A New Year can be a blessing and a curse, with renewal and optimism colliding with the pressures of resolutions for change. Regardless of what your goals might be for ‘08, one of the best ways to get there is to reduce stress. With less stress in day to day living, it becomes easier to focus on what is important. In fact, one of the top 10 most popular New Year’s resolutions is to reduce stress, according to USA.gov. However instead of intentionally removing stressors, we often end up just masking them by running away, whether it is to a second home, a vacation spot or even just to a nearby Starbuck’s. But why flee? I genuinely believe that “home” can and should be the place to rebalance. By reducing the stress in the home, home actually can be your place of refuge, instead of the opposite.

Removing the “noise” of unnecessary distractions is a sure-fire way to reduce stress. Noise can mean clutter, TV’s that are always on, and even technology. Last month, I streamlined my computer desktop. What was once a screen totally filled with folders and documents is now two rows of logically-sequenced folders. I would have never thought that such a minor change would yield such major results! Just as with material objects, technology can overwhelm just as easily. Whether it is a chaotic computer desktop, an overstuffed e-mail inbox or tangle of electronic wires and remotes, taking stock of technology can be a big step to making “home” a positive experience for all who live there.

To learn more about creating home environments that reduce stress and promote a balanced lifestyle, register for my workshop this month, and Discover the Eight Basics for yourself!

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