A HOME HAVEN

How to create your own self-care sanctuary 

Now more than ever, we're starting to understand the importance daily self-care can have on our physical and mental wellbeing. If you want to bring some more TLC into your daily routine, Margo Marrone — co-founder of all-natural skincare brand The Organic Pharmacy —shares her top tips on creating your very own self-care sanctuary at home.
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Self-care can mean different things to different people: whether it’s Pilates, journaling, or pampering yourself with your favourite skincare products, taking time for things that bring you joy can have a huge impact on your mental and physical health. Here's how to create dedicated sanctuary spaces in your home and make this daily self-care easier and more achievable. 

Emotional escape rooms

According to Pinterest Predicts, one of the biggest wellness trends to emerge in 2022 was the 'emotional escape room'. These designated spaces in our homes can be anything from a quiet, cosy reading nook, a small space for morning yoga, or a full-blown rage room: whatever feels like the best form of self-care to you. 

While not everyone has the luxury of a spare room to use for emotional escape, you can always isolate part of an existing room and create a space dedicated to unwinding and decompressing after a long day. For example, sectioning part of a room off with a divider or sheer curtain can give the feeling of a separate space without making any permanent, expensive changes. Having this physical separation can give you a better distinction between work and leisure time, which is especially important if you work or study from home and need a space to help you to switch off at the end of the day. 

Physical self-care
We all know the countless benefits that physical movement can have on our wellbeing, and so a great way to incorporate more self-care into your home life is to create a dedicated exercise space. You don't need a home gym to get a good workout in, either: a space big enough to roll out a yoga mat is often all you need. Whether you get into Pilates, HIIT workouts, or invest in a small set of weights, getting a good sweat in is one of the best ways to look after yourself.  

However, physical self-care can also come in the form of some pampering. Your bathroom might be the place where you feel most relaxed and the place you go to get away from it all, so in a way it may already be your emotional escape room. If so, why not treat yourself to some extra homeware items like scented candles, houseplants, and essential oil diffusers to create an extra relaxing, inviting atmosphere? 

Even something small like buying a new fluffy robe to wear when applying skincare or hair masks can help your bathroom feel like your own personal spa. Take the time at the end of each day to remove your makeup, take a soothing bath, and use your favourite beauty products, and you'll notice just how much difference it can have on the way you feel.

Mental self-care
Maintaining our emotional wellbeing is a lifelong process that often isn't made enough of a priority. However, we can't function well in our jobs, relationships, or anything else without taking time to nurture our mental health. It's therefore crucial to recognise what makes us feel better when we're stressed or anxious, and make more space for it in our busy schedules. This might be hobbies like painting, playing music, cooking, or simply spending time with your loved ones — whatever brings you a sense of calm and joy, try to create a space in your home with the right equipment that allows you to do it. 

For example, if you're a bookworm who loves enjoying a great novel, choose a quiet corner of your house with a comfortable chair (perhaps by a window for some fresh air and light) and make this the space where you settle down to read with a cup of herbal tea. Alternatively, if you find journaling an effective way of working through your thoughts and feelings, keep a dedicated notepad in this nook so you always have a specific place to turn when you feel overwhelmed.

Finding joy
Your home should be the place where you feel the most calm, relaxed, and content amid the chaos of everyday life. And while creating separate rooms or spaces in your house can be a great way to structure more self-care into your day, it's equally rewarding to find joy in the little things. Sometimes, these can bring us more happiness and contentment than we realise. 

For example, decorating your house with pieces of art or trinkets collected from special holidays or gifted by your loved ones can bring you joy simply by looking at them every day. Or, if you're a green thumb, growing a collection of flowers and houseplants can be a great way of bringing some of the great outdoors into your home. Watering, feeding, and repotting your favourite plants can be so therapeutic and they help to add colour and brightness to any room. 

Taking care of your mental and physical wellbeing has never been more important, so why not turn your home into your own personal self-care sanctuary? For more tips on health, wellbeing, and exercise, be sure to check out the articles on our blog.
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