In my last blog post I talked about creating a space (or spaces) in your home to help you or child to return to calm after big emotions or a heightened stated or arousal.
Sometimes one little nook to space doesn't cut it!
What else can you do to create a calm space in your home?
There are a number of things in our homes that can actually add to our stress load (sorry can't get rid of the kids!) and increase our arousal. Your state of arousal is like your internal engine speed. You can read more about it here. The sensory aspects of our home like clutter, lighting, noise, smells, even our seating can add to our stress load and increase our state of arousal.
Many of us are working to keep our state of arousal regulated, or on an even keel. Yes, there will be ups and doesn't. But if you are always in a weighted state, if your internal engine is usually running flat out, you are likely feeling stress, overwhelmed, anxious, even angry and frustrated - and often at yourself. Throw in a little mum guilt on top of it for good measure (our kids absorb our states of arousal as they filter out from us). Nobody likes feeling that way.
For easy, practical steps you can take to bring a bit more calm to your home, use my FREE Home Environment Checklist. This simple, 1-page checklist gives you a bunch of ideas to try out. AND you don't have to do them all. See if you can pick out the things that really add to your stress load, the things that irk you.
Just do one thing!
But what will one thing change? Here's the thing: These things that irk you are called stressors. Stressors can be big or little. That can be really obvious (like dealing with a screaming kid) or hidden (like the constant noise my son's fish tank filter makes). The body and brain have to process all these things, these stressors. That burns energy.
Stressors build and build and build, bounce off each other and multiply.
Until you get to the point when you're done. You've got nothing left. You're tired. Exhausted.
Working out the little things (or big things) you can change, will help you manage your energy and stay more regulated and calm.
Reduce the stressors you can, so you have the energy to deal with the ones you must (like kids!).
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