9 Mind-Calming Secrets From A Master Of Minimalism

I was a college student at the time working as a barista, and one fateful day I waited on Marian. She ordered a latte and introduced herself as the girl who sat behind me in neuropsychology class. I asked about her success on the last test, and upon leaving, she gave me her number and suggested that we take a run in the park one morning. I agreed, and a few days later we set a 6 a.m. start.

"My parents explained that images and feelings can be self-altered with awareness and then used as comfort to calm the body." So instead of being triggered by your environment with stacks of papers, piles of clothes, dirty dishes, and the like—we have the power to design it to induce a state of relaxation.

For me, design is an important part of de-stressing, as is ritual. In order to create your own intentional sanctuary, simply assign a few small corners, surfaces, nooks, or areas of your home to be for different types of relaxation. Then the fun part: Participate in them through regular ritual. Here are some ideas:

Music is therapeutic. Gather a playlist and listen to a couple of favorites at the beginning or end of your day. It does not necessarily have to be slow; uplifting music is a different kind of relaxing for many.

You do not have to be an artist to benefit from doodling, drawing, or even coloring. It's nice to balance out the day with a different part of your brain. Draw freehand, try a bullet journal, write a letter, or even jot three sentences a day in gratitude. Do this in a space designated for creativity, uncoupled from the reminders of what your day was and what tomorrow will bring.

Aromatherapy is nothing new, but the benefits of relaxing scents are palpable. It does not need to be an elaborate setup to be an effective one. If you don't have a candle on hand, a simple small simmering pot with a few drops of peppermint oil will do the trick, as will an essential oil diffuser.

Fidget spinners hit the nail on the head for lighthearted attention seekers, but even a puzzle will work. Set aside a small table and put out a puzzle; whether you finish it or not, change it once a week.

Bring the outside in! The light and brightness of flowers can reset the atmosphere and vary the "landscape" of your home. Plants in a bathroom with enough light will thrive because bathrooms tend to be a bit more humid.

In short, they need you and you need them. Even if you schedule for just a half-hour, the break, the consistency, and the comfort will reset you for the week.

Create a vision board. Visual and kinesthetic learners would do well with a vision board, as it combines the double tactic of seeing and feeling what you are setting out to accomplish. Having this in your home as an intentional reminder of your goals and changing it up as they evolve can be incredibly helpful.

We are all familiar with meditating or the idea of it, but how many of us actually do it? Place a hanging calendar above a soft colorful pillow and put a sticker on days you're able to sit. It's fun to keep track and an intentional reminder to maintain the practice.

While you're at it, here's a two-minute yoga sequence to beat stress, plus a lesson on the body part that controls it.