With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about how to approach the holidays during a pandemic (yes, it’s still a big deal!). This year we invite you to think a bit more broadly about your role as host. Many people are experiencing anxiety and may feel nervous about being a guest in someone’s home. If you choose to host your friends and loved ones, consider taking a few extra steps to help your guests feel at ease. 

Regardless of the pandemic, an organized space promotes a sense of calm and well-being, and sets the tone for a positive visit. When we take the time to create an oasis for our guests, not only do we feel great about our own efforts, our guests feel the love too!  And since this is the season of giving thanks, why not treat your guests to a calm, cozy – and safe – environment for their stay? Here are a few tips to help you prepare your guest space:

1. Keep your guest space clutter-free. When setting up your space for overnight guests, be sure to take time to declutter. Clutter is not relaxing. Period. This is the perfect time of year to do a quick purge of the piles that have accumulated and donate unused items. Charities need your gently used items to help those in need more than ever.  
2. Reduce or eliminate knick-knacks. Too many knick-knacks leaves a space feeling messy and overwhelming. Remember the “Rule of Three” – no more than 3 pictures, decorations, or knick-knacks on any surface. 
3. Make the bed extra cozy. Living in Denver, we need to remember that not everyone is used to snow! Make sure to have extra blankets and pillows on hand, especially for those guests coming from a warmer climate. Have them near the bed so your guests can layer up as they need. 
4. Remind guests to drink water. Denver is the Mile High City, which means our guests need to drink extra water to stay hydrated and avoid altitude sickness. Why is hydration so important? Every cell, tissue, and organ in our body needs water to work properly. Proper hydration alleviates dry mouth (not something you want your guests to experience!), promotes cardiovascular health, helps our muscles and joints work better, keeps skin supple, and enhances mood. Water also helps with detoxification – which is very important after a big Thanksgiving meal. To keep the good vibes flowing in your home, drink up! And to keep your guests hydrated, consider a putting carafe of water and a few glasses in the guest space. 
5. Provide travel essentials.  Have travel size soap, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, Q-tips, cotton balls/pads, hand sanitizer, and ESPECIALLY lotion/oils on hand. Again, the dry Colorado weather can be a bit of a shock for our guests! Keep plenty of lubricants on hand so that they are not suffering from dry, cracked skin. Also, while you can assume everyone brings a charger with them for their electronics, outlets aren’t always easy to reach, so try to have a couple of plugs within reach on both sides of the bed.
6. Provide space to unpack. Guests appreciate having a drawer or a bit of hanging space to put their things away. This will help them feel welcome in your home, and it encourages organization! Those folding luggage racks you find in hotel rooms? Your guests may appreciate one of those, too!
7. Put fresh flowers in the room. Once again,  it’s the little touches that make all the difference. Treat your guests to a small vase of fresh flowers to promote a sense of calm and connection to nature.
8. Have an honest conversation about safety with your guests before they arrive. These are tricky times we are living in. Everyone is processing the pandemic in their own way, and we can’t assume our guests are handling things the same way we are. Help your guests feel at ease and cared for by learning what their concerns are. Invite open, honest, respectful conversations before they arrive, so that everyone can enjoy the holidays without needing awkward conversations when they arrive. Do you prefer masks? Do you want to let your guests know your vaccination status and get theirs? It’s best to communicate your preferences and learn those of your guests prior to travel so there are no surprises. 

At Create Calm, we passionately believe that organization is a lifestyle that enhances wellness. When we put a little extra thought into creating spaces that are calming, everyone who enters our home reaps the benefits.  And that is something to be thankful for!