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Dream Home Digest A SILENT THREAT HOW JOB STRESS CAN DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH
Stonewood WATKINSVILLE, GA Summerville ATHENS, GA Yellowstone Farm CUMMING, GA
Many professionals brush aside self-care as something to pay attention to on vacation, but self-care is not a luxury, especially for people in high-stress occupations. Suppose you are dealing with heavy workloads, emotional strain, and unpredictable demands at work. In that case, the physiological and psychological effects
Also, regular exercise and sleep are powerful allies against stress. Your body needs at least 150 minutes of exercise every week and 7–9 hours of sleep every night. Take care of your body, and it will perform better for you, mentally and physically! TAMING THE MIND Many people find mindfulness training helpful in easing psychological strain on the job. Meditation, deep breathing, and journaling have been shown in peer- reviewed research to lower levels of stress hormones in the body. Setting aside 5–10 minutes daily to engage in mindfulness exercises can help you distance yourself from problems or emotional strain. The key is to quiet your thoughts, pay close attention to what your senses perceive, breathe slowly and deeply, and notice where your thoughts go. Whenever they wander away into worry about the past or future, gently bring them back to the present moment. The bonus: The inner calm you cultivate will probably help you think more clearly at work. The coaching materials provided by Jon Kabat-Zinn, a leading teacher on the topic, are excellent. Among mindfulness apps, Headspace, a subscription app, offers structured, guided meditations, and Insight Timer serves up an extensive library of free guided meditations. Perhaps most important of all, make time for pursuits that make you happy! This means tending to important relationships with your spouse, partner, family, or friends. Hobbies or other leisure pursuits, such as painting, hiking, or listening to music, can also lighten your mood. The payoff may exceed your expectations: Nurturing personal interests outside of work can help you maintain the sense of balance and perspective that leads to a healthier, more satisfying life!
can seriously damage your job performance, personal relationships, and health over time. Workers in law, nursing, teaching, mental health care, police or corrections work, or any job requiring heavy performance or competitive pressure, can benefit from these proven stress-management strategies. HEALTHY BOUNDARIES Leaving work at work and focusing on other things is a mental skill that requires practice. But it’s also essential to reverse the body’s natural responses to intense strain, including releasing adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones elevate your heart rate and blood pressure and suppress your immune, digestive, and reproductive systems. This fight-or-flight response is appropriate if you are fleeing a genuine threat (like saber-toothed tigers that preyed on our ancestors). But if you don’t
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relax after work and allow your system to return to normal, that revved-up state can become a chronic condition, triggering symptoms including headaches, digestive problems, hypertension, or a heart attack. Learning to say no to overload at work and taking regular time off can help you maintain a healthy psychological distance. Creating a temporal or physical boundary between work and home is another useful strategy. Some people listen to music or read during a commute, or walk or bicycle home through a park or other natural setting. Others stop at the gym. Even if you work from a home office, try to confine work to a separate room, close up your desk, or block off your home office with a folding screen or partition.
678-252-2525 SRHomes.com December 2025
–The SR Homes Team
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Brighten Up With DIY Fixtures
Custom Lighting Without the Cost
Lighting is one of those things that can completely change the feel of a room. Add a lamp to a dark corner or a warmer bulb to a living room pendant, and you’ve suddenly made the space feel more open and inviting. And it’s not just the type of bulb that matters. Lighting fixtures also add to the look and feel of your space. In fact, they’re often what people notice first. If you’re looking for an update, you don’t need to spend a fortune or hire an electrician to make it happen. DIY upgrades can go a long way.
How about making your own floor lamp? It might sound complicated, but it’s not. All the materials you need, a base, shade, socket, and wiring kit, are readily available and can be combined to make something unique. Personalizing the base or lampshade to fit your style adds character. And remember, it doesn’t have to look brand-new. Half the charm is the rough edges. You can also create DIY table lamps. All kinds of items can be upcycled to make the base, including an old vase or jar. Just make sure it’s heavy enough to stay upright. You can wrap the base in fabric or give it a fresh coat of paint if it needs extra personality. Then, drill a hole for the cord, install the socket, and add the shade. If you want to go bigger, try a wall fixture or ceiling light. Mount a couple of sockets on a stained wood board and hang it like a sconce. Or take something unexpected, like a metal basket or ceramic bowl, and turn it into a pendant light. It just takes a light canopy kit and a little patience.
None of this has to be perfect. That’s kind of the fun. You’re working with your hands and putting a bit of yourself into the space. And when you flip that switch and see what you built to brighten your room, there’s a satisfaction in knowing you made it happen. Don’t Overlook What You Look Through SIGNS IT’S TIME TO UPGRADE YOUR WINDOWS
Most of us give our windows little thought until something goes wrong. Maybe one refuses to open, lets in drafts, or fogs up without warning. Sometimes, these issues can be fixed. But often, they are signs it’s time for a replacement. Our comfort and efficiency take a hit when windows aren’t working right. That’s why it pays to know the warning signs. If opening and closing your window is a struggle, that’s a red flag. You shouldn’t need to force it or use a prop to keep it open. In these cases, moisture has caused the frame to swell or warp. Older wooden frames are especially vulnerable to this damage, and once decay sets in, it tends to spread. Leaks and drafts are another giveaway. Hold a lit candle near the window’s edges. A flickering flame means air is sneaking in. That can be
uncomfortable and expensive. It can also mean more outside noise. If road traffic sounds louder than it used to, your windows might be the problem. Swapping single-pane windows for modern double-pane ones helps reduce noise and improve efficiency. If your windows look foggy between the panes, the seal has failed. That means any insulating gas has leaked out, and your windows aren’t doing their job. This kind of wear and tear happens gradually, but the result is often higher utility costs over time. Older windows also let in more harmful UV rays, which can fade carpets, furniture, and curtains. And from the outside, warped or outdated windows can make your home look a little run-down.
the reason. Upgrading to energy-efficient models could trim heating and cooling costs by up to 30%. It might even earn you a tax credit. Good windows make a quiet, comfortable, and efficient home. They don’t always shout when they stop working, but they do whisper.
Look at your energy bills. If they’re climbing and nothing else has changed, your windows might be
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Ever notice how some spaces feel better than others? You can walk into a room and instantly feel more relaxed, even if it’s unclear why. It turns out that a room’s shape might have more to do with that than the furniture inside. Lately, curved architecture is trending in residential home design, and one of the main reasons is the positive shift in mood these curves bring to a space. Studies show that people prefer curves and rounded edges to hard angles. It makes sense when you think about it. Nature is full of curves. You see them everywhere: tree canopies, rolling hills, river stones, and even our bodies. Familiar forms put our minds at ease. Some research links curved spaces to reduced stress, a feeling of safety, and a boost in mood. In home design, curves promote good flow and soften transitions between spaces. And builders today have more ways to bring rounded elements into a home. CNC machines, 3D printers, and new drywall framing systems make creating soft-edged interior spaces and design elements easier and more affordable. But you don’t have to renovate your house to bring in the curve. You can ease into it. HOME DESIGN THAT FLOWS The Power of the Curve
flow of a room changes. If you are remodeling, consider an arched pass-through between the kitchen and dining room or a rounded edge on the kitchen island. Built-ins with curved shelving or banquette seating can soften a space without taking over the entire layout. What matters most is how your eye travels. Curves can guide you through a room, and simply adding a few to your home’s layout can change how it looks and feels. That’s a design choice we can all get behind.
A round mirror in the hallway changes the way light bounces. A lamp with a soft arc can pull a corner together. Swap out a square coffee table for a circular one, and suddenly the
NEW YEAR’S KISS COCKTAIL
Nothing is more rewarding than helping a loved one find a place they can comfortably call home. We love building communities for families and individuals to plant their roots and thrive. Over the years, many homeowners have been referred to us by their friends, family members, and neighbors. If you know someone ready to take the next step toward their dream home, connect them to us through the Give Back Referral Program. Your efforts help us create happy neighborhoods and allow us to support Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Together, we can build a better future, one home at a time. Make a Referral, Make a Difference
This vibrant and citrusy cocktail has a bubbly finish, making it perfect for toasts, parties, or any night that calls for a little sparkle.
Ingredients
• Lemon wedges • Sugar • Ice • 3 oz vodka • 1 oz blue curacao
• 2 tsp lemon juice • 6 oz champagne or sparkling Moscato • 2 maraschino cherries
Ingredients
1. Rub the rims of 2 champagne flutes with a lemon wedge and dip in sugar to coat. 2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add vodka, blue curacao, and lemon juice. 3. Shake until chilled, then strain into prepared flutes. 4. Top with champagne or sparkling Moscato. 5. Drop a maraschino cherry into each glass and serve immediately.
Inspired by RestlessChipotle.com
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Inside This Issue 1 Your Health at Work: Keep Job Stress From Taking a Toll
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Lighting With a Personal Touch
When Your Windows Send a Warning
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A Softer Approach to Modern Living
New Year’s Kiss Cocktail
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Make Your Bed Feel Luxurious
There’s nothing like climbing into a comfortable bed after a long day, but if your bed feels flat or not quite right, it can make falling and staying asleep difficult. The good news is that a few small changes can make a big difference, and you don’t need to spend a fortune or redo your bedroom. You can get that soft, hotel-bed feel by focusing on comfort, one layer at a time. Your mattress is the best place to start. If it’s too firm or starting to sag, a mattress topper can help. Look for something with a bit of cushioning. Memory foam or down alternative toppers are easy to find and can instantly improve how your bed feels. Once that’s in place, focus on your sheets. Breathable cotton or linen sheets that feel good against your skin can completely change how you sleep. And after a few washes, they soften even more. From there, build up the layers. A light quilt or comforter works well for everyday use, but adding a heavier blanket gives the bed a more grounded, cozy feel. Fold it across the foot of the bed or keep it within reach if you get cold at night. Of course, pillows are another
Layering for Comfort EASY TIPS TO BUILD A BETTER BED
key piece. Use two for sleeping and add one or two for lounging. Choose fills that match how you sleep, whether you prefer firm support or something softer. Texture also matters more than people think. A knit throw or velvet pillow can warm up the look and feel of the whole space, as can soft lighting and a bedside table. When your bed looks and feels comfortable, you’re more likely to use it to rest, not just crash. And once you have it right, it’s hard to settle for anything less.
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