Unfortunately, relaxing in your backyard might take a little preparation. As spring approaches, it’s time to think about landscaping and creating an easily-accessible paradise of your own.

Water creates an instantly soothing atmosphere. A small fountain will let you hear the relaxing sound of trickling water and is a beautiful addition to any space. Maximize the effect by making it a focal point in your yard. Set aside a larger space than you’ll need for just the fountain, and add flowers around it. Try using a single color of blooms to create a more cohesive, and thus tranquil, look.

The scent of lavender and lilacs soothe the senses, while green Bells of Ireland provide a calming green landscape. Choose your flowers based on your strongest senses. If you have a great sense of smell, choose flowers with relaxing scents. If you’re visual, go with green or blue flowers to make the most out of your vista.

To get even more out of the serene properties of water, consider adding a pool to your yard. Keep the area neatly organized, but don’t be afraid to buy a floating chair or two. Organization brings instant peace of mind, so keep any pool accessories into an outdoor storage chest, neatly tucked out of sight.

The same should apply to all gardening tools. Keeping your outdoor space organized will allow you to breathe easily and comfortably in your newly repurposed yard.

When it comes to patio furniture, choose a color that will mesh with the colors already in your yard. You don’t want to put black furniture onto a bright white patio. Consider a neutral wood color that will become part of the scenery instead of a focal point. For a great way to be outside without burning in the sun, add a canopy to your deck.

Hammocks are beloved by many, but others find them to be too difficult to keep their balance in. Try one at a hardware store before you commit to buying one. If you’re in constant fear of falling, you’re not going to be able to relax. Try a chaise lounge or a papasan chair that you would feel comfortable curling up in instead.

When you stand at your backdoor and look out onto your yard, you should see one area seamlessly blending into the next. Avoid using harsh colors anywhere in your yard. A bright pink gazing ball might seem like a great addition, but if you haven’t used pink anywhere else, it’s likely to become the first thing you see in your yard. Your water feature will be a more relaxing focal point, but feel free to add any décor touches you feel are appropriate for your environment.

Some of the greatest minds in our present and past, people such as Buddha, the Dalai Lama and even Jesus, among many others – have come up with very worthwhile methods in which to ‘deal’ with hardships, which so many people are dealing with today. With the multiple wars, loved ones overseas, scarce jobs and many losing their homes, it is imperative that we learn the best ways of dealing with it all.

Acceptance:

Acceptance is a powerful reaction – that brings peace. Understanding that some things, we just do not have any control over – and there is really nothing you can do about it. Worrying about things will not change the outcome; it will only create stress and anxiety for you, and doing nothing to remedy the situation. Yes, being informed and rational about a specific situation is essential, as well as helpful – but losing sleep, and hand wringing will not change what is happening or has happened.

Health:

Taking care of yourself during a difficult time is really important. In stressful situations and adversities, our health is what will keep us strong for others, and ourselves. Getting plenty of sleep is one of the things that will keep you strong. I know when I am stressed, sleep is sometimes elusive – but even if it means taking a sleeping aid, get your rest.

Eating right, too, seems to be difficult for me as well as most people who face stressful situations. You forget to eat and then realize you are starved – and eat whatever is handy, which is usually non-nutritional. Make sure that you eat the most healthful foods you can, so that your immune system will stay strong, and will fight any illness that might be trying to find its way to you. Healthy foods meaning lots of fruits, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and staying away from sugars and refined foods as much as possible, as they greatly reduce the body’s ability to fight harmful bacteria and viruses.

Meditation:

This activity is one that has been a mainstay with so many wonderful people of our past and present, Buddha being one. Meditation can have a huge impact on every part of your life. It helps you find peace, solitude and quiet time, and is the perfect way to calm your body and your mind. There are a zillion mediation CD’s out there, and websites that actually guide you into a deep relaxation and the quiet place that is so essential to recharging yourself. Find one that fits your liking, and do it every single day. The benefits are proven to be valuable to peace of mind.

Many people have benefitted from this exercise, and if you can’t seem to go within, then at least you have gathered yourself and your strength for 20 minutes or so, per day.

Nature:

I think people who live in the city have lost the ability to absorb the healing benefits of nature. The sound of a creek or stream, with birds singing – and without any city noise can be almost as healing and helpful as meditation, sometimes even more.

Getting outside, amongst wildlife, trees, wildflowers and especially water can be such a peaceful experience that sometimes when I take my forest walks, I come back so refreshed and relaxed and in the most awesome state of mind – I wonder why I don’t do it more often.

It’s something about the quiet and serene beauty that brings you back to yourself and your spirit gets rejuvenated. Grab a picnic lunch, sit by a babbling brook and read a spiritual book, and you will find some peace.

Go Outside Yourself:

A very great man who I have the privilege of knowing, is an author of many books, an Angelical Priest, Oxford Professor, and a Theologian taught me something once that has always stayed with me. When I asked him “What is the secret to finding true happiness” he told me that if you’re searching for inner peace – true joy and happiness – you have to go outside of yourself. His exact words were ‘to be of service’. That is what we are all here for, to help one another – and giving of yourself to others who are in need, will help you to find solace and peace. True joy and peace come from giving to those less fortunate, yes, even animals. It fills your soul and makes you realize how much you really do have to give. And the others, who are less fortunate, will be better because of you. There is no greater feeling.

Note:

There is a fabulous book out there by a pretty impressive man, Eckhart Tolle, who wrote “The Power of Now”– and I recommend that book to anyone who is suffering, dealing with hardships, and burdened with stress and loss. According to Tolle, the power of living in the moment and not stressing and worrying about tomorrow, especially in this uncertain world, can relieve you of so much anguish, that it is worth the read. It is a best seller, and it helped me tremendously find inner peace from the day-to-day commotion that takes away from serenity and peace.

“When your sense of self is no longer tied to thought, is no longer conceptual, there is a depth of feeling, of sensing, of compassion, of loving, that was not there when you were trapped in mental concepts. You are that depth.” – – Eckhart Tolle.

This article has been written for Relaxation Haven by Cathy Reyes.

Cathy is part of the team that manages Credit Card Finder, a complimentary credit card comparison service and a personal finance blog based in Sydney, Australia. Before she joined CCF, she was a staff nurse at Clark Airbase Hospital and conducted lectures on First Aid, Bio-terrorism and Disaster Management.

Studies have shown there can be a direct connection between painting and a reduction of stress levels. Clinical art therapy is commonly used by therapists to encourage self-expression and improve communication between the therapist and a patient who is suffering from a severe mental health condition. Similar benefits can also be gained by individuals affected by anxiety or stress by expressing their creative side and developing painting skills.

There are many different ways to alleviate stress and not every method will work for every single person. Most individuals will need to try a few different methods to discover which one is the most beneficial to them personally.

The Positive Effects of Painting
One of the main reasons that art therapy has proved to be successful is due to the accumulative effects of several well known key benefits associated with the act of painting. These benefits include self-care, distraction and flow:

Self-care means taking care of yourself and taking part in activities purely or partly for the benefit or your own well-being. Merely the act of finding new a hobby can make a person feel more well-balanced in their lifestyle. It is sometimes easy to forget – with all of the responsibilities in life – that most people need and should have some ‘me time’. Dedicating some time on a regular basis to painting can help this to be achieved.

Painting and creating art is a good way of distracting your thoughts from whatever is causing your stressing or anxiety. The distraction is of course only a momentary effect, but many people find that the relaxation gained during a painting session enables them to have a clearer line of thought, which later helps them deal with problems and help put them into perspective.

One further benefit of painting to relieve stress, as it can often enable a person to achieve a positive state of mind known as “Flow”. This is a state of mind which occurs when an individual involved in an activity is totally immersed with strong feelings of involvement and focus.

What Art Supplies are Needed?
Any type of paint can be used for painting to relieve stress, but for anyone taking up painting as a hobby for the first time I would personally recommend using an acrylic paint, such as Liquitex Acrylics. Other equipment needed includes a small selection of artists paint brushes of varying sizes, a pallet and some student quality stretched canvases or canvas boards.

Artists acrylic paint is often the medium of choice for many beginners because of its versatility. It can be used straight from the tube to achieve a similar effect to oil paints or it can be mixed with water and used very much like watercolour paints.

In general, it is very beneficial to set aside some time where you can do something simply for the purpose of self-enjoyment. While there are a number relaxing hobbies and pastimes to choose from the artistic pursuit of painting is certainly one which can be used to help you relax counter the stress which is caused by our hectic modern lifestyles.

Thank you to Mark Jubbs for writing this article for us.

Mark Jubbs is a self taught artist who writes articles for Artists Materials Online – one of the leading independent retailers of art materials and supplies in the UK.