Stop the Stress: Ten steps for designing your own Backyard Haven  

            Life moves fast, and seems to become more and more demanding each day. More than half of all Americans admit to having stressful daily lives, a vicious cycle that seems to tangle even the simplest of tasks. However, there is a simple way for you to escape this cycle and enjoy your life more easily and regularly. So stop losing the battle to stress, and be ready to enjoy life's daily wonders. 

            If you are feeling stressed by life's race, you need time to slow down and enjoy yourself. Even more, you need a calming and beautiful place to relax and calm your soul. The best place to fashion such a haven is your own backyard, a place that offers infinite possibilities. These ten steps will help start you on the path to your personal backyard getaway. 

1. Achieve Overall Harmony 

            The goal of your backyard will be comfort and balance. Review your backyard's natural state, considering its advantages and overall design. Obtain balance by taming busy backyards with smooth rocks and surfaces, while less exciting backyards can be spiced up with designs, patterns, and furniture. Design what feels comfortable for you, as not all things are soothing to all people. 

            If your garden seems cramped, add curving paths and walkways to help create space and dimension. These paths offer excellent spots for small nooks and hideaways, and are an excellent addition to any backyard. Patios can offer a space for gathering, and can be filled with comfortable and unique furniture. Use these patios and furniture to enjoy yourself, and relax in your backyard haven. 

2. Work at Your Own Pace 

            While some people enjoy working physically outdoors, others do not. Examine your feelings to determine if you find digging in the dirt relaxing and stress-relieving. If so, do not be afraid to get your hands dirty and enjoy a relaxing time with nature as you work. Certain plants and trees require more maintenance, something that is perfect for the avid gardener. 

            If you do not enjoy outdoor work as much, work at a slower pace to ensure you remain relaxed and calm. The goal is for you to enjoy yourself in your backyard, something you cannot do if you work harder than needed. If you are a person who dislikes gardening, choose plants and natural elements that require little to no supervision or maintenance. Control the forces of nature by using natural barriers such as gravel or mulch. 

3. See It to Believe It 

            Color is something important to consider when designing your relaxing backyard haven, as you need to carefully choose colors that make you comfortable. Blues and greens are calming colors inspired by nature, and are great colors to include in your backyard canvas. 

            Feng Shui element charts are also a great reference to consult when choosing your colors, as they will help you choose the right elemental forces for your backyard. Additionally, plants play an important role in the color scene of your haven, and should be calming at all times. Foliage and raw materials provide natural colors that are aesthetically pleasing and functional, and should be included throughout your design. 

4. Sound Senses 

            Sound affects human beings on a very base level, and is an important element to include throughout your soothing backyard. Relaxing music is nice, but nature also supplies its own chorus that has a marvelous medicinal effect. Wind, rain, and the clink of a chime calm the body and soul, and keep you in tune with nature. Nothing could be better to enjoy within your own backyard. 

            Wild birds and insects can provide beautiful song, and can be attracted by feeders and birdbaths. Choose an artistic feeder that is unique and fits well with the soothing aspect of the other parts of your garden. There are so many beautiful birdbaths to choose from and there is nothing more relaxing than watching birds splashing around in their own small pond.  

            Speakers are a great modern innovation that can provide the ambiance of sound throughout your entire backyard. When placed in nooks and along paths, speakers will be hidden from sight but still provide their soothing sound to any listener. 

5. Encourage Nature 

            Encourage wildlife in your backyard. Nature provides its own calming effects through all the senses, and should be encouraged liberally and without restriction.  

            Flowers, birds, insects, and wildlife all provide excellent stress-relieving company, and can easily be attained through feeders and careful work. Soon, your day outside can be accompanied by the sounds of nature all around you. 

            Flowers such as azaleas and hollyhocks can provide pleasant aromas and attract hummingbirds that in turn provide a delightful visitor for you to enjoy. 

6. Furniture Fantasies 

            Furniture is a vital part of your new backyard, and will be possibly be the biggest investment you make. As such, you should consider your options and choose those that provide the most quality and comfort.  

            An outdoor rocking chairoffers an excellent reading or thinking position, while gliders and swings allow you to relax and enjoy the company of others. When choosing the location of the furniture, consider creating special little areas and hideaways that can provide the opportunity for a calm reading session or catnap. 

7. Soothe the Sun 

            As your backyard should provide its benefits year-round, the position and affect of the sun is something important to consider. Sunny areas should face east, and offer the chance to bask in the warmth and melt away the stress of a bad day. During the summer, however, umbrellas and pagodas offer a soothing patch of shade amidst the heat of the day. Use the shade to cool off and relax in during warm months, and find a sunnier area in cooler ones. 

            Fans and other cooling elements can also be added to provide maximum cooling for hot or southern areas, and should be included if necessary. 

8. Taste the Difference 

            Taste is not a sense to be denied, and should be fully satisfied to help complete relaxation. Herbs offer unique scents that offer both a culinary treat and an aromatic treat. Plant herbs such as mint, basil, and thyme and enjoy the aromas that waft on each breeze.  

            Other scents such as lavender and sandalwood offer more intense and relaxing effects. Experiment to find your favorite combination of smells, and also consider using incense or essential oils as an added sense bonus. 

9. Flame On 

            Fire encompasses all the senses in a pleasing manner, and is a great way to bring people together in a festive manner. Fire pits are inexpensive and easy to build, and offer hours of soothing fun and pyrotechnic pleasure. 

            Tiki torches and citronella candles can also be used, and offer the practical benefit of preventing annoying insects during the summer months. Fire can take even the most ordinary of backyards and provide it with a festive and beautiful atmosphere. 

10. Play Games
            Outdoor games offer tremendous stress relief, and are easy to incorporate in your backyard. Games offer the chance to escape the bustle of daily life, even for just a few moments. Outdoor games such as bocce ball and croquet can be easily played with company, and will provide hours of good fun. 

            For the more strategically minded, indoor games such as chess or checkers can be enjoyed outdoors in the presence of nature. Lose yourself it the atmosphere, and let your troubles slip away with each passing moment. 

Get Out of the Stress Race 

            If your life is spiraling out of control and headed for a stressful crash, get in back under control by spending some time in your backyard. By following these steps, you will be on your way to a personal haven that offers solace and escape from the demands of daily life. Do not be afraid to avoid life for a while by spending time in your backyard, and you will find its benefits larger than you ever thought possible. 

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Kimberly Aardal, publisher of EveryDayRockingChairs.com enjoys life and the natural things around her. She relaxes in a glider rocking chair in her Colorado home with her husband Jon and lab Ginger. Kimberly enjoys sharing her knowledge on stress relief, hiking, and exploring small towns throughout Colorado. She enjoys life to the fullest, and finds something new to enjoy each day like a spin in her swivel rocker.