Tips for Turning Your WFH Space Into a Self-Care Sanctuary

While we’ve all become amazingly comfortable with our WFH routines, one thing hasn’t gone away: job-related stress and anxiety. But that’s exactly why I was instantly intrigued by a recent Vogue feature on how to turn your home office into a self-care haven.

Can’t fit a yoga class or Breathe meditation into your jammed-packed schedule? No worries. There are ample alternatives to help create a more comforting, calming, and productive work space.

The Smell of Success

Remote workers are experimenting with scents, hoping to make hours with an Excel spreadsheet feel—or at least smell—more like a day at the beach.

“Aromas can improve cognition by interacting with our brain chemistry,” says Mark Moss, head of the psychology department at Northumbria University. To get the maximum effect, he advises using room scents intermittently rather than throughout the day.

Madison and Green’s “At Your Desk” inhaler–an organic oil blend of lemon, lemongrass, eucalyptus, and camphor–promises to ease every work-related woe that ails you. Inhale deeply to cool off, declutter your mind, and feel uplifted.

Or to ground yourself in the moment, try Breathe Meditation + Wellness’ Focus Pure Essential Oil Blend. The enticing mix of bergamot, lavender, lemon, sweet orange, and ylang ylang creates a sense of tranquility and mindfulness–just what you need before a job interview or high-stakes presentation.

The “#Shelfie-Ready” Diffuser

Along with providing a number of health benefits, diffusers can double as an insta-worthy objet d’art. Choose a scent based on the aura you want to achieve, from clarifying citrus to nerve-calming jasmine.

Skin Savers

A spritz of a refreshing facial mist can be a workday game-changer. We especially love the budget-friendly trio from Mario Badescu. Each mist serves a different purpose: Aloe, Cucumber, and Green Tea hydrates; Rose works as a midday pick-me-up; and Lavender calms and soothes.

Louise Franklyn, the holistic esthetician at Dallas’ Patrick O’Hara Salon, recommends Lotion Yon-ka, to all her clients. The unisex healing mist drenches skin with the solar-charged energy of five essential oils for a multi-beneficial purifying, toning, and invigorating effect.

Healthy Hydrators

Mid-afternoon slump? De-stress, defend, and recover with a sparkling herbal tonic. All-natural, plant-powered Sunwink drinks have been endorsed by everyone from Vogue to Oprah.

Purifying Plants

Along with improving productivity and creativity, plants act as robust purifiers for recycled air. Plus, they bring a touch of the outside, in—always a mood-lifter.

The Standing Desk

According to the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, sitting could well be the new smoking. Doing so is potentially linked to cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Standing desks are an increasingly popular alternative. Known benefits run the gamut, from boosting blood flow and improving posture to lowering blood sugar and aiding in weight loss.

Uplifting Lighting

Dull and cool fluorescent lights can be a real downer, especially as the day goes on. To cozy things up, switch to a stylish desk lamp with soft, warm light to instantly elevate your space.