Sensory luxuries at home to bring my mind back into my body 🫖

Good Digs is a design and decor newsletter from The Good Trade. Every other Thursday, one of our editors pulls back the curtain on their space, inspirations, and reflections on home.

Lately I’ve been noticing that a disconnect between what I think of as my daily life and what I’m physically experiencing as I live it. And it’s no wonder — as a writer, I spend a lot of time in my head, untangling threads and teasing out ideas, before moving to the intangible realm of putting my words onto a screen. At the end of the day, I don’t have anything to show for how I spent my time, just the idea that I have produced something that exists in the collective fever dream we call the internet. And that is strangely disorienting.

Working from home with ADHD means I’m engaged in a constant invisible battle of ideas, trying to harness enough executive function to keep some healthy boundaries between work and home, despite them sharing a space. Add in the frequent disruptions of my first grader or my three chaotic pets and it doesn’t take much for me to spiral out into an over-stimulated, chaotic mess.

When I’m really struggling to focus, time can feel like it’s slipping out from under me, and even the smallest tasks suddenly feel like insurmountable emergencies, with the foregone conclusion that I’ve already failed at addressing them.

It’s the sense that my daughter or my dogs need something from me when I’m otherwise mentally occupied, even if being physically present makes me appear available. It’s the instant interpretation of all my computer alerts as notices I’ve already failed to respond to. This is how I’ve learned to code the friction of having my mind and my body in different spaces: It’s the sinking feeling that I’m doing everything all wrong.

I’ve learned that there’s only one way to remedy this that works for me: I have to pull my thoughts back to earth, starting with each of my senses.

I enter into this practice literally, by trying to bring my attention to where my feet are. This means feeling the sensations of different types of footwear or cozying up in the sort of fleecy socks you can’t help but wiggle your toes in. Touch is the most grounding sensation, and I tune in to the textures of the natural world on long walks, where I also close my eyes to better feel the warmth of the sun and the rush of the wind on my face. Spring also brings with it major shedding season, so spending ten minutes brushing out my dogs’ down coats is like tending to my own mini Zen garden.

Lately I’ve also found that smells have been powerful ways to make or break my mood, so I’ve been choosing scents for my beauty routine and my home with care. Taking the time to block out sound or engage intentionally with a book, a meditation, or calming music, is also a tool that can instantly turn my day around.

For taste, the challenge is to slow myself down so that I can really savor whatever flavors are on offer. This brings me outside more often than not, away from my computer and whatever pile of laundry I’m pretending I don’t see. Visual clutter is something I have to live with sometimes, just because I don’t always have the time to tidy up the way I want to. Instead, I try to create small vignettes of objects I love to look at, or clear one space that’s in my line of sight if I’m going to spend a long time in one area.

When my mind is busy and I find myself overwhelmed, remembering to notice all these little things through each of my senses brings me back into my body. Suddenly, I am aware of so many treasures in my world, and I feel lucky in a way that helps me slow down for long enough to truly enjoy it.

1. Sunset walk fashion | Sometimes the only time I leave the house is to go on my early evening walk, so I will often make it a point to get dressed. Lately, I’ve been really loving my trucker-style vintage denim jacket, which drapes beautifully and has just the right kind of weight that helps cut the wind but never gets too warm.

2. Big Sur Tower | Topanga Scents has a luxurious line of home fragrances that I’ve been exploring for the last week. Named after and inspired by Cali locations, the scents are sophisticated and fresh, and they’ve made my entire house smell absolutely divine.

3. Warm feet = better orgasms | Dame recently launched a new hands-free panty vibrator called LAY, that comes with a magnetic attachment clip and a remote control. I was lucky enough to try a sample with their Aloe lube, and the brand even threw in a pair of these insanely cozy socks! It’s apparently harder for women to orgasm when their feet are cold — but between the socks and the new vibe, Dame’s got us covered.

4. The Outset Botanical Barrier Rescue Balm | Is there anything better than a beauty product that comes in gorgeous packaging? Not only is this multi-purpose, plant-based balm absolutely delicious to the touch, but it looks elegant and sophisticated on my desk, my bedside, or in my bag.

5. Canopy Bedside Humidifier 2.0 | A humidifier, aroma diffuser, air purifier, nightlight, and noise machine all in one? Yes, please!

6. Having “coffee” in the garden | Lately, my daughter and I go out into our newly planted garden first thing with our mugs of “coffee” (hers is chocolate milk!) to check on our plants and listen to the birds. It’s become such a perfect way to start our day that we often don’t even change out of our jammies first!

7. Thrifted Charlotte Stone sneaks | I have had a saved search for a pair of colorful Charlotte Stone sneakers for months, waiting for the perfect deal to come my way. These were almost brand new, still in their original box, and 70% off their retail value! They make me happy every time I wear them.

8. A cloud office chair | I recently upgraded from an old dining room chair to an actual office chair, and I couldn’t help going for this viral cloud version. It was the adjustable wings for sitting cross-legged or sharing with your pets that ultimately sold me on it. (They recently launched this boucle style in pink, too!)

9. Shedding season | I have two tools I can’t live without when it comes to pet hair: an undercoat rake, and this magical tool I use on every single fabric and rug in my house. You’re welcome.

I hope that however the season finds you, you’re also taking the time to enjoy the sensory riches of your world, and to delight in what you find.

xo Stephanie

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