Having the ability to control the environmental factors around you is a normal requirement that we should all have control over. It doesn't have to be as unattainable as it sounds. A few simple steps can help to neutralise your home.
Noise is a common disrupter and controlling the volume of the background noise can sometime feel impossible, however choosing the right playlist and waking up to the right types of music might be all the change you need. It is recommend that meditation music or soothing piano tunes can set the right tone for the day.
Scent is an underestimated part of feeling calm. There is a reason that all spa’s have candles, diffusers and flowers, its to help their visitors feel at ease. Smelling something pleasant with the right musical accompaniment can be crucial to a happy healthy space. Best of all its two simple and inexpensive changes that you can be in control of today.
One of the most challenging parts of returning to work from our various lockdowns is that we no longer had control over these simple things. All of a sudden we needed to adapt to other people polluting our space with noise, offensive perfumes and distracting conversations. If this is one of the parts of your return to work that is a challenge then making your home more of a sanctuary will help.
When at home you can set up your preferred playlist, a scent machine, diffuser, candle or incense and have the volume control within reach. Having returned to the office swiftly and without much adjustment I struggled with this and to be honest, some days still do. If it wasn't for my AirPods I would have days where the constant distraction would get too much for me, I would get irritable, impatient and frustrated. Drowning out the noise is not easy but it helps to focus the mind.
At home I do some very simple things to make sure when I am able to be in control of my space so I can make the most of it, creating a blissful environment that feels like my own day spa. I use a mix of the following and I suggest you explore a few if not all to create the environment that will allow you to thrive.
Scent options for a healthy home
- Scent sticks - I have various scents around the home so each room has its own distinct smell, which helps for the scent to be more noticeable as I move through the space.
- Candles - these are in the bedroom to encourage relaxation before bed
- A diffuser - this alternates from fresh scents to soothing and even sometimes menthol depending on what I feel like my body needs on a given day
- Incense sticks - these I light once a day - normally in the morning to set me up for the day ahead
Sound sources for a peaceful home
I use a mix of Sonos speakers around the home
- Morning -I have one in the bedroom that goes off 15 minutes before my alarm to gently wake me. This is normally set to a soft piano playlist.
- Throughout the day- I will tend to have meditation music playing. It's all set to timers so it's as if the home has its own tunes.
- Evening - I change the playlist to accompany dinner and the slowing down for the end of the day, if reading I continue this until bed, if not I listen to a story on Calm to put me to sleep.
If you don’t have a bluetooth speaker you can use your phone and if and when it has an improved impact you can invest in a speaker. One that can move around the house with you works just as well as multiples around the home.
- When out and about I use my Air-pods to select the soundtrack for the environment or the activity I am participating in
- Recently I have been also been trying some Loop earplugs to quiet the ambient noise so I can focus on the person I am wanting to listen to and be less distracted by the other things around.
I have started to believe that these simple steps have increased my happiness at home, I am calm and productive, free from distractions and I enjoy the peace.
Not all of these things can be incorporated into an office, but you can try these things at home and then take that playlist or that gradual waking attitude into the office.
