A Room of One’s Own

Early on in my experience as an HSP, I began to notice that my anxiety and stress levels increased when my home was cluttered or chaotic.  At first, I wrote this desire off as “snobby” or “nitpicky,” but as I came across research that confirmed that cluttered spaces had a measurable impact on anxiety levels, I began taking my desire for a decluttered space more seriously.

Highly Sensitive people tend to be very attuned to their environment and are aware of subtle stimuli (unpleasant smells, dusty floors, piles of papers) that non-HSPs might not notice at all.  While our awareness of subtle stimuli is also an HSP superpower - we deeply enjoy aesthetic beauty, delicious tastes and smells, etc - it can be very difficult to manage in a home with babies or young children. 

When we are surrounded by “baby detritus” (bottles, diapers, toys, and other gear), our home can suddenly become cluttered and overstimulating.  This is not just visual, either!  We’re talking stinky diapers, loud and bulky baby toys, and cries or babble that can be overstimulating.  Suddenly our home, that place that is supposed to be a fortress of calm and coziness, can become the very source of our overstimulation and stress.  When we as parents are stressed, it becomes more difficult to attend to our own needs, as well as those of our children.

One simple and powerful way that HSP Parents can nourish themselves is to create a “room of one’s own,” or even just a “cozy corner” that is clutter-free, quiet, and calming.  This space could look and feel different depending on your preferences and living situation, but it serves as a place to retreat to when you are feeling overwhelmed by a cluttered or chaotic environment.  I’ll give specific pointers on how to create or refine this space in next week’s blog post, but for now, I just want to say to you: How your home feels to you is important.  You deserve to have a space where you can curl up, relax, and recharge.  Let’s make it happen!

Are you inspired to create your own cozy corner yet?  Let us know in the comments about what you’re planning to include in your space, and don’t forget to return after you’ve begun to enjoy your cozy corner so you can let us know how it feels for you!

written by Amy Lajiness, HSP Parenthood Coach and Educator