4 Steps to Carving Out a Space in Your Assisted Living Apartment

Integrating a personal prayer or meditation space into areas such as those defined by the floor plans in our assisted living apartments at Bethesda Gardens in Loveland, CO, can take a bit of planning and creativity.

1. Decide on Your Preferred Format

Start by considering how you want to talk to Jesus each day or seek mindful moments. Do you enjoy lying down and doing some stretches on a mat as you pray, or would you prefer a cozy armchair? Comfort matters — if you get up from your prayer place with more aches than when you entered it, you might not feel like going back regularly. However, you don't want to create a space that's so comfortable you're more apt to sleep than pray.

2. Determine Whether You Can Use a Space for Multiple Purposes

In a smaller living space, you may not have an entire room or even a corner to dedicate to prayer, and that's OK. Consider how you can quickly convert a space to signal that it's time for prayer and meditation.

For example, you may have a nook where you love to sit and read, and that same chair can easily become a place for devotions and prayers. Or you might use your living room couch to watch TV or pray. A small table overlooking a shared garden space could double as a place to enjoy a snack or dig into God's Word.

Some easy ways to "flip the switch" on these spaces to signal to your heart and mind that it's time to pray and meditate include:

• Installing a small lamp with warm or colored lighting. A shift in lighting can signal a change in mental pace.
• Using a set playlist. Have a few songs you can play to let your brain know it's time to consider God.
• Enjoying a hot beverage. Choose an herbal tea each month to sip as you pray.

3. Set Up for Success

However you plan to set up your prayer and meditation space, avoid having to handle numerous tasks before you enjoy your quiet time. If you have to move furniture, clean up the area, bring in snacks and tea, find your Bible, turn lighting on or off and make other small changes, it can add up to a lot of work that prevents you from getting into prayer time.

Instead, keep a few items nearby or have a small bag, basket or tray you can quickly bring into and remove from the prayer space. If you want to incorporate sipping tea, use the preparation time to talk to God about your day or what you'd like to hear from him during your quiet time.

Ultimately, you want to create a routine that's inviting so you're more likely to return to it day after day.

4. Set a Schedule and Realistic Goals

Be realistic about your prayer and meditation goals. If the practice is difficult for you, choose one day a week to practice at first. Or set an alarm for 5 minutes and see if you can stretch the time that long. Work up to 15 or 20 minutes each day. Don't worry about doing anything perfect — take time to make this a practice that honors God and opens your heart to his love and will in your life.

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