How to Create an Anti-Anxiety Retreat at Home:

Life can be very busy, overflowing with things to do and pull us in many demanding directions.

Having a physical space and intentional time at home to unwind and relax is essential to both our mental and physical wellbeing. Having a place in your home that is setup for you to retreat to and unwind can be a helpful step to decreasing anxiety in your life.

Here are some suggestions to get you started:

• Have calming paint colors on the walls such as blue, or neutral colors. This can create a restful state, even encourage sleepiness.

• Put away social media and take a technology break from screens to give yourself time to go inwards and check-in with how you are doing both physically and emotionally and take care of yourself and be kind to yourself. Practicing self-compassion as researched by Kristin Neff. For a helpful resource on self-compassion watch this video: https://youtu.be/IvtZBUSplr4?si=YFAXw79e2oaCZi0-

• Put on your coziest clothing, those flannel pj pants with your favourite thick soft socks or slippers, wrapping yourself in your weighted blanket.

• Decorate with live plants where you can bring a little piece of nature indoors.

• Declutter your retreat space to decrease stress and anxiety. Have routine small purging sessions of 15 minutes 2-3 times a week can be one strategy for staying on top of the clutter monster.

• Use of calming organic essential oils such as lavender.

• Create a calming instrumental playlist.

• Open blinds to allow natural light to filter into your space.

• Having comfy furniture to sit on or a yoga mat to lie down with a small pillow. 

• Pour yourself a warm cup of herbal tea or just cut up a lemon and pour the warm water over and ENJOY!