How to Cultivate a Mindful Space – What Do You Need?

Have you been feeling a little stressed lately?

Research suggests that when we are under pressure and experience anxiety, our brain’s ability to think logically goes “offline” as a result of our bodies being wired to treat stress as a threat. You can imagine how this affects our mental well-being, performance, attitude and physical state both at home and at work.

Mindfulness by definition is, “the practice of maintaining a non-judgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis.” Seems simple enough, right?

Today, mindfulness is an essential aspect of the wellness culture which permeates modern society.

Gaining prevalence in recent years, psychological wellness is widely considered a significant element to a happy and joyful life, and hence the intricacies of mindfulness have come to be a playbook for anyone seeking to achieve their own state of peace.

Reinforcing the fundamentals of wellness begins with personal spaces — and there are simple means to use home decor to inspire mindfulness in everyday life — notably by embracing organised spaces and clean lines that provide less visual stimuli.

The best part about creating such a space is that there is no wrong way to do so. All that’s important is a little time and your good intentions. Below are ways to help inspire mindfulness at home.

Identify the purpose of your space

Looking to create a room for mindfulness in your home?

The first thing is to consider how you will be using your space.

Another crucial part is setting your intentions for that particular area. Different purposes require different attributes.

For instance, if you wish to create a meditation corner, you will simply require a small space with comfy cushions, greenery and perhaps a timer nearby. Once you set your intention, it is time to discover where you’ll be spending your time.

Find the perfect spot

Together with your Intention in mind, search around your home to find an ideal spot. If you want to create a meditation zone, you’ll want to find an area that’s quiet, that you can claim as yours and is free from disruption. For yoga, you might require a spacious room, possibly with a mirror.

Remember that the spot that you choose may require a bit of transformation and decorating. Some areas to consider for your personal space include:

• spare rooms
• quiet corners
• small patios/screened-In patio
• garden spaces
• a space in your backyard

Personalise your space

Make your space your own by personalising certain aspects of the area that are most important to you.

This doesn’t have to be one particular area, but the different rooms in your home that you enjoy spending time in.

Perhaps you may also wish to add fabrics, art pieces, cards from loved ones or other touchstones.

These are just a few elements you can incorporate to spark inspiration — what you do with your space is entirely up to you, and should reflect your personality and unique taste.

Set the ambience

Add a little ambience to your interior space by introducing organic candles, incense and oils into your room.

The sense of smell is one of the most primal senses. Your olfactory glands can transport you a different place and time.

Familiarity is a significant facet of a mindful home, and psychology today indicates that scent is one of the most effective tools for recalling memories. Whether you are looking to call upon reflections of home or even create your own, developing a signature scent for your indoor environment is a terrific way to get started.

Ensure every object has a purpose

An essential ideal of mindfulness is to ensure that each act, or in this case, each item in your home serves a purpose.

While impulse buying may be tempting when redecorating, consider the reasons why a piece of home decor speaks to you prior to making a purchase.

Buy new items sparingly: only when you’ve got a specific need for them or when you are sure they will contribute your home in a positive manner.

Conclusion

‘Creating a space for mindfulness in your home allows you to practice wellbeing in a way that reduces stress and leads you towards a more joyful and peaceful life. In planning that space we recommend you consider three key points;

1. Work out how you wish to practise mindfulness, so that it helps you find the perfect spot
2. Decorate it in a personal way that helps you to switch off from distractions
3. Create the mindful mood with scent and decor

All that’s left to do after that is dedicate some time each day to use your space to recharge.’