplants may reduce stress. Many people also find that having something to take care of or engaging in a pleasant routine feels good. Plants can be an easier solution than pets, as they require less care and time.

Low-maintenance plants like succulents, peace lilies, or snake plants are good choices for most people.

Therapy Plants

In fact, plants may even serve a role in therapy! Nature-based activities such as caring for therapy plants can improve psychological wellbeing. This type of treatment depends on the needs of the individual, but if it resonates with you, you may want to consider plants in your home.

Embracing Your Home's Potential

Your home has the potential to be more than just a place to live. Your home can be your sanctuary. Imagine stepping into a refuge from the hustle and bustle of a hectic life. As you enter your home at the end of the day, you can feel comfort surrounding you.

Enjoying peace at home may improve your well-being and mental health. By undertaking renovation or redecorating, you can leverage this potential. 

Let your home inspire you!

5 Journaling Tips for Happiness and Mental Wellbeing

This post was developed via a partnership with BetterHelp. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.

Home is more than just a place to live. It’s the roots of our tree. From home, everything grows outward. In this way, our home touches every aspect of our lives.

When we think about creating a safe and comfortable home, we may think about physical aspects. We want a strong structure to protect us and all the amenities that make our lives easier. But what about the ways our home can tend to our psychological and emotional well-being?

Wellness and self-care practices like journaling may improve our mental health. Here are some tips to try it yourself.

Journaling Through Distress

Before examining the happiness-boosting benefits of journaling, it may help to understand that the practice can also help those feeling low. Most desire happiness. However, sometimes happiness seems like a distant concept. 

Luckily, there is some interesting evidence that supports the possible benefits of journaling in troubling times.

According to a 2006 study of just under 100 young adults, journaling may reduce distress. Participants spent 15 minutes journaling or drawing twice over a week. They wrote about a stressful event or their plans for the day.

The journaling participants reported a greater reduction in depression, anxiety, and hostility. This was most pronounced for those who felt distressed before journaling. From these findings, it appears that journaling may soothe discomfort.

Interestingly, 80% of those studied had seldom journaled about their feelings. Only 61% said they were comfortable with the concept. So, even if you've never written a journal before, you could benefit!

1. Journal Your Gratitude

Another potentially beneficial journaling idea is to record gratitude. This practice may be best at the end of the day. Spend a few minutes writing down 3-5 things you're thankful for.

Write as little or as much as you like. The point is to focus on things that feel good. 

According to research by Dr. Robert A. Emmons and Michael McCullough, people who kept a gratitude journal were 25% happier.

2. Discover Your Flow

Journaling can also help you explore other happiness-boosting activities. You can use your journal to access The Flow.

Researcher Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describes The Flow State as a time we are fully engaged in something. When the mind is occupied, the activity feels rewarding, and the task is easy, it may bring the feeling of flow. It's a little like autopilot but your mind is focused on something that keeps other thoughts at bay.

Accessing this state may help stress fade away. Some people reported a lasting feeling of happiness and clarity long after the activity ends. There may be satisfaction in completing a simple task and giving the mind a break.

3. Evaluate Your Social Circle

Journaling can also help people evaluate their lives. In this example, their social circle.

Do you ever stop to think about the people you associate with? Are they having an affect on you?

They say birds of a feather flock together, and there may be some evidence to support how your social group impacts your life.

List the 3 people you spend the most time with in your journal. Do you admire them? List some qualities they possess next to their name. Are these things you'd like to embody or acquire?

The aforementioned study suggests that people are greatly influenced by their social circle. So, being around happy people may improve your mood.

4. Try Some Expressive Writing

If you're experiencing some sticky or intrusive thoughts, journaling may help you release them. It might be worth trying a specific writing approach to let things go.

If you've had a bad feeling experience and keep running over it in your mind, writing it down may help. Putting these cyclical thoughts down on paper can help restore clarity, peace, and contentment.

The research around this tactic involves something called expressive writing. That is defined as a period of relaxed writing for 15-20 minutes a day for 3-5 consecutive days. Prioritize writing about emotions related to an event.

Write about the same event or a different one each day.

Benefits of Expressive Writing

When it comes to enhancing well-being, expressive writing has been shown to reduce signs of unhappiness. According to the BetterHelp blog, expressive writing may promote a variety of mental and physicial benefits. 

This type of journaling may soothe anxiety and depression. It may improve immune functioning, reduce physical stress, and enhance cognitive functioning as well.

Expressive writing may even help reduce fear and anxiety. THis may be because it helps label and identify feelings and thoughts. Some people may feel more satisfied and able to move on when they understand a situation.

Expressive writing can also help some people gain new perspectives on challenging situations. This could bring insights and novel solutions.

5. List Positive Aspects

Focusing on positive emotions can also feel good. Making lists of positive aspects is a bit like gratitude journaling. It differs because it can truly be as simple as listing words that feel good.

You can list pleasurable things about your life, your friends and family, or even things you'd love to have. You can also try listing positive things about people you don’t like so much but have to interact with.

The goal is to focus on appreciation as a way to shift your mood from negative to positive! You may find yourself looking for more things to appreciate as you live your life.

This kind of trained attention or mindfulness can become a habit.

Get Cozy And Get Writing

Can you imagine yourself spending just 15 minutes a day writing in your journal?

You can establish a new wellness practice or routine in your home with small daily steps. If you’d like to try any of the journaling tips above, pick a time and place and get writing!

It may take a few days to get the hang of it but you might find that you soon look forward to the task.

Journaling in a special spot in your home might be an even bigger boost. Feeling appreciation for the setting could help inspire you.

Building Your Home Library: A Guide to Beauty and Functionality

This post was developed via a partnership with BetterHelp. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.

Transforming a room in your home into a beautiful and functional library is a dream for many book lovers. You may be already an avid reader. Maybe you love the cozy look and feel of a dedicated workspace. Or, maybe like so many people, you've set a goal to read more this year. 

Whatever reason you're considering building a home library, the project can be fun and exciting. 

Designing a personal library can add both aesthetic appeal and practicality to your living space. In this guide, we'll explore the steps to building the perfect home library. How can you conceptualize the space? What books should you choose? 

Creating A Space For Your Home Library

The first step in building your home library is to choose a space for it. Consider the layout and size of the room to start. It's also wise to consider natural light sources and room for comfortable seating options. 

Ideally, you'll also want a quiet area with ample shelving for your book collection. Imagine yourself curling up with a good book. Can you visualize the space?

If your home is small don't worry. You can transform even a small corner or alcove into a charming reading nook. All it takes is the right furniture and decor.

The easiest way to conceptualize your new library is to consult the experts. A consultation with a home improvement company removes the guesswork. Skilled contractors can guide you and handle all details and construction.

Incorporating Personal Touches: Adding Character to Your Home Library

Once the space is set, it's time for personal touches and decorative elements. Embrace your unique style and interests as you curate the space to reflect your personality. Consider displaying cherished artwork, family heirlooms, or mementos collected from travels. This can evoke special memories and add warmth to the room. It adds visual interest and makes your library eclectic!

If you have a creative flair, some DIY projects can personalize the space further. Craft custom bookends, create gallery walls featuring favorite photographs or prints, or repurpose vintage furniture pieces. 

These kinds of projects take time, but the personal touches are often worth it. They can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home library but also create a space that feels deeply meaningful and inviting.

Lighting Considerations for Home Libraries

Choosing the right lighting for your home library is crucial to create an inviting and functional reading environment. 

It's smart to include a mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting. This can enhance the overall atmosphere while providing the light you need to prevent eye strain.

Ambient lighting like overhead fixtures or wall sconces contribute to the room's overall brightness. Dimmer switches to adjust the light levels can be a great library option. 

Task lighting options include adjustable floor or table lamps. These additions are essential for focused reading and studying. Position task lights strategically. They work best near seating areas or over reading nooks where they can minimize glare and shadows.

In addition to functionality, lighting also creates the mood and aesthetics of your home library. Opt for fixtures with warm color temperatures to create a cozy and inviting ambiance. Statement lighting fixtures like chandeliers or pendant lights, add visual interest. These are small ways to elevate the design of the space.

Natural lighting is also important. Maximize natural light with window treatments that allow for ample sunlight. The right window coverings can also reduce glare on screens or reflective surfaces. Lastly, experiment with lighting placements and layers to achieve the perfect balance.

Populating Your Library With Books

Once you've established your library space, it's time for the books. But where do you begin? The key is to curate a collection that reflects your interests, passions, and values. Think about the types of books you love to read, in genres or topics that resonate with you. The goal is to create a diverse and well-rounded collection that will keep you engaged and inspired for years to come.

Your books can also become conversation starters when guests visit. Home libraries are wonderful places to entertain.

Choosing Your Titles

When selecting books for your home library, it's important to strike a balance between pleasure and utility. It's tempting to fill your shelves with beloved classics and bestsellers. However, pay attention to the value of reference books, self-help guides, and other practical resources. 

Consider the specific needs and interests of your household. Choose entertaining books and some that serve a purpose.

Resources And Guides

In addition to pleasure reading, consider incorporating books that serve a purpose. From home improvement guides to cookbooks to legal reference materials, countless books can provide practical knowledge and assistance in various areas. 

Think about the specific challenges and responsibilities you face in your daily life. What kinds of books might help you navigate these situations with confidence and ease?

Consider Including Family Law Books: 

Having family law books in your reference library can be useful. You may reach for them when legal issues arise. Family law relates to more than just marriage. They can help you properly plan for your family's future.

Having access to reliable legal resources can provide peace of mind and ensure that you're well-informed about your rights and options. 

Consider Including Psychology Books

You may also want a few psychology titles in your library. Psychology books can offer valuable insights into human behavior, emotions, and relationships. 

Whether you're interested in improving your mental health, understanding the dynamics of interpersonal relationships, or exploring the complexities of the human mind, psychology books can enrich your life and deepen your understanding of yourself and others. 

Books on psychology or therapy can help support you through life’s challenging times.

Books For Pleasure

To identify books that bring you joy, take some time to reflect on your favorite hobbies, pastimes, and experiences. What activities make you feel most alive and engaged? 

Do you enjoy exploring new worlds through fiction? Are you drawn to fascinating historical events? If you're an art buff or a collector, books on these topics may belong on your shelves. Make a list of the things that truly inspire and delight you. Then, seek out books that align with these interests and passions. That's a good strategy to build the enjoyable half of your library collection.

Build And Enjoy A New Home Library

Building a beautiful and functional home library is a rewarding project. It can enhance your living space and enrich your life in countless ways. 

With a plan and maybe a little help from contractors, your dream becomes reality. Create a personal sanctuary where you can relax, unwind, and explore the world of literature and knowledge. 

4 Potential Benefits Of Cold Therapy & Incorporating It At Home

This post was developed via a partnership with BetterHelp. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.

Most people are looking for ways to stay warm at home during the winter. However, some adventurous souls are taking the plunge... literally.

Cold therapy is a popular wellness trend. A myriad of benefits for physical and mental health are attributed to this form of mild stress. Claims include pain reduction, mood improvement, and even resiliency.

How can you separate fact from fiction and begin incorporating this practice into your wellness routine?

Learn about cold therapy and some options you can use at home.

Types of Cold Therapy

There are a variety of ways to use cold in a therapeutic way. They range in severity and although each causes some discomfort, the benefits might be worth it.

The research is promising and popular. Ironically, cold therapy is a hot topic among both researchers and wellness fans.

Ice Baths/Cold Water Immersion

Ice baths or cold water immersion involves getting into a vessel full of icy water. People who engage in this type of cold therapy could have certain goals in mind. They may want to reduce physical inflammation. Participants may be curious about relieving sore muscles. Some people even think the cold might help their fatigue.

There is also intrigue around the concept of potentially creating so-called brown fat. According to a study by the University of California, San Francisco, brown fat is more metabolically active. Furthermore, the study suggests that cold temperatures activate this kind of fat.

Cold exposure may have an effect on amino acid behavior as well. The UCSF study also states, ''The findings suggest that boosting SLC25A44 activity, thereby enhancing BCAA utilization, may be a promising strategy for removing excess BCAAs from the bloodstream and potentially treating conditions such as obesity and diabetes.''

Cold Water Showers

Simply taking a cold shower for several minutes is another popular cold therapy method. It doesn't get much easier than this methodology. Although, tolerating the icy stream is another story.

Fans of cold showers hope they'll experience invigoration and improve circulation. Some report increased mental clarity as well.

Cold therapy like cold showers may also improve immune function and mood.

Understanding Hormetic Stress

Before diving into cold therapy, it's helpful to understand the concept of hormetic stress.

Hormesis is an adaptive response the body goes through during stress exposure. Deliberately using hormesis as a tool has become popular with the functional health and biohacking community.

Hormesis is sometimes also called preconditioning, pretreatment, cross tolerance, and rapid stress hardening.

According to a study published on Science Direct, most research has been conducted on animals. Additionally, the study reveals that hormesis involves antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress protection.

There is a popular theory that deliberate exposure to hormetic stress can create a stronger physical system.

Potential Health Benefits

Cold therapy offers a range of health benefits that are still under study. A few are age old, dating back to our grandmothers suggesting that bag of frozen peas for our bruised knee.

Others are a bit more cutting-edge.

Some of the current health indications and claims include cold's beneficial effect on pain. The cold may reduce swelling and improve circulation as well. Generally, most fans of cold exposure believe in a general, overall positive effect.

The Science Behind Cold Therapy: 4 Potential Benefits

Let's take a closer look at some of the science behind cold therapy claims. We'll also provide the published research behind the claims.

Vasoconstriction

Cold temperatures cause blood vessels to constrict, reducing inflammation and swelling in injured tissues. If you've ever applied a cold pack to an injury, you may have experienced this effect.

Reduced Oxidative Stress Markers

Cold water immersion was shown to reduce oxidative stress markers in a study published in The International Journal of Circumpolar Health.

Numbing Effects

Cold exposure numbs nerve endings. This can lead to a temporary reduction in pain. This exposure can be useful in treating acute injuries or soreness.

Thermogenesis

Exposure to cold temperatures stimulates thermogenesis. This may enhance circulation and tissue recovery. It also creates an increase in metabolic ean increase in metabolic energy expenditurenditure.

Research and Evidence

Although there appear to be numerous studies on cold therapy, it is not quite a settled science. The research is still emerging, although promising.

It is an exciting field to watch as it develops. Who minds some shivering if a little cold exposure can improve our health.

Enjoying Cold Therapy at Home

Some people travel outside the home to facilities that offer cold therapy. While it can be good to dedicate yourself to a routine around health, this does create an obstacle. For this reason and many others, some people want at-home options.

The good news is that it can be easier to practice cold therapy at home than to utilize other forms of stress therapy like saunas.

Here are some DIY cold therapy options.

Cold Plunges

There are a few ways to take a cold plunge at home. The easiest may be to fill your bathtub up with ice and hop in!

Having the right kind of bathtub can help this practice. It may also be wise to take safety precautions like having non slip bath mats in place.

There are also a variety of barrels and large buckets that allow full or partial immersion. These do require more space but can be more convenient.

Cold Showers

Luckily, you can easily enjoy cold therapy by turning the shower down. You don't have to shiver the entire time. Some cold shower proponents suggest starting with 30 seconds and working up to a minute or two of exposure.

It's important to go slowly and follow your intuition and physical responses. This is true for all the methods mentioned here.

Ice Water Face Plunges

If you aren't ready for the shower or ice bucket, you might try submerging your face into a bowl of icy water. This can be a quick and easy way to avail yourself of the benefits of hormetic stress. It's also a tactic to work up to tolerating that cold shower.

Considerations Before Starting

Only you and your healthcare provider know if cold therapy is safe or right for you. Always consult a professional before engaging in stressful behaviors.

Your medical history is unique and what is safe for others may not be for you. This is why personalized advice is always best in these matters.