Massages, facials and saunas can be wonder drugs for stress relief.

You might think that they are too indulgent, that you can shirk off your stress some other way. But realize that experts on stress management regard these measures highly, if only because they help bring the focus around to you and your needs. A bit of pampering is what you need to counteract stress and restore calm.

So if a trip to a resort spa or an appointment at a day spa isn’t in your budget or doesn’t fit into your busy calendar, what’s a stressed-out gal like you to do?

Through a bit of research, I found out a few secrets toward creating a home spa — an environment you can create in the bathroom or bedroom that comes fairly close to professionally managed spas and massage therapy studios. Maybe you won’t have someone waiting on you, but you are free to indulge in the sights, the feel and the scents of a relaxing room. Maybe you can even get your significant other involved.

One step toward creating a home spa is to have the supplies ready for a good soak and scrub in the bathtub. Find a salt scrub that you like the smell of and buy a long-handled body brush that you can use for exfoliation. This is not only good for your circulation, but it also helps eliminate toxins. After you shower off the scrub, apply your favorite body lotion and, if it’s the end of your day, put on a hotel-quality terrycloth bathrobe and relax.

Another good idea for treating yourself to a spa treatment at home is to study the benefits of various essential oils, then stop by a bath-and-body shop to purchase the vials that suit your needs.

“Home Spa,” a small book by aromatherapist Judith White, lists several essential oils and their uses. For anxiety and stress relief, she suggests oils of bergamot, chamomile, lavender, lemongrass and rosewood, among others. Follow directions on the bottle — you probably need just a few drops of oil in a vaporizer or in a warm bath.

White also recommends a simple pick-me-up of putting a few drops of oil in a half-full sink of warm water, then leaning over the basin for a few minutes with a towel over your head. Remember to breathe deeply, she says.

A third idea for a home spa treatment — also from White’s book — is to indulge in a 10-minute foot soak. Find the right basin to carry to a place where you can relax by reading, watching TV or playing a game on your phone. Use warm water and essential oils, of course.

Fourth, look for a facial mask product that is within your price range — something from a reputable cosmetics brand — and carve out a quiet evening when you can try it out. Many brands are comparable to what you would find in a professional spa. Also check out at-home facials using natural ingredients. I liked one that used pureed cucumber and parsley mixed with plain yogurt.

A last idea is to get your spouse or partner involved in giving you a massage; you’ll return the favor, right? Learn what works in the way of applying pressure, rubbing, kneading and striking with the fleshy part of your hands.

Here are a few more supplies to gather for your home spa: fluffy, resort-style towels; fresh cotton sheets; candles; water bottles; a pumice stone for exfoliating your feet; relaxing music on CDs or your iPod; and tools for a manicure and pedicure.

Stress relief is a necessity, not a luxury. Don’t feel guilty about escaping to your home spa. The operative word here is “pamper.”