Creating your HSP Cozy Corner

While part of creating your HSP Cozy Corner is about decluttering, you can also mindfully add items to your space to enhance your experience of relaxation.  For HSPs, engaging in the five senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell) can be both pleasant and calming.  Here are some ways to create a quiet, cozy space for yourself:

Sight

Most importantly, clear this room or corner of clutter.  If you have items that you’d like to keep in your space, consider storing them in a cute box or basket that reduces visual clutter.  If you enjoy certain colors, incorporate them into this space.  Adding art, candles, small sculptures, or nature elements into this space can be relaxing and grounding.  I keep some essential oils and other small items in these sweet & sturdy low baskets.  If you’re prone to visual overstimulation, adding an eye mask to your basket can be helpful.

Sound

Pull up a favorite playlist or a recording of nature sounds!  If you’re in the mood for quiet, or want to block ambient noise, I highly recommend these super comfy, high quality noise canceling headphones. If you prefer a less bulky option, Loop offers cute and effective noise reduction earplugs.  Bonus: If your kids are loud like mine, noise reduction earwear is perfect for wearing around the house!  Of course, make sure you can still hear them, but it’s okay to dampen the sound somewhat to reduce overstimulation.

Taste

This is the fun part! Did you know that you can use chocolate (or another candy of choice) to engage in a meditation? As you enjoy your chocolate, notice the bright colored wrapper, the smell, the sound of yourself biting into it, the texture of it melting on your tongue, and the bitter/sweet/creamy/salty taste. Really allow yourself to enjoy each sensory aspect of this experience. Also, too often parents forget to eat and are simply in need of a little snack. Feel free to grab a pouch or two of your favorite sweet or salty snack, but if you’re needing some inspiration, check out these award-winning small batch Sea Salt Caramels.

Touch

It’s time to get cozy - gather your favorite pillows and blankets! Including items like scented therapy dough or your fidget item of choice can also be helpful to release any pent-up energy when you’re looking to calm down. For me, there’s nothing better than a soft, sherpa-y weighted blanket when I’m feeling overwhelmed. Of course, a fluffy pet, favorite quilt, or even items just found around your home can work just as well!

Smell

If there are unpleasant odors in the area, consider giving it a clean, opening a window, or adding an air filter into the space.  One of my favorite ways to create calm is through using essential oils.  There are many reputable and wonderful essential oil companies out there, but my preference for high quality oils at a reasonable price is Eden’s Garden.  If you’re new to essential oils, try lavender for relaxation or orange for a mood/energy boost.  Of course, adding your favorite candle to the space can also create both a lovely smell and a beautiful source of calming light.

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!

Please note that the links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning that I earn a small commission if you purchase items through the link - no additional cost to you!

written by Amy Lajiness, HSP Parenthood Coach and Educator

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