We all want more zen in our lives, but achieving this blissful state of being in our fast-paced home and working lives can be tricky.
The word “Zen” comes from Sanskrit and means “meditation,” “thought,” or “absorption.” Although meditation is at the heart of Zen practice, you’ll be pleased to know you don’t need to meditate for six hours a day and chant “Om” to restore calm.
There are many things you can do to create a bit of zen in your life, such as practicing minimalism, laughter yoga, changing a few things in your home, or spending time alone.
We’ve picked 15 of the easiest ways to find zen that we have found are effective without expending too much effort.
1. Burn Candles
There’s something calming about the soft glow of a candle with a warm, flickering flame. Candles create an ambiance in the home. If they have a subtle scent, such as lavender, jasmine, or rose, that’s even better.
The pleasant smell and the living flame make us feel zen and ready us to tackle life’s challenges.
2. Create a Zen Garden
Use your imagination to create a unique zen garden in your home. Find a suitable container, maybe upcycle a fancy bowl or flower pot, and then decide what base you want for the garden. If you love the beach, sand is an excellent option. Collect a few natural stones or rocks and add elements like plants and crystals and a shallow container for water.
Spend time with your zen garden to reap the benefits.
3. Fill Your Home With Plants
Bring nature into your home by placing plants in the rooms, especially those where you spend the most time. Choose plants that are visually appealing and easy to maintain, and choose a range of natural pots and planters that complement each other.
Aim for a contrast of colors and textures and add gravel to the top of the soil.
4. Add a Water Feature
The gentle trickle of water is relaxing and helps to create a feeling of zen. Depending on what you prefer, choose a tabletop water feature or find a corner in the house where you can create a mini waterfall.
Turn off the TV, close your eyes, and listen to the trickling water. You’ve just discovered the benefits of meditation without trying.
5. Create a Tea-Drinking Ritual
Consider starting a daily tea-drinking ritual instead of mindlessly chucking a tea bag into a cup. Matcha green tea powder has fantastic health benefits. To make a matcha green tea latte, sieve a teaspoon of powder to reduce clumps and add half a cup of boiling water.
Mix with a bamboo whisk until the tea is frothy. Top it off with hot milk (cow or nut milk), add natural sweetener, and take a zen moment to enjoy this delicious beverage.
6. Try Laughter Yoga
It’s impossible to find zen when you are experiencing stress or rushing through daily tasks with no time to unwind. Laughter yoga is becoming popular worldwide. Don’t worry; there are no complicated moves. The laughter yoga instructor leads a class to join in with fun and relaxing exercises that encourage laughter.
At first, forced laughter might seem unnatural, but stick with it, and the zen benefits will be worth the effort.
7. Try EFT Tapping
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) calms the mind and body by tapping on meridian points. It stimulates blood flow and can reduce stress. Use two fingers and tap the top of your head, eyebrows, under and to the side of your eyes, under the nose, under the chin, collarbone, under the arm, and outside of the hand.
You can add vocal intent, such as “I am calm and relaxed” or whatever feels right.
8. Spend Time Alone
Spending time alone allows your mind and body to relax without the pressure of demands from family, colleagues, or management. It’s time for you to take a breath and contemplate the direction of your life.
Take a walk in nature, sit in the garden, or meditate in your zen garden. Do whatever makes you feel good.
9. Use Natural Edge Tables
Most of the furniture we have in our homes has straight lines, such as tables, cupboards, TVs, and desks. To create more zen, furnish your home with tables made from natural materials, such as oak and cedar.
Choose items with irregular, smooth shapes, creating better feng shui and an ideal environment for more zen.
10. Wrap Yourself In a Weighted Blanket
If you haven’t tried a weighted blanket before, you’re in for a treat. The blankets’ principle is to create deep pressure, which releases the “feel-good” chemicals serotonin and dopamine. Wrapping in one of these blankets makes you feel calmer and happier.
These blankets are sold in different weights. For example, a person weighing 132 to 165 pounds would benefit from a 15-pound blanket.
11. Himalayan Salt Lamp
Himalayan salt lamps clean and deodorize the air in your home. They can improve your mood, help you focus, and sleep better. The lamps are a soft orange color and radiate a pleasant sunset glow when switched on. They create a calm atmosphere to help you find your zen.
One downside of the lamp is that it’s a natural salt, which can leave a residue, so place something underneath it to protect your furniture.
12. Add Nature-Themed Wall Art To Your Home
Buy nature-themed wall art for your home, and you will feel more relaxed. Choose big, bold pictures with lots of natural colors and natural wood frames that blend with your home. For instance, artwork with poppies, sunflowers, or bright wildflowers makes you feel connected to nature.
Choose wall art that gives you pleasure and anticipate an increase in zen.
13. Try Chanting
From childhood, our parents and teachers tell us not to shout. Eventually, we become muted and afraid to connect to our natural voice. Chanting is a fantastic way to reconnect with your “self” and discover your hidden voice and inner zen.
Choose a form of chanting you enjoy, such as chakra chanting, which is a sequence of seven different chants.
14. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Do something every day that takes you out of your comfort zone, and you will experience a surge of energy and happiness. It’s too easy to become stuck in a routine. We get used to the monotony of daily life, and our thoughts and actions become stagnant.
If you want to boost your zen, be brave and take any opportunity to do something different.
15. Practice Minimalism
In the Western world, we have so much stuff we don’t need, which can clutter our minds. Go through every room in your home and get rid of items you no longer use. Give clothes you haven’t worn for a year to a charity. You might be surprised at the sense of clarity that minimalism gives you.
Create a zen environment by replacing clutter with a zen garden, water features, and natural plants.
