Creating a Space for YOU – A Home Sanctuary
Whether you are creating a journaling habit, a meditation practice, or just reading a book for pure pleasure, having a perfect space to do that is important.
Yes, while traveling, we do it on the fly (and even in flight), but I want you to create that space at home for you. Even in a tiny apartment with pets and kids, I promise you can do this.
Yes, I dream of having a library room to myself, and it WILL happen someday, but currently my home is filled with teenagers, a preschooler, a husband who works at home, 3 cats, a rabbit larger than the cats, and 2 guinea pigs. It is a bit intense. And my corner of the world I try to carve out – changes rapidly.
Where’s your Home Sanctuary?
What chair or desk space is best for you? I do most of my typing on the computer when I’m at a coffee shop since home is, well, chaotic at best. While my husband is working from home, I can’t do it in the office space, so a laptop on the coffee table, dining table or my lap isn’t my cup of tea. But maybe in your space it is!
While free-writing and journaling, meditating, and pleasure reading, I do have a few spaces in my home depending on my mood.
One is the Super comfy glider I couldn’t seem to give up after my kids got older. It’s stained, grubby, but soft and cozy and my back doesn’t hurt when I’m sitting there for extended amounts of time. If you know of a good reupholster in the Seattle or North Sound area, please let me know!
I also have a huge bean bag chair in my bedroom that is my sanctuary. To be perfectly honest, this is where all my zoom meetings for work and courses happen. And that works for me.
I have a meditation cushion when I’m feeling really hippie that I can toss anywhere – even the bathroom floor, to escape and have my moment. With my preschool aged child, I get creative and have my glider just outside the master bathroom in my bedroom where I can have “eyes on the kiddo” while he’s playing in the shower or tub, and I can have A moment of some peace in my home sanctuary. Take the time when you can get it! For me, it is worth the slightly higher water bill.
My bed is another spot that I have as a home sanctuary. I use a huge triangle cushion against my back, grab a cozy blanket and that’s where my morning practice always starts. I hesitate to say this, but I’m a bit spoiled and my husband brings me an espresso he makes, and my breakfast to my bed in the mornings or in the afternoons after night shift. With coffee in hand, I open my latest book, journal a bit and or listen to a mediation.
The bathtub is also a wonderful space to create an area just for you. It won’t work for everything, but if you have a tub, you should absolutely make that space a sanctuary for reading, mediation or just to relax and breathe.
What will your home sanctuary look like?
Now that you’ve got an area in your home scoped out (or maybe 2-3!) to create your home sanctuary, grab a notebook and start exploring the answers to these questions based on your life right now:
1. Where to land your butt:
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do you have a favorite chair, couch, and yes your bed, as long as you have the back support pillow like I do if your bed board isn’t comfy for this (mine is wrought iron, so yeah, nope).
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what’s the space look like? Can it be quiet? At least for a moment ?
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2. Timing:
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- When can you carve out the time?
- Is it by waking up early before the rest of the house?
- Is it right after kids go to school?
- After work? In the school pick up line?
- Evening while the fam watches a movie?
- Late at night if you are a night owl?
For most people it is vital to find that exact time and stick with it or it won’t happen. However, there are exceptions to every rule. I’m a night shifter that bounces back to day walker living between shifts and “Me time”has to be flexible- but regardless of when you choose, start putting it into the calendar around your life and see what works. One of my pet peeves is the theory thrown around that if you don’t do a morning routine than your whole day is off. My “morning” could be 3pm when I wake after a night shift. So screw the rules and see what works for you. Then, and only then, will you actually follow a routine and utilize (and enjoy!) your home sanctuary.
Making that corner you’ve chosen ideal for your purpose.
3. Ideas to put into your home sanctuary:
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A nightstand or small table
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pens, colored pens, pencils
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A Candle and matches/lighter
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Chapstick, hand lotion
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Good lighting – via lamp or overhead light
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Hand lotion, nail clippers, chap stick
- Do you like crystals? Pick one that has the qualities you want in this home sanctuary – such as amethyst for healing & calm, selenite for peace & clarity, black tourmaline to repel bad energy, rose quartz for calmness & love. Whatever you are drawn to, is likely the energy you need.
- Religious? Then a cross, buddha, rosary, or a prayer candle might be what you’ll want to add
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Ear buds – to block out peripheral noise or to put good music to focus with
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Sticky notes, index cards, anything to write a list on
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Cozy wrap or blanket
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4. A bag of essentials:
Take the essence of your home sanctuary on the go – to the coffee shop, into the car while waiting for kids at the school, to bring to work, or travel. This bag is important so that you can bring self-care with you throughout the house and when out and about. My bag always has the following:
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Books I’m currently reading
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Most of the items in #3 (without the candle and lamp- unless you want to carry around Mary Poppin’s bag)
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Neckwrap Book Light – great for planes and hotel rooms when others are sleeping and you having your self-care moments
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Oracle Card deck – for inspiration with mediation, journaling
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Exercise band – working on getting rid of the upper arm flapping effect
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Magazine – either a travel magazine for me or ParentMap, (a Seattle based magazine with ideas of things to do in my area).
- A Travel book – assuming I’m plotting my next trip, or actually on said trip, I bring this with me
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My Laptop and charger – if and only if I’m in work mode and want that with me. I don’t carry that weight around everywhere.
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Pro Tip:
A Home Sanctuary is best if you make it a ritual with a cup of coffee, a favorite tea, or a crisp glass of water. I won’t even judge if wine is your drink of choice to start with (as long as it’s red wine of course). Once you start with the cup of whatever in your hand, the scent of the tea for example, will trigger your brain that this is time for you. It will help aid in getting your mindset ready for meditation, journaling etc.
More on how to journal, ideas for mediation in future posts. Stay tuned! What do you plan on putting into your home sanctuary?
(Photos in this post are courtesy of the talented Demri @ https://ohsia.demrirayanne.co/ )
Carla Reese
1 comment
GREG
You look Fab, the pics look fab. Way to go Carla