Why This Teacher Created a Cool Down Corner in Her Apartment

8.468 million. That’s the number of other people who live in New York City. I am fortunate to have grown up in the city everyone seems to want to live in, but the constant overdrive I feel from its fast-paced lifestyle can be overwhelming. The noises from sirens or crowds of people have made me feel anxious in heavily populated spaces, and I often find myself living on “high alert.” 

When I brought these feelings of stress to my therapist, she suggested I create a better balance. If the rush of city life was becoming too much for me, then I needed to find stillness.

“What are the things you can control?” She asked.

I thought of my students. School is not only a place for students to learn about science or math; it’s also where they get a lot of their social emotional learning in during the school year as well. As a teacher, I created a calm down area in my classroom where students could take a time-out if they became overwhelmed in their learning environment. An important part of classroom management is giving kids the opportunity to check in with themselves, do some deep breathing, and de-escalate a situation when they are having big emotions.

The same coping strategies may be helpful for adults, too, I thought. While I’m not able to control the outside world, I realized that I could better control the environment inside my apartment. So, I created a “cool down” corner — based on the spaces that I have curated in my classrooms.

Even though I’m an adult, my cool down corner looks a lot like the space I crafted for my students. It’s filled with cozy items I have collected over the years, like teddy bears and blankets. 

If you find yourself needing a new environment in your home, here are some tips to help you build your cool down corner.

It is important to recognize how our mental health and well-being is affected by our environment, according to Alysha Tagert, MSW, LICSW, a licensed clinical social worker and creator of the mental health toolkit.

While I agree your whole apartment should be your sanctuary, a cool down corner is a designated space you can turn for some much-needed emotional regulation. I live in Brooklyn, NY, and although I would love to have a designated room for meditation or quiet time, my apartment size just doesn’t offer that option. And that’s okay. My calm down corner didn’t start out as a space of relaxation; it was just a walk-in closet where I stored unwanted items.

Ideally, your space will be away from all the action happening to give your body time to recuperate. Your safe space could be in an extra bedroom, an outdoor space, a designated part of your bedroom, or in a closet like mine. The only requirement is that it's away from all the hustle and bustle.

I’ve had a habit of collecting stuffed animals since I was a little kid. For me, these stuffed animals represent a fun childhood experience and incorporating them into my space makes me think of happy memories.

Tagert recommends incorporating sensory items that engage your sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste — like my stuffed animals.

“We know from research that our body and mind are connected,” she says. “By engaging the senses, we engage our body, and this helps bring calm in a stressful environment.”

Students may do best with sensory tools like stress balls, playdough or putty, or fidget toys in their calm down spaces. Meanwhile, for an adult’s safe place, you may want to add items like a stack of favorite books or some greenery, suggests Tagert. If you have a favorite hobby, like crocheting, that could be another calming activity.

If your space is a little bigger than mine, you can also add cozy furniture pieces like bean bag chairs or a side table with some favorite candles.

Remember your cool down corner should be a space you can go to decompress — and the “calm down kit” you build should be unique to your needs! It should be filled with colors, scents, and items that make you feel safe.

You can even decorate with posters or photo frames containing affirmations that you can come back to in difficult times, or find some printable sheets with breathing exercises listed out.

If you live with roommates, get a do not disturb sign to put on your door and enjoy your alone time. Calm down on your own terms! If you know you need a certain amount of time in your “peace corner” to center yourself, build that into your routine.