#054 – How to Find Peace and Coziness in a Big City?
Discover practical tips to create a peaceful, cozy home and embrace balance in busy city life. Learn how small changes can transform urban living into harmony.
Hello again! Did you also have such a demanding week? Ours was so hectic that we decided to share a few tips to help you navigate life amidst the urban hustle and bustle. We know how overwhelming the noise, tall buildings, fast pace, and constant pressure can be. So, take a moment to breathe and recharge.
We’d love to hear your recommendations too—how do you relax and unwind? Let’s take care of ourselves and each other!
Love
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"All great art is born of the metropolis."
– Ezra Pound
GET INSPIRED
Calm down
Big cities attract us with their diversity, energy, and endless opportunities. But the same qualities that captivate can also overwhelm. Noise, crowds, the pressure to always be on the move—these can make urban life exhausting. Yet, amidst the intensity, you can find balance, warmth, and space to breathe. The key lies in consciously shaping your environment and habits. Our newsletter is designed not only to entertain but also to enhance the quality of your life. Today, we’ve prepared some tips to make city living more harmonious.
Your Home as a Sanctuary of Peace
In the urban hustle and bustle, your home becomes more than just a place to sleep—it’s your refuge, a space that should support rest and rejuvenation. That’s why it’s so important to design your interior thoughtfully.
Start by creating a relaxing atmosphere. Opt for soft, cozy materials—thick blankets, fluffy pillows, and rugs that not only soften noise but also add warmth to the space. Lighting is equally crucial—ditch cold, harsh bulbs for warm, diffused lighting to help you unwind in the evening.
Plants are a must-have for every home. They purify the air and have a calming effect on the senses. Even if you think you don’t have a green thumb, go for low-maintenance options like succulents, ferns, or monstera plants. Every bit of greenery brings you closer to nature, even in the city center.
Fun Fact:
Patients in hospital rooms with plants recover 25% faster.
Your home can also stimulate other senses—scent and sound. Scented candles, essential oil diffusers, or your favorite aromatic teas can create a warm atmosphere. Add soft background music or nature sounds to drown out the city noise outside.
Finding Calm Amid Chaos
Cities can be loud, intense, and overly stimulating. That’s why it’s vital to learn how to find quiet moments in the daily noise. This doesn’t require drastic changes—just a few small rituals to help you regain balance.
Mornings are an ideal time to carve out a moment for yourself. Instead of diving straight into tasks, try starting the day slowly—enjoy a coffee or tea in silence, jot down a few thoughts in a notebook, do a few simple stretches, or just sit and breathe. These few minutes can set a calmer tone for your day.
Noise is one of the biggest stressors in urban life, so it’s worth minimizing it. Thick curtains, rugs, or upholstered furniture in your home can absorb sound. If you’re dealing with constant street noise, invest in good noise-canceling headphones or play soothing sounds like water streams, bird songs, or gentle music.
Fun Fact:
60% of the urban population worldwide is exposed to noise levels above 55 decibels, which can lead to sleep disturbances, stress, and concentration problems.
Connecting with Nature—Even in the City
Even in the most urbanized areas, nature is closer than you think. Parks, green squares, and botanical gardens can become your haven. Regular walks among greenery have a therapeutic effect—they help calm the mind and relieve tension.
There are also less obvious ways to connect with nature. Turn your balcony into a miniature garden, line your windowsill with herbs, or create a small indoor plant corner. Even if space is limited, investing in nature-themed photos or paintings can work wonders—studies show that even looking at green landscapes reduces stress.
Nature-inspired rituals can also help you find peace. Try meditating outdoors, practicing yoga in the park, or simply spending more time outside regardless of the weather. Even in winter, a walk through a quiet, snowy park can be incredibly soothing.
Rest as a Priority
Big-city culture often glorifies overproductivity—constant running, overtime, chasing the next goal. However, true harmony begins with consciously rejecting this pressure. Rest isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.
Find your personal way to recharge. For some, it’s an evening with a book and a cup of tea; for others, it’s dancing, art, or cooking. The key is to make rest a regular part of your schedule, not an afterthought. Set clear boundaries between work and leisure—allow yourself to be offline and present in the moment.
Small Rituals, Big Changes
Finding coziness and peace is all about the little things. Make sure each day includes moments that bring you joy—a cup of your favorite coffee, the smell of freshly baked cookies, or music that transports you elsewhere. In a big city, it’s easy to forget the charm of everyday life, so take the time to celebrate it.
Start noticing beauty in small things—a sunset glimpsed between skyscrapers, a child’s laughter at a playground, a kind gesture from a stranger. These moments build a sense of warmth and balance.
Living in a big city is an art of finding your rhythm in a constant rush. Peace and coziness won’t come on their own—you have to create them. But once you start, you’ll see that even the loudest city can become a harmonious place to live.
Do you have any tried-and-true methods? Let us know!
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Treating the home as a space equal in significance to the sacredness attributed to sanctuaries is very common, for example, in Bali and Norway. This approach shifts the focus from what we own to where the home is and what makes it! For Norwegians, the home is an essential part of hygge—a place of comfort and solace. I believe this perspective is worth remembering: the home is created by us.