Six Tips to Create Peaceful Energy in Your Home

Let’s face it—we live in stressful times where uncertainty rules and the news isn’t always good. What we need is a place where we can find peace—an oasis of calm in a tumultuous world. How do we create peaceful energy in our own homes?

Numerous studies reinforce the idea that a serene and beautiful living space has a direct and positive influence on our mood and psychological health. The ancient Chinese practice of feng shui reinforces the importance of aligning a structure’s energy so as to create harmony for those who live there. Many people feel their mood lift when their homes are even marginally tidier and more organized.

Achieving calm, soothing energy in your home doesn’t need to involve taking down walls to allow the chi (life force or energy) to flow. A few simple steps can go a long way to open your space to more “positive forces.” Here are six tips for doing so:

• Clean the House: This might seem obvious, but there’s something about a good cleaning that helps put the whole picture into perspective. Extra steps at the cleaning stage will help with the next important one, so take a garbage bag or a box and walk through your house. Collect 20 things that no longer serve you. Minimalists do a good job at keeping clutter to a minimum , but if this way of living is too austere for you, first try reducing the overall amount of stuff in your house. Once you’ve collected everything, decide what to do with it: donate, recycle, sell, store, or toss it.
• Store Your Belongings: Regardless of the size of your house, you’ll almost always have furniture, bins of unused toys, extra dishes that were given to you by your great-aunt…you get the idea. Some of these items may have sentimental value or you’re planning to hand them down to the kids. Whatever the reason, keeping your belongings in a self-storage unit is a great solution . It’s safe, secure, and there’s no need to part with something that you’ll later come to miss.

Now that you’ve cleaned and decluttered, it’s time for the fun part. This is where you can be creative and personalize your oasis to create a quiet, stress-free home that will soothe an overwrought soul.

• Add Plants: Not only are plants beautiful to look at, they also play a role in creating a tranquil environment. Studies prove that plants reduce stress and add to an overall feeling of well-being. They improve air quality by reducing carbon dioxide levels, increasing humidity, and reducing certain pollutants and airborne dust levels. Furthermore, plants reduce both indoor and outdoor noise. Numerous studies have linked noise pollution to increasing stress and anxiety levels. Plants are capable of absorbing and reflecting that noise, potentially making life more peaceful.

• Try Aromatherapy: The use of essential oils and other lovely-smelling goodies (like patchouli) has been around for millennia. Ancient civilizations recognized the benefits of aromatic plants for healing, sacred ceremonies, and achieving a higher plane of consciousness. Research shows that certain smells can have a positive effect on our mood. In fact, studies have proven the efficacy of essential oils in helping to relieve depression . With a variety of diffusers from which to choose, aromatherapy can make your sacred space relaxing and pleasant-smelling. Here are several fragrant suggestions to try:
• • Lavender Oil : Slows the activity of the central nervous system, improves sleep quality, and promotes concentration.

• • Eucalyptus Oil: Boosts cognitive performance and reduces headaches when combined with peppermint oil. Inhaling steam with a few drop of eucalyptus oil added to it acts as an expectorant and helps alleviate cough and congestion. This essential oil is also effective against certain bacterial strains and is antimicrobial, insecticidal, acaricidal (kills ticks and mites), and nematicidal (kills nematodes) .

• • Peppermint Oil: Relieves nausea, headaches, upset stomach, and anxiety.

• • Blue Chamomile Oil: Inhaling chamomile essential oil has a mildly sedative effect on the brain and makes you feel pleasantly sleepy. It also offers a mild anti-anxiety effect for those suffering from generalized anxiety disorder.

• • Rose Oil: Promotes a quiet mood and can also fight harmful organisms.

• • Jasmine Oil: Unlike other oils, jasmine has a stimulating effect on your mood and increases alertness, breathing rate, and vigor, promoting an uplifted mood and improved sense of well-being.

• • Bergamot Oil: Reduces anxiety and has a positive effect on mood.

• • Lemon Balm Oil: Appears to sharpen memory and boost problem-solving abilities. There is some promising research into the benefits of lemon balm for those with Alzheimer’s disease.

• Plug in a Himalayan Salt Lamp: Science shows that our mood is elevated when we look at something considered beautiful, and a Himalayan salt lamp is just that. Its pinkish/amber color emits a soft, appealing light that can enhance the peaceful nature of your home. While the jury is still out on its supposed health benefits, these lamps are a lovely addition to any sanctuary.

• Play Music: Neuroscientists have identified four ways in which music positively affects our mood:
• Emotion: It’s easy to see how music affects our emotions . Some songs cause tears, others make us want to get up and dance; others simply lull us to sleep. Therapists use music to help those with autism and PTSD, and music causes the brain to release the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates the “cuddle response.” Playing music at home makes us feel cozy and content.
• Memory: Science has proven that music can stimulate memories that are connected to certain songs. Curating a playlist with positive memory associations can create a pleasant atmosphere and evoke joy.
• Learning and Neuroplasticity: Music has been shown to map new neural pathways in the brain and expand neural networks. It also helps injured brains heal and build new ways to process information.
• Attention: Certain types of music can help focus our attention to the task at hand. Research shows that peak attention happens during silences in music, meaning that our brains are more focused; the silences simply sharpen our attention. Not being distracted can go a long way to providing calm in our often overly stimulated brains.

Fostering tranquil energy in your home is a noble pursuit, and shutting out the noisy world when you need to is worth the effort. Think about what brings you peace and consider trying these scientifically proven methods. They can be implemented at a very low cost and you just never know what might work for you. Relax, take a deep breath, and enjoy your clean, uncluttered oasis.

Centron Self Storage can help with your storage needs as you journey to create a lovely and uncluttered, peaceful home. We provide 24/7 access to your storage unit with the assistance of our fully trained staff. Call (416) 739-0000 for storage rentals in North York.