There’s no denying that at times the modern world can be overwhelming. The pace of life has accelerated, there’s an urgency to doing everything, an increase in social pressures, technology overload and growing expectations from everyone, all of which when combined can make you feel like you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. When this feeling hits you, I bet I’m not the only one who would like to just hide under the duvet or seek out a life cut off from everything in a cabin in the woods?
Safe space
If these emotions resonate with you, perhaps it’s time you found yourself a safe space. A safe space is a physical or virtual environment where individuals feel secure, respected, and free to be themselves without fear of judgment, discrimination, or harm. It allows for emotional release, support, self-expression and a reduction in stress, which is crucial for mental well-being, calm, improved self-esteem, decision-making, growth and support.
A safe space does not have to be a physical location; it is a mental and emotional state that will allow you to be your authentic self, free from constant evaluation, comparison, and external noise. It can be your home, a certain room in your home, a support group, a counselling session, time spent with a good friend or colleague, or a website, app, forum, or an online chat.
Necessity not luxury
Whilst many people might see a safe space as an indulgence or a luxury, I disagree. A safe space to me is a necessity. It provides the security for my nervous system to move out of survival mode and into a state of calm, enabling me to process emotions and reconnect with my needs.
In recent months I have found myself in need of somewhere where I could feel secure and accepted; an accessible place to heal and rebuild. Up until a couple of weeks ago I had always thought that my safe space was my home. But with everything that has gone on recently, this is no longer the case and I need to make some urgent changes so that I have a place to rebuild my relationship with myself.
Create somewhere that nurtures your mental health
To make my home a safe space again I need to put in some effort to transform it. Over the next three months I have made this a priority. The main things that I will doing are:
- Decluttering – I need to organise and simplify my things, potentially keeping only those items that bring me joy or serve a purpose. Clearing physical messes makes mental space, allowing for more peace, better self-esteem, and positive habits, making it a powerful act of self-care.
- Deep cleaning – I must create a visually appealing and hygienic home to reduce stress, boost my mood via endorphins and dopamine, and create a sense of control. This will lead to clearer thinking and better sleep as studies show that clean environments lower stress levels and help alleviate depressive symptoms.
- Redecorating with colours that lift my mood. Soft, muted shades of blue and green are widely associated with nature and have been shown to lower blood pressure and heart rate, promoting calm and balance. Whilst warm neutrals and earth tones also work well to provide a sense of stability and grounding.
- Lighting – I will be improving the lighting to ensure calm and focus, which also should help to improve productivity, remove eye strain, foster a sense of well-being and reduce stress levels. Natural daylight will be maximised in the morning to boost my mood, whilst in the evening I will try to use warm, dimmable lighting to signal relaxation and improve sleep and rest.
- Create rituals and routines – I will be ensuring that I limit technology and distractions by setting boundaries to reduce any potential overwhelm caused by information overload via devices. In addition, I will also be undertaking regular mindfulness activities throughout the day to promote a sense of security, stability and calm.
Your home should be a safe space for wellbeing as its where you go when you feel overwhelmed because we see it as a place of refuge, safety, and comfort, where you can retreat from external stressors and find a sense of peace. For help and support to make your home your safe place, please get in touch today – debby@total-spectrum.com
