Your days are likely hectic and noisy. There are demands on you that weigh you down. It can be easy to fall into the trap of feeling overwhelmed.
Two days ago in our 31 Days Towards the Life You Want series, I wrote about finding what energizes you and infusing it into your life. By creating a refuge you can go to in your own home, you can further recharge and escape from some of the stress of the day.
Choose one space that you feel would work best for you. I suggest that it be somewhere that has a door you can close if you still have young kids living at home. If your children are older and you love natural light, you may want to choose the living room or dining room or even a porch so that you can have a brighter area.
Begin creating that one space into a refuge of sorts for you. Add things that you love. You don’t need to spend a lot of money doing this. You can buy candles, plants, artwork, throw pillows, and blankets at thrift stores, garage sales or trade with friends. If you love music, add a CD player, docking station, or if your budget allows, even a built-in sound system.
This room should be about what makes you feel at peace. For some, that might mean soothing music, a Bible and a cup of tea snuggled on an oversized chair under a comfy blanket with a view of the backyard. For others, it might mean an art studio where they can create uninterrupted. For me, it means a bubble bath, candles, quiet, and a good book.
Last year, we had to redo our master bathroom because it had black mould and the skylight had leaked and the toilet had stopped flushing. Basically, it wasn’t usable anymore. Since we were renovating it anyway, we decided to make it into an oasis for the two of us in our otherwise chaotic home. We chose things that we loved and made it into exactly what we wanted. We even instituted a “no kids allowed” policy (that doesn’t get enforced as strictly as it should!).
Our bathroom is somewhere I can go at the end of a long day, close the door, turn the lights low (we installed a dimmer switch for this reason), run a bath, and escape into a good book. It’s the one place in our often cluttered home that I can walk into and breathe. (I make sure to always keep that room clean.) I think that room is especially peaceful for me because it is such a drastic change from the way it was before the renovation and because it’s so beautiful and new compared to the rest of our home.
Having a place to escape to in your home is a wonderful thing! Even when you’re not in that place, just knowing it is there for later will help you in those difficult moments that arise during a day. Another suggestion I have is to guard your refuge. Set boundaries (such as no kids or no kids while you are having your alone time) and stick to those rules.
If you’re looking for decor ideas, Pinterest is a great place to find them!
Join us this month as I share ways to help you move towards the life you want to live. Join me in the challenge. Ready to jump off the cliff?