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There is no denying it—when you have a family to care for, and a home to run, life can feel pretty hectic. That’s why this year  I’ve made it my personal goal to slow down and be more present.  It’s not as easy as it sounds, especially when you are used to running from one task to another like a headless chook! It certainly takes practice to approach everyday activities with more mindfulness but I’m starting to get the hang of it and feel the benefits.

As a parent who works from home, I spend a lot of time surrounded by the same four walls. So, it’s really important to me that my home is not only functional, but is also a space where I feel comfortable, safe and can nurture my own needs as well as my family’s. You can’t give from an empty bucket, right?

4 Ways I Make Time for Me

I’m finding that approaching daily tasks in a more mindful way is really helping me to find more pleasure in the little things. Instead of performing things in a habitual way on autopilot, I now try to view things as self-care rituals. See, it sounds better already, doesn’t it?

A really powerful way to reinforce daily habits is to interior-scape your home. Not only can pieces of furniture, décor or other accessories help as a visual reminder to do the activity, they can also help to give the process a lovely ritualistic feel too. For example, if your goal is to meditate every day, setting up a special space in your home with a  comfortable meditation cushion and a scented candle might mean  that you’ll remember and enjoy meditating more regularly. 

Here’s how I have interior-scaped my home so that I can make the most of ‘me’ moments.

Wash the Day Away

As far as I’m concerned there is nothing better at the end of a long, busy day than soaking in a bathtub of warm, soapy suds and Epsom salts. Bliss! It’s time just for me, to unwind and wash the day away, and in my mind I’m not in ‘my bathroom,’ I’m in my home spa! 

Giving your bath time a more luxe feel is easy! Just swap out your usual shower pouf for this gorgeous DVÄRGHYACINT scrub belt in natural, durable jute and replace your cotton makeup remover pads for these ÅKERRÄTTIKA reusable cleansing pads for an at-home spa experience. 

Get Enough Vitamin D

Being home a lot and working in my office during the day means that I really have to be conscious  of getting my daily dose of vitamin D. Seasonal affective disorder is totally a thing – and I know if I don’t see enough sun my mood can drop considerably. So, instead of eating my lunch at my desk, I now close my laptop and head out to eat my lunch outside. The 30-minute brain-break also means that I’m more productive in the afternoon than I’d be if I just worked through my lunch.

Creating an alfresco area where you can enjoy lazy weekend breakfasts and weekday lunch breaks needn’t cost a small fortune. I love this NÄMMARÖ table and folding chairs for a modern, chilled out vibe. Add in this limited edition VARMBLIXT frosted glass tray from IKEA and these super cute STORHET champagne glasses, and the space is perfect for date night, or drinks with a friend.

Guilt-Free Napping

My day typically starts with a gym class at 5.30am, followed by a shower to freshen up, and then I start work at 7am. So, by the time 2.30pm rolls around, some days I’m ready to recharge my batteries with a quick power nap before my kids get home from school. I pop on my meditation headband headphones, snuggle on the lounge under a warm blanket and snooze for around 30 minutes. I used to fight this urge or feel guilty, but by gifting myself this time to nap I’m more alert, productive and generally a nicer human to be around for the rest of the afternoon and evening. 

Create the perfect space in your home to curl up for an mid-afternoon nap with a HUMLEMOTT throw, a STARKVIND table with air purifier, a  SOLSKUR LED table lamp and a KLUBBSPORRE ergonomic pillow from IKEA.

Reading in Bed

Like many people, I tend to doom-scroll on my phone in the evenings if I don’t make a conscious effort not to. Not only is it a huge time-sucker, the blue light from the screen can also negatively affect our ability to fall asleep. At least twice a week I try to turn off the TV, charge my phone in a different room, and read in bed. Not only do I then tend to turn off the light and go to sleep when I start to feel tired, (rather than staying up late to finish a movie and becoming overtired) the time it takes me to actually fall asleep is less. 

The result is of course, a much better night’s sleep overall, and I wake up feeling more refreshed as I’ve had an optimal amount of sleep. In case you haven’t already guessed, I do love a good sleep! But, unfortunately all good sleeps must come to an end, so I have finished off my cosy bedroom space with the BONDTOLVAN alarm clock from IKEA. That way I’m always up and ready to start my day on time. I am a stickler for being on time, and not having to rush around is also good for keeping my stress in check.

Adopting new habits isn’t always easy, and can take time – but it’s totally worth the effort. Just by making some changes to my living space and adopting new daily habits, and self-care rituals, I’ve been able to decrease my stress and anxiety and increase my productivity. Hopefully, this has inspired you to do some interior-scaping of your own, and look at how you can optimise space in your home so you can do more of the things that make you happy too.

For more ideas on everyday rituals for a better everyday life head to the IKEA website.