Organization Tips for Stress Relief Week 2: Meditation or Self-Reflection Space

This month I am discussing why it is necessary to de-clutter and clean up your spaces as well as how to create more spaces that support you within your home. This is a great time to create and maintain regular stress management practices in your life and de-cluttering is one of them. When you can clean up your space and create a place conducive to the energy you would rather have in your life, you will find that you enjoy life more and have more time to enjoy life.

I don’t know about you, but I was urged to purge this new year and have loved being able to clean, toss and organize my spaces since January 1st. One of the spaces I love to create in my home is a place where I can go to meditate, read a book, journal or just sit and sip my tea or coffee in peace and quiet.

Why is this important and how can it help your stress levels?

Too much clutter can equal too much chaos in your mind and can make you feel like you are spinning in a million directions. When you can organize your spaces you will create a space of certainty and stability where you can relax, recalibrate and thus be able focus and produce better, and who doesn’t want to produce better in the new year?

Creating a self-reflection or meditation space is a great way to incorporate peace and calm into your life every day. It is that little space you can run to and “hide” if you need take a moment to gather your wits, take some deep breaths and reconnect with yourself and the present moment.

The best part, you don’t need a lot of space. In fact, you could “hide” this space in plain daylight by having it be a comfy chair tucked in a corner that faces a window. If you would like to add more spirituality and “me time” into your life this year, take time to create a space that invites you do this every day. When you create your sanctuary, you will be encouraged to keep up your meditation, prayer or “me time” each day to help soothe your soul.

Having a dedicated space that you go to each day will help your mind settle down faster and stay focused on your quiet time. The more you meditate in this space or use it for your journaling, prayer, breath work, coloring or listening to calm music or uplifting podcasts, you will infuse the area with some amazing calm energy.

The first thing you want to do to create this space for yourself, is to think of a place in your home that you already feel peaceful and at ease. Choose a room that you feel most relaxed in and uninterrupted. Is there a space within this room where you could place a comfortable chair, ottoman, pillows, yoga mat or meditation bolster? Are the colors of the room pleasing and calm? Do you need to paint or re-arrange some things? You want to make sure this space has been de-cluttered first so that you are able to work with clean energy in the room. Choose soothing colors like earth tones or chalky white with only a few accessories in natural materials like wood, metal or plants. Work with what is pleasing to your eye and your heart. Make sure you have space to keep a blanket or two, some candles or a vase with live flowers or a live plant nearby. Think soft, comfy, cozy and bring them into your space. You can store them in a wicker basket or in a cupboard to be pulled out when needed so that your space is clutter free when you are not using it.

Look at the lighting in your space. I, personally love natural sunlight, but if you are in a space that doesn’t receive a lot of light you can use low lighting or candles. If you are an early riser, choose a space where you can see the sunrise, or if you prefer an afternoon to evening reset, choose a space where you can see the sunset. You can also include incense, aromatherapy oils or smudge sticks to help ward away bad energy you may have picked up throughout your day. Sage or palo santo are amazing at cleaning the energy in your space. I use it whenever someone visits that has had a hard day or brought in some of their worry, anxiety or chaos into my space. The moment they leave I light my sage and walk around my house to clean the air. Certain aromatherapy will help in calming your central nervous system and create happy neurotransmitter usage. These essential oils help ground you: Sandalwood, Patchouli, Vetiver and Frankincense. These essential oils will calm your mind: Frankincense, Lavender, Bergamot, Ylang Ylang, Chamomile and Sandalwood. These essential oils will boost your happy meter: Grapefruit, Lemon, Bergamot, Frankincense, Night Blooming Jasmine and Ylang Ylang.

Make it a ritual to arrive at your space, light a candle or use some essential oils, sit comfortably and turn your attention inward. The small act of preparing your space will help your mind and body get ready to calm down as well as offer you a bit of self-love at the same time.

Make sure your space is able to become quiet and serene for at least 20 minutes every day. If you live in an area where there is a lot of background noise, or you know your kids will be around, make sure you can close yourself off from them and put on some soothing music to diffuse the distractions. The other option is to go to this space before your family wakes up or before they are home for the evening. You can also use this space after the kids have gone to bed so that you can get a deeper night’s sleep.

Don’t be afraid to try things out until you find what works for you. You want that space to be your safe place where you can find peace, serenity and harmony. It should allow you to be able to connect deeply with yourself and your needs. When you are seated in your space, close your eyes and reflect on it…what does it need to better support you? What could you take away so that it isn’t so cluttered? What do you cherish about this space?

I am excited to hear what you create in your home. Send me pictures and let me know what you have made for yourself.