Written by Kyle Buchanan

With all of us spending more time in our homes than ever before, it’s all the more essential to have a space dedicated to our emotional well-being.

And while the idea of a “wellness sanctuary” may sound like a bit of a luxury, it really doesn’t have to be. Having one can truly be of enormous benefit to your overall health, so you get more enjoyment out of your days!

I always recommend that my clients physically schedule “calm-time” into their calendars. And when that “calm” time rolls around during your day, having a go-to wellness sanctuary is a fantastic strategy to immerse oneself into a state of zen.

If you are lucky enough to have a whole room dedicated to these ideas, incredible and go for it! But if you don’t have the space, you can still create your own portable wellness sanctuary with a few staples. This way, your sanctuary can be anywhere you’d like in your home (living room, bedroom, office, closet etc.) depending on the needs of the family members and level of noise on a given day.

Whatever you decide to do in the space is totally up to you, depending on what you find works best; whether it's a meditation, breathing exercise, or simply just sitting in silence so you can hear yourself think! But by dedicating 15-20 minutes every day to immerse yourself in this wellness space, you’d be amazed at how centered you can feel the rest of the day.

Here are some of staples for a portable wellness sanctuary:

Pillow: either grab your favourite pillow, or consider investing in your own meditation cushion, so that you can sit comfortably in any part of your home and focus inward.

Essential oil: whether it’s peppermint, lavender or sweet orange, find your favourite oil and use it in your sanctuary. You can simply take a sniff before you start your calm time, place a few drops on your wrists (I buy roll-on oils for this purpose), or purchase a diffuser where you can add a few drops and surround yourself with the scent as you meditate. Most diffusers are easily portable, so bonus!

Piece of nature: this is optional but encouraged. Nature is incredibly grounding. So consider buying your own favourite small plant to place beside you, to join in and help you during your solo calm time.

Your mantra or favourite affirmation, written down: whether it’s a word or phrase that you hold dear, I highly encourage writing it down on a piece of paper to bring with you to your sanctuary. For me, one of my favourites that I carry with me is “I am certain, and I walk forward with grace.” I’ll set up my sanctuary, read this out loud, and then start my meditation. It sounds corny, but it can make a huge difference.

Portable speaker: for some, listening to calming music or a guided meditation is key, so including a portable speaker in your sanctuary kit might be worth it. That way you can sit on your cushion, inhale the scent of the oil and then press play on your device and lose yourself in the experience. *If noise is an issue, ear pods can be used in lieu of the speaker!

Of course, more can be added to your own portable wellness sanctuary - maybe there’s a crystal you find healing, or your favourite calming tea you like having. Make it your own!!

My last suggestion would be to be consistent with your daily time spent in the sanctuary. My guess is that you do a lot of things for everyone else, so make this one of the things you truly do for you - immerse yourself in it and reap all of the benefits that will come!