5 Ways to Find Comfort at Home During Uncertain Times

I am a homebody. Even though I live in a small apartment in frenetic New York City, I prefer to entertain at home, albeit with one or two friends at a time! Given these economic hard times when nothing else seems stable, I think more people will start to do the same — and realize how comforting, both physically and emotionally, it is to be in a space you have complete control over.

Try these simple things I do in my home to make give my surroundings that comforting feeling:

• Since I don’t allow shoes in my space (more on that in an upcoming post), I give my friends thick socks or slippers when they come into my home.

• I always have lots of natural-fabric throws and pillows for us to cozy up in.

• I stream music — it’s free! — from a list of favorite commercial-free stations. It’s such a great feeling to see your friends start to relax and get comfortable after coming in from what I refer to as the “warrior mode” of New York City life.

• One of my favorite things to do is find a recipe for a delicious and healthy dish from a website that emphasizes healthy and earth-friendly food. My favorites include sustainabletable.org, Gaiam Life’s Healthy Eating section and localharvest.org.

• I order organic wine from my favorite wine shop in NYC, Appellation, or from Liquor Outlet Wine Cellars’ organic wine section, and curl up on the sofa to watch spiritual movies. It is so much better than watching the toxic news on TV.

Talk about nurturing body, mind and spirit … my friends never want to leave! A comforting space gives us a chance to focus on the things that matter most, and filling that space with eco-friendly décor aligns my lifestyle with my conscious ideals. Now is the time to go inside, cultivate your own warm inviting personal space, and open your heart (and door) to share those good vibes.