The holiday season can be a joyous time, filled with family, friends, and celebrations. However, it can also bring about stress and overwhelm with all the cooking, shopping, decorating, and social gatherings. To maintain balance and avoid burnout, it’s essential to carve out a space where you can relax, recharge, and step away from the hustle and bustle. A personal sanctuary, like a cozy corner of your living room or a nook by the window, can offer the peace you need during this busy time of year. Let’s explore how to create your own personal sanctuary at home, so you can escape the holiday chaos and find peace.
Choose the Right Space
Your sanctuary doesn’t need to be an entire room, but it should be a space where you can physically and mentally detach from the busyness around you. Look for a quiet corner in your home, perhaps near a window where natural light filters in, or a space that is somewhat isolated from the rest of the household. If possible, choose an area that’s away from high-traffic zones to limit interruptions.
Once you've identified the perfect spot, make sure the space feels comfortable and inviting. This might involve rearranging furniture, adding soft textures, or even adding partitions to create a sense of separation from the rest of the home.
Incorporate Soft Lighting
Lighting plays a significant role in setting the tone of a relaxing environment. Harsh overhead lights can be jarring and overstimulating, especially during the holiday season when there's so much going on. Opt for soft, warm lighting to create a calm and peaceful atmosphere.
String lights, candles (real or LED), or a dimmable lamp can all help to provide a gentle glow that soothes the mind. Try to avoid using bright, cold light bulbs, look for warm whites or even soft hues like amber. Candles can add both light and scent, creating an ambiance that invites relaxation and unwinding.
Add Calming Scents
The sense of smell is incredibly powerful when it comes to relaxation. Essential oils can be a great way to create a soothing environment in your sanctuary. Aromatherapy has been shown to reduce stress, calm the mind, and promote feelings of peace.
To create a tranquil atmosphere, consider using a diffuser with calming essential oils like lavender, chamomile, or eucalyptus. These scents have a calming effect and are known to reduce anxiety and improve sleep. If you prefer, light a calming candle with a gentle scent to infuse your space with tranquility.
If you’re not into essential oils, a bowl of dried lavender or rose petals can also add a delicate fragrance to your sanctuary. Just the presence of these calming scents can help lower stress and signal to your brain that it's time to unwind.
Include Comforting Textures
To make your sanctuary a true retreat, incorporate textures that encourage relaxation. Soft, tactile elements can invite you to slow down and enjoy the moment. Think of plush pillows, cozy blankets, and soft throws that you can drape over your favorite chair or lounge area.
A comfortable chair or cushion is essential for rest. If you don’t have an armchair, a soft floor cushion or meditation cushion can work just as well for creating a peaceful zone where you can relax or practice mindfulness.
Play Soothing Music
Another way to enhance the calming atmosphere of your sanctuary is through music. Soft, instrumental tunes or ambient sounds can help quiet the mind and provide a sense of calm. Create a playlist of your favorite relaxing music, or turn on a white noise machine or a nature sound app for calming background sounds like rain, ocean waves, or forest ambiance. Music is a powerful tool in shaping the emotional tone of a space. If you prefer silence, that’s perfectly fine too. Sometimes the best way to recharge is simply to sit in stillness.
Create a Ritual of Relaxation
Lastly, to truly make this sanctuary your own, consider developing a ritual that signals to your mind that it’s time to disconnect from the world. Whether it’s sipping a cup of tea, reading a book, meditating, journaling, or simply taking a few deep breaths, having a routine will help you step away from the chaos and enter your sanctuary with intention.
Take time every day to retreat to your peaceful space, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Your sanctuary doesn’t need to be a grand or elaborate affair—it’s about having a moment of peace in your day to restore and recharge.
Find Peace This Holiday Season
The holiday season doesn’t have to be synonymous with stress and burnout. By creating a personal sanctuary in your home, you give yourself permission to step away, relax, and recharge when the demands of the season become overwhelming. Whether you’re lighting candles, diffusing calming essential oils, or playing soothing music, your sanctuary can become your escape, a place where you can find rest amidst the chaos and rejuvenate your body and mind. Take the time to design this space, and you'll be amazed at how much peace it can bring into your holiday season.
Source: Alli Hoff Kosik (2022) 9 Ways to Create a Relaxing Sanctuary in Your Home
Source: Elizabeth Scott (2023) How to Make a More Peaceful Home
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