A Gift I Gave Myself This Year: A Sauna in My Office

melinda4756
Dec 28, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Finding warmth, pause, and care during the workday.

This year, I bought myself a gift. A sauna that now lives in my office.

I have Raynaud’s, which affects circulation and makes staying warm a challenge for me. My office is a converted porch, and even after updating the heat, using space heaters, and keeping an electric blanket nearby, I still spend much of the day cold.

That constant chill led me to rethink how I care for myself during the workday.

Buying a sauna might sound a bit indulgent, but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about finding a warm pause in the middle of busy days where I can step away from screens, warm my body and give my nervous system a chance to reset without leaving the space where I work.

What Kind of Sauna It Is

It’s a far infrared sauna, which means it gently heats the body using infrared light rather than heating the air around you which is how traditional saunas work. Mine also includes red light and other light therapy options, which I appreciate for its skin and circulation benefits. The warmth feels steady and supportive, not too intense, which makes it easy to stay in it for longer periods.

What the Research Says

Recently, Forbes published an overview of sauna use and its potential benefits, including improved circulation, relaxation, sleep support, reduced inflammation and cardiovascular health. It notes that regular sauna use creates physiological responses similar to moderate exercise, such as increased heart rate and blood vessel dilation, which may help support heart and brain health over time.

Infrared saunas have been associated with muscle relaxation, joint comfort, stress reduction, and improved recovery, making them great for wellness. For me, the research reinforces what I notice most in my own body. When I am warm, everything works better.

How I Use It

My sauna time looks different depending on the day. Sometimes I listen to music. Sometimes I follow a guided meditation from Calm. Other times I simply sit quietly and let my body warm, my breath slow, and my thoughts settle.It has become a ritual that helps me transition between work blocks, especially during colder months.