How to Relax at Home and Create Your Oasis

Your home is where your heart is. It’s also where you’ll find your spouse, your stuff, and your sanity. If you don’t know how to relax at home, that’s a problem. The world is a chaotic place, and at the end of a long day, you need a retreat to relax and recharge.

Whether you work in an office, out of your living room, or you have better things to do than be employed, you need an escape.

Most people take a beating from nine to five and come home to to-do lists. There is nothing worse than barely surviving the afternoon, and two cups of coffee later, walking into a home that reeks of dirty dishes and old trash. My lack of coordination makes for an especially large amount of messy “accidents.”
I can’t even tell you how the glass bottle of vanilla syrup fell into the salad bowl and tumbled onto the ground. What I can tell you is that I’ve never made a more difficult mess in my life. It was like a chemical reaction between the glass, syrup, and vegetables. The kind of mess that taunts you but hurts you when you try.

Your home should be an oasis, a place to rest and feel at ease. Not only for your sake but also for your partner’s. So bite your nagging tongue and open your tired eyes, it’s time to recreate your home’s environment.

Here is my best advice on how to relax at home and create an oasis.

Stay positive. Positive interactions with your spouse are very important, but your overall attitude is just as important. Become aware of your negativity, whether it’s about your job or your obnoxious friend. I went through a patch where everything was wrong with my life, and guess who it affected the most? My husband was taking a daily beating from my words. So ask yourself if your words are creating positive energy in your home or if they’re hurting your family.

Neatness is a priority. No, I’m not saying your house needs to be Martha Stewart spotless, but it shouldn’t cause anxiety either. It’s about reducing your to-do list little by little every day. I tend to sway to both extremes; I’m either OCD or too tired to care. The key is taking it one day at a time. Spend 15-30 minutes every day doing small tasks, like wiping down all of your counters or vacuuming. This way every Saturday doesn’t feel like spring-cleaning.

Do things you like to do. Give yourself reasons to get excited about spending time at home. Zach and I have a chili and Big Bang Theory routine that we do a couple times a week, and it’s one of our favorite times to chill together. Pick a favorite TV show to watch or have a comfortable place to drink coffee together, and home can become your getaway.

Create a special place just for relaxing. My best friend Meg lives to take baths. I never understood why someone would enjoy sitting in a tub of warm water until I tried it. I actually recreated a spa experience in my little apartment with my bubble bath, candlelight, and cold drink. I now have a special spot to go to in my home when my world spins too fast. What calms you down? Find a way to do it at home.