Relax at Home...Sleep Better

I am always preaching about relaxing and rejuvenating at home. With the economic road so bumpy, it is more important than ever to take time to create a spa experience at home. Whether that is lighting soy candles for eco-friendly light and comfort, or taking a hot soak before bed for a better nights sleep.

We are not immune to stress at home ourselves. With basically two new businesses still finding its legs, there are still some stressful days and evenings.

A couple of weeks ago my husband was very stressed and feeling down in the dumps. It was a Friday night and he was tired from a long week and stressed. I got out my soy candles and put them around the family room, lit them, and turned out the lights. You could almost feel the stress leave my husband in a Whoosh. Within 15 minutes, the aromatherapy scent was filling the room and my husband was much more relaxed and feeling happier.

Last night I wanted to test a new natural fragrance in our bath salts I am contemplating and thought I would treat myself to a hot soak. While the tub was filling, I got my book and a fluffy bath towel, washed my face, and then got into the tub. I've written in previous posts about how water temperature heals and how water therapy has been used for centuries. Ever hear of the saying "taking the waters". I felt so wonderful after my soak. My skin was super soft and my muscles were much more relaxed. I lathered on some lotion I made and got into my bath robe.

The most important area I want to emphasize is that I slept like a baby. For the 20 minutes I spent in the tub, it translated to 8 hours of blissful sleep. Today I heard on the news that more prescriptions for sleep were written in 2008 than ever before. Take a hot soak..its almost free....I would rather see people addicted to hot soaks than to pills.

The moral of all this....you need to find ways to create an environment of peace and tranquility at home, and treat your body to the healing waters in your tub or shower in these extreme times of uncertainty and stress.


Anne Keefe