Make Your Own Tabletop Zen Garden

I have one corner of my office that I call my “Zen corner”. It’s got a few things that I find particularly grounding and relaxing like my little Budda statue and some flowing water over stones. If I feel myself starting to tense up, this is my go-to relaxation spot (you know, if I can’t sneak away to the spa).

I’d been wanting to add a Zen garden to my little collection, so when Chick-fil-A challenged me to find a way to upcycle one of their salad containers, a lightbulb went off. (We have no shortage of Chick-fil-A salad containers over here since their Cobb salad is one of my favorites.)

Putting together a cute Zen garden was pretty easy, so I thought I’d share the process here.

First, wash the container thoroughly. Let it dry completely.

Fill the bottom of the container with sand. You can use regular playground sand if you have some around. We are past the sandbox stage here so I bought some basic white decorating sand. If you are matching a specific decor, you can change up the color of the sand you use to something unique. You can even blend two or more colors for a cool effect.

Add a mini-rake, a stone with a inspirational word or phrase, or even a tea-light candle. Make the garden unique and personal to your own likes and beliefs.

When you are feeling tense or stressed, take a few minutes to rake the sand in your garden to resemble waves or ripples.

What is your favorite way to relieve stress?