This past year I’ve undergone an emotional transformation by changing the habits I practice at home. As a business owner and mom of two I used to find myself racing from thing to thing, barely stopping to take a breath between tasks, errands and parenting.

I came to realize that my happiness is paramount to creating the joy and love I want, not only in my own home, but also in the homes of my clients—because if I am not feeling grounded and connected to myself, I can’t offer those qualities to anyone else. Not to my kids, not to my friends, not to my clients.

I found that changing just a few patterns allowed me to show up in my life feeling more connected to myself and has made it easier for me to help others reach for that experience in their own homes.

How I did it: I claimed an area in my home to sit quietly and have a little morning “me” time. Below is an area in a client’s home that is the perfect spot for getting quiet and grounded.

No one ever could have convinced me that I would find the time to actually be alone and quiet in the morning, but I can tell you that by accepting the invitation that my newly-designed “me” corner offers, the space for taking time has opened up. Even more surprising, all of a sudden I found myself skipping my ritual glass of wine every night, waking earlier in the morning, and starting my day with a ritual green smoothie instead.

Is there a space in your home that is just for you?

Can you rearrange your furniture to place a chair and little side table in the corner of your bedroom? Is there a rarely-used part of the house that you could claim as your own special place to be alone with yourself for 15 minutes (or 30?!?!) in the morning before the house wakes up?

What rituals do you have in place to help you to feel more connected to yourself?

I’d love to hear your replies!