There is no better way to relax than to spend an hour or two at the spa, getting pampered from head to toe.
You know that spa feeling? The baby smooth skin, the lightness in the limbs, deliciously inhaling the beautiful scent of the massage oil - don't you wish you can feel that way all the time? Well, technically, that's not impossible - if you can visit the spa every few days. But alas, between work and family commitments, not much time is left for us to "switch off".
Which is why a lot of people are excited about creating a spa at home. It doesn't take much time or money. And with a little bit of creativity, you can experiment with different scents and ingredients to create your very own signature facial mask or body scrub.
Set the moodStart by dimming your lights - it'll make your room look more cosy and inviting. And don't underestimate the power of scent. Warming up 7-10 drops of your favourite aromatherapy oil in an oil burner will help you loosen up.
Complete the scene by playing your favourite CD softly in the background. Not sure what to play? Try jazz or new age. They're both safe bets.
But most importantly, turn off your phone, Blackberry
and laptop. Nothing will ruin the relaxed mood, which you've worked so hard to create, faster than a ringing phone.
Pamper yourselfYour spa treatments can be as fancy or as simple as you like. Just make sure to choose treatments that address your needs on that particular day.
Feeling super stressed? Indulge in a head-to-toe treatment - apply coconut oil to your hair to deeply condition your tresses, make your own exfoliating body scrub by mixing oatmeal and olive oil and take a nap while waiting for your face mask (just pat on some egg white or milk) to dry.
Been running around a lot lately? Give your legs and feet an oil massage and prop them up for some much needed rest. Feeling energetic? Exercise (try jogging or practicing yoga) before hopping into the shower for a body scrub.
Relax and unwindPut on your lounging clothes and comfy slippers so you're all set to practice the art of unwinding. A tabletop fountain can help if you find it hard to relax. Many people find the sound of flowing water very calming.
And as you curl up with a book or magazine, sip some ginger tea - just add some thinly sliced ginger to your tea and sweeten it with honey - the chemicals in tea will react with your brain to bring your stress hormones back to normal levels.
There is no better way to relax than to spend an hour or two at the spa, getting pampered from head to toe.