From Chaos to Calm: Building the Ultimate Wellness Sanctuary
I've decided to create my own wellness space.
A wellness space is defined as a physical environment purposefully designed to support mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. And I’ve decided to create my own. Why, you may ask? Well, one reason could be that my wellness space acts as a bandage on my search for a therapist, or it could be because I just want a place for myself away from people who annoy me. But the real reason I created my own space is to be able to heal from my chaotic life through distance.
The Great Escape Plan
I think of my space as a she-shed or fortress of solitude in a way. Don’t get me wrong, I love being around my family, friends, and dog, but sometimes, we simply need a social break. I know I do. Taking a social break can help rejuvenate you and conserve energy. Sometimes people ask me, “Why are you always in your room?” or “Why are you always back at a certain time?”. That’s because my wellness space helps me ease any anxieties and stress from the day. I use my space primarily in the afternoons (afterschool), and after outings with family and friends. I come into my space exhausted, social battery drained, and even grumpy sometimes. But I come out relaxed, rejuvenated, and recharged, ready for my next interaction.
Welcome to My Fortress
One thing I love about my wellness space is that it was made by me! I had total control of its design, what goes into it, and how I want my space to be set up. My wellness space reflects what I like and what I need to be revived. Since I am in a college dorm, it was a challenge, but with the help of my amazing parents, I was able to construct my fortress of solitude in my tiny double room dorm. Within my space I have my must-needed books. I call them my “necessity books” which contain the Bible, Pride and Prejudice and Emma, by Jane Austen, Roadmap: The Get-It-Together Guide For Figuring Out What To Do with Your Life, by Brian McAllister, Mike Marriner, and Nathan Gebhard, a signed copy of Read This to Get Smarter, by blair Imani Ali, and many more that bring me joy. Within my space, I also have a diffuser for aroma therapy, a comfy beanbag chair, an ambient light, a comforting plushie (a must), a comfy carpet, and a stockpile of my favorite drinks and snacks(with a mini fridge, of course!).
A Blueprint to Bliss Out
First and foremost, I needed to know myself to create my wellness space. I didn’t need to do a full life-long analysis into my life, but I needed to know “What do I like?”, “What do I not like?”, “What brings me joy?”, “What brings me stress?”, “ What calms me down?”, and “What gives me the illusion of feeling safe and secure?”. I asked myself those questions to build my own self-guide to creating my own wellness space. And not all those things came to me at once; they accumulated over time to eventually get my space up and running, so when I went to college, I knew what I needed to make my space. And another realistic thing I needed was money. Money to enhance my wellness space. I asked around for donations, and I occasionally accumulated discarded items or things friends and family no longer needed, giving my space the wellness vibe it truly deserved.
My Personal Hideout
My wellness space provides me with protection from outside forces: siblings, a hyper-obsessive dog, parents, homework, jobs, and my own thoughts. When I am alone with myself and with my thoughts, I have the opportunity to recover and process my day and feelings. My space helps me support myself mentally and emotionally and keep myself sane, LOL.
