Your Daily Brush: Create a Haven for Yourself
When feeling bombarded by non-stop news and world events, you can take refuge in a sanctuary that you can enter any time - alone or in the company of others.
Do you ever feel like you are drowning in a flood of news? Are television sounds getting on your nerves? Is social media starting to feel like harsh noise?
Why not create a haven for yourself?
Think of it like the proverbial “man cave” but open to all. You can go there alone or you can go there with your friends or family.
The specifics of your haven can vary in terms of the look, the feel, the decor etc. But the goal is to retreat from the events of the world for a little while and rejuvenate, rest, and recharge.
No matter what form your haven takes, what is most important is that you feel safe, calm and relaxed.
For some people, their haven might be their garden. For others it might be the family room where they play Scrabble with friends and family. It might be in the form of a Zoom coffee with a friend with whom you feel that you are on the same wavelength. It could involve going for a walk with a friend. Or you might spend time playing a musical instrument or listening to relaxing music as you turn off the world outside for a while.
Details can vary but the main point is to unplug from media and technology so you can rest and restore your nervous system.
Slow down. Let go of all tasks and goals for a few minutes.
Enter fully into the moments.
Experience the calm. Experience the joy of connection. Experience the beauty of nature or music.
Get creative and create more than one haven. The main thing is to have at least one haven and return to it on a regular basis. Consider writing it into your calendar because that is one of the keys to turn ideas into action.
Rx: Come up with a list of three places, people or activities that constitute a haven for you. Add them to your calendar, ideally on a recurring basis. Keep the appointments and emerge from your haven feeling refreshed.