Stress is an unfortunate fact of daily life. Stress is an evolutionary mechanism that helped human beings survive, 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 consume more food than our bodies need; cause our blood pressure to soar; and even result in heart problems and make us susceptible to other medical conditions.
Whether stress is internal or external, the physical and mental effects are the same. Insomnia, eating issues, loss of interest in daily life, irritability, 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 unmanageable, there are quite a few things we can do at home to ease 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 retreat. While the outside world can be stressful, your home should be the place to de-stress, relax, and take care of yourself. The ultimate 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 mood.
Graphic created by ImproveNet, a provider of cost estimators, including the average cost for exterior painting in your neighborhood.