Your home can be your castle, but it can also be your retreat, your spa, your haven, your escape — and it doesn’t take a complete remodel to make it happen, either.

In case of city homes, try adding fabric or tapestries to your walls for a sound barrier and using carpeting rather than hardwood. Try to soundproof your city home with high-quality insulation and windows. Add blackout shades to your windows so that the “all night lights” don’t keep you from getting your ZZZs. Add plants to your indoor environment, and if you’re lucky enough to score a balcony or courtyard, add some growing things there, too. Decorate minimally, in soothing colors.

There are ways to minimize the impact of your daily commute on your level of anxiety, however.

1. Work from Home
2. Find a Friend
3. Take Public Transportation
4. Destress with Less Mess
5. Curb your Enthusiasm - there is a one-in, one-out rule — if something comes in, something must go out. It keeps the balance of clutter in check.

• Destress Your Home Using Feng Shui. Feng shui (fung shway) is an ancient Chinese system of harmonizing your environment and improving its flow of energy or qi.
• Clean House! Your house is a reflection of your life, so keep it clean. Deeply clean.
• Get Rid of Broken, Unused or Unwanted Items. You don’t need these peripherals crowding out the good things! Make room for things you love by getting rid of those you don’t.
• Clean Closets. Closing the closet door only hides the problem — the clutter is still there, nagging at you. Set a rule for your closet — one in, one out, or only keep a certain number of hangers on hand — to keep you from overcrowding. Add Nature We are most comfortable in an environment that contains some natural elements. Use living green plants for decorations, add flowers when you can, buy real wood tables or scatter some pebbles in a wooden bowl for decoration. Consider adding a water element
• Add Scents. Add the scent of lavender, rose or sandalwood to your home through an aromatic diffuser, potpourri, or candles. These scents are grounding and relaxing, but if they don’t appeal to you — no worries — use what makes you feel good!
• Special Note: Your Bedroom This is the one spot in your home that you should do everything in your power to make into a sanctuary. Whether you have a partner or sleep alone, your bedroom is the ultimate intimate space and should be a retreat from the rest of the world.

Please refer to the book for more details on this activity.