Last year, I was looking forward to having more time to work now that my kid was starting Kindergarten. Covid interrupted those hopes and dreams of recreating a period in my life when I only had one kid, a one-year-old who took three hour long naps twice a day. Since shelter-in-place started I had to adapt to being a teacher, to having two kids running around, constantly cleaning (omg why is there so much cleaning?!?!), and to sharing my work space with my husband who is teaching remote. Having to share my space has been difficult. I remember when Jordan and I were first married, I had just learned about “me-time” when my father-in-law talked about how he enjoyed waking up at 6 in the morning to play guitar on his porch. He valued his alone time and that was one way he honored it. Of course, I being a newlywed was weirded out by this idea and appalled when Jordan agreed that alone time is nice. I believe I responded to his confession, “What!? You want time away from me?!?!” 

Things have changed since then and I’ve become a person who values my space and quiet. So during quarantine I decided I needed to have a cozy space (or three to change up the scene) that can nurture my creative thinking. Whether it’s at six in the morning when I do my morning pages and have a moment to be still and watch the day begin, or in the afternoon while I have my afternoon tea while I edit photos. Here are five things I use to create my cozy space.

1. A Window: I’m the kind of person who contemplates while staring out a window. I like a room with a view! But most importantly, a window means a source of natural light. I have one cozy space that is by a small window so not enough light pours in so I have a lamp in the corner which helps. I also add extra coziness with my next favorite cozy thing. If you don’t have enough of one cozy thing, add extra of another to perfect the balance!

2. Plant Friends: Each of my cozy spaces has a plant (or for that corner with minimal light, I upped the plants -- four to be exact) nearby or right beside the chair in which I sit and do my creative brewing. Something about having a green living and breathing life right next to you just makes you feel energized. But also, it’s just nice to have something green and alive during the brown and muddy dark days of winter. 

3. Feet Care: With standing at my desk for work and with more cleaning and cooking during quarantine, my time on my feet has grown exponentially. I’m taking extra care and comfort with the coziest slippers. These Pehuea Heu slippers by OluKai are the best! Jordan got these for me for Christmas. I’ve always been a stickler for leaving outside shoes for outside and having slippers for the home (can you blame me? I’m Asian!), but I didn’t want those flimsy fuzzy slippers which have minimal support and looses its cute fuzziness after a month of being worn (I believe Tatay still wears a pair of fuzzy slippers from when I was a teen — he’s good about making worn out things work for him). From standing at the sink doing dishes, carrying loads of laundry, to running around with the kids, I wanted a slipper that could work hard like an athletic shoe, giving my busy mom feet support while making them feel like they were walking on clouds! Plus, they make me look like I got dressed for work! That the Pehuea Heu slippers look like an outdoor shoe, it’s a win for any WFH OOTD. And for extra extra feet coziness, I found the perfect anti-fatigue mat! I have a Gathre home mat at my desk and at my kitchen sink. These mats also double as a yoga mat (love me a multi-functional piece)! So if in the middle of cooking I need to bust into a downward dog, no problem!

4. My Favorite Mug: In the holiday movie, The Family Stone, Sybil Stone complains about her favorite coffee mug having gone missing. I am Mama Stone when I don’t have my favorite mug. Okay, I’ve never been in that situation because I have two of the same mug to ensure I can always use my favorite mug. They’re both hand made gems by a ceramics student from university and unfortunately I can’t remember the artist! I’m an avid tea drinker, but my ritual is perfected with my favorite mugs! Nothing makes a ritual better than when doing said favorite ritual with things you cherish! 

5. Perfecting the Chair: Of course my back and bottom gotta be comfy, but the chair alone doesn’t create coziness. Have a blanket close by, something to rest your feet on for the occasional need to recline, and a little table to your side to place your journal, a mug of tea and maybe even a scented candle. Resting isn’t just about sitting. It’s about getting cozy!

Do you need more coziness in your life? What’s your ideal cozy corner and what’s one way you’re gonna bring coziness to your space?