Stress can come from all different places, which makes it hard to address when you don’t have time to slow down and reflect. From emotional turmoil to relationship problems and even conflict at work, stress can bubble up anywhere. If you don’t have behaviors or tactics to rely on when things get rough, it can completely take over.
That’s why the most peaceful people who never seem stressed usually keep certain items and things within reach at home. They build a safe space for themselves that serves a purpose, even when nothing goes right during the day.
People who never seem stressed tend to keep these things within reach at home:
1. Natural light
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Even when everything else goes wrong, access to natural light can improve our mood and benefit our mental health. Whether that’s open windows paired with fresh air and greenery, or a porch that someone can step out onto after a long day, these are the simple things peaceful people always have within reach.
Regardless of whether or not they have access to huge windows or a porch, being able to appreciate natural light and the earth is still a stable part of a healthy person’s routine. They make space for it, even if it means stopping at a park on the way home or building their own little space with greenery inside.
2. A journal or notebook
When you have a space outside of your mind to “dump” anything and everything that’s not serving you, like a journal, you always have a way to relieve stress. That’s why stress-free people always have a pen and a notebook nearby.
When they’re performing or trying to solve every emotion they write down, these kinds of relieving hobbies are essential to their well-being.
3. Self-care tools
While these look different for everyone, having some material things around for self-care at home is essential to crafting peacefulness. Everything might go wrong at work or outside of the house, but when you have an outlet for energizing and investing in yourself, stress relief is accessible.
For some, it’s face masks and cosmetic tools. For others, it’s creative supplies or plants to care for. Regardless of what these things are, they all serve the same purpose: self-love and care.
4. Comfort movies and media
When a specific movie or TV show is associated with nostalgia or comfort, it can bring an element of control and predictability to people experiencing stress. That’s why the most peaceful people keep this media within reach, so they have an instant form of comfort, even if they can’t form it themselves.
It’s a temporary escape to a safer, more predictable place. What more could you ask for after a hard day?
5. Their favorite beverages
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From decaf coffee at night to a basket of herbal tea they can find joy shuffling through, the least stressed people always have their favorite things on hand. It’s a cue. When they brew the coffee or turn the kettle on, it reminds their brain that they’re safe and provides a bit of comfort.
Over time, specifically consuming herbal tea can actually lower stress levels in the body. So, if it becomes a part of their daily routine, rather than just a small habit for comfort every once in a while.
6. Family photos
Even if it’s chosen family photos, like a framed picture with friends or a photobooth strip with a partner, the happiest, least stressed people almost always have photos of the people and things they love around at home.
Stress can sometimes feel isolating and bring up feelings of loneliness. Even the most well-connected and supported people need the occasional reminder that they’re loved. That’s exactly what framed photos of family and friends offer.
7. A book they’re interested in
Reading books is a great hobby, especially for people who build up a ton of underlying anxiety and stress from working with a screen all day or doomscrolling too often on their phones. Instead of relying on mindless entertainment when they need a break, they can lose themselves in a book that actually relieves their stress.
Rather than forcing comparison or making people feel the complicated distress of social media, books offer an escape in a healthy way.
8. A creative hobby
Whether it’s needlepoint or painting, or even a jigsaw puzzle, the people with the smallest amounts of stress at home always have a creative outlet within reach. As experts from the University of Arizona explain, just 45 minutes of exercising creativity a day can seriously reduce people’s cortisol and stress levels.
Even if it’s not something they do specifically for stress relief or general wellness, people who make space for creativity live much more beautiful, fulfilling lives because of it.
9. A space for mindful movement
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People who have a corner of their bedroom free or a yoga mat they don’t have to dig around for are often more empowered to indulge in mindful movement at home. They can stretch and ground themselves on the floor, and do yoga or exercise in whatever way works for their bodies and minds at any given moment.
They’re not moving because it feels like an obligation, but because it’s something they get to do. They do what feels good and right. They move for the sake of unwinding the day, and they’re better off because of it.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor’s degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
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