For me, a refuge is a place of protection—a shelter from every demanding thing I face in my day. It is a place to relax, recharge, and restore. But I, like every other modern person, seem to struggle with completing everything on my daily to-do list, spending time with family and friends, and still making time for myself at the end of the day. When there simply aren’t enough hours in the day, finding a moment to indulge in myself becomes a last priority. That’s why I have made it a goal to create a personal refuge for myself at least once a week. And it’s actually easier to do than you’d think!
Here are 3 tips to help you find and create the perfect personal refuge:
Be intentional.
When I’m lucky, I manage to carve out about an hour for myself on Sunday nights—but an hour goes by pretty quickly if you’re not prepared. That’s why it is so important to be intentional with your time! My personal refuge is turning my bathroom into a mini spa. So, I lock the door, start running the bath water, turn on the music, and light my candle all within the first couple of minutes. That way I can jump right in to that warm bubble bath and get my relaxation on. Being intentional with my time and the space I’m in doesn’t take a lot of effort, but it does make all the difference when it comes to creating your personal refuge.
Stimulate your senses.
This tip is a game changer! Engaging all of your senses during your refuge retreat will help you feel more grounded and re-energized for when it’s time to get back to real-life. Sensory grounding is actually a technique used to help people stay present and be in the moment. So, stimulating your senses during your refuge is an excellent way to reduce distractions and clear your mind—which makes it easier to focus on you! (That’s why I add a glass of wine to my bathroom spa routine.)
Find what makes your heart happy.
Just because a mini spa moment helps me relax and unwind doesn’t mean it will work for you! Remember, a refuge is a place of protection—even if it’s just in your mind. A refuge can help you recover, gain strength, and get to know yourself again. Find your refuge by finding what makes your heart happy. Whether it’s a big bowl of curry, going on a hike, or lounging in the sun—do what makes you happy!
❤ Always!