When I started the Create Your Kindspace podcast two years ago, I had no idea where that journey would lead. I just knew I wanted to explore kindness, creativity and wellbeing and to ask one small but powerful question:
“How do you create your Kindspace?”
Since then, I’ve had the privilege of hearing dozens of honest, moving and often surprising answers. Some guests knew instantly what their Kindspace was. Others paused, reflected, and discovered it mid-conversation. And as I sat down to mark the podcast’s second birthday, it felt like the perfect moment to bring some of those reflections together. To look back, and to consider what Kindspace has come to mean.
What’s become clear is that there’s no single definition. Your Kindspace might be a place, a feeling, a moment, a habit. It’s not about getting it “right.” It’s about tuning in to what helps us reset, feel grounded, or just breathe a little easier.
Here are just a few of the beautiful insights I’ve had the privilege to hear, grouped into some of the key themes that have emerged.
Finding Space in Nature
One of the most common themes has been nature – how getting outside helps people return to themselves. There’s something about wide-open spaces that helps put things in perspective.
Neil Bebber described his Kindspace simply:
“Treading water in the sea with the setting sun just lighting my face is absolutely my happy place.”
That sense of calm came up again and again. Pasna Sallis spoke about the joy of solo trips, heading to Glencoe with her tent and paddleboard in search of quiet and challenge. Birgit Itse finds stillness just by sitting at her favourite beach and watching the sea. No distractions. No pressure to do anything at all.
Even guests who weren’t explicitly looking for solitude described being drawn to water, to trees, to open skies. Maybe it’s about stepping away from our usual pace. Or maybe, as Dr Jill Williams said, it’s the joy of seeing her dog run wild on the beach – “kind of contagious,” as she put it. I know exactly what she means. That freedom, that joy, is something I often miss since losing my own beautiful dog Skye.
Everyday Rituals and Routines
Of course, Kindspace isn’t always out there in the wild. For many guests, it lives quietly inside their daily routines. In the rituals, small comforts, or creative outlets that help them feel more like themselves.
Siobhan Jaffray described baking as meditative, not just because of the process, but because it pulls her away from screens and into the present. Others spoke about journaling, listening to music, or setting aside time in the morning just to breathe and reflect.
It’s something I’ve come to appreciate more over the past two years. That you don’t have to carve out hours or go somewhere special. Sometimes a short playlist, a mindful walk, or even the act of lighting a candle and sitting with your thoughts can be enough to reset the day. As Xann Schwinn put it, it’s about finding little ways to switch your energy: “based on how I’m feeling and how I want to feel.”
And then there’s creativity. Not necessarily in a polished, Instagrammable way, but in that personal, hands-on sense of doing something just for you. Gemma Burns spoke about her love of DIY, especially during lockdown when she threw herself into home improvements. I loved hearing that. There’s something really satisfying about transforming your space or making something with your own two hands.
Listening to the Body
Kindness isn’t just about what we do, it’s also how we respond when our bodies ask for something. And so many conversations have touched on that mind-body connection.
For Gemma Stuart, Kindspace means rest. Unapologetically prioritising sleep and using a weighted blanket to help her unwind. Debbie Junor, who runs a physically demanding decluttering business, makes time for regular massages and reflexology. “My body is my business,” she said. A reminder that looking after ourselves isn’t a luxury, it’s essential.
Others talked about movement, not necessarily structured workouts, but simple, intentional movement. A few stretches between meetings. A short walk after work. Even just standing up and shaking off the day. I loved Rosie Davie’s practical take: “I’ll literally just get off my chair and do a ritual of downward dogs… and then I’m like, I’ve moved.”
It doesn’t have to be a full reset. Sometimes, a small shift is enough.
Connection and Community
What’s also become clear is that Kindspace isn’t always solitary. For many guests, it’s rooted in relationships. In feeling seen, supported, or simply being around people who let them be themselves.
Catherine Ann Reid spoke beautifully about her daughter Chloe’s community, where no one is trying to be anything other than themselves. “They are caring about each other,” she said, “and that, for me… is where I can go any day of the week to be part of that.”
There were stories about laughter with friends, cuddles with pets, chats with partners or children. Pei-I Yang shared how just texting her husband helps her feel more grounded. Sara Matthews finds joy in light-hearted moments with her daughter or a well-timed gin and tonic with friends!
I think what these stories remind us is that your Kindspace doesn’t have to be quiet, or tidy, or even pre-planned. Sometimes it’s just a moment of connection that lands in exactly the right way.
Looking Back and Looking Ahead
When I think about everything I’ve learned over the past two years, I keep coming back to this: Kindness starts with paying attention.
Paying attention to what you need. To what fills you up. To the moments that feel good in your body, your mind, and your soul. A Kindspace isn’t a fixed idea. It evolves, just like we do. It can be loud or quiet, shared or solitary, five minutes or a full weekend.
And sometimes, it’s not about doing more. It’s about giving yourself permission to do less. To say no. To protect the things that matter.
So maybe today’s a good day to check in with yourself. What does your Kindspace look like right now? And what might you need to adjust to make a little more room for you?
To hear more from the guests featured in this anniversary episode, you can listen here: createyourkindspace.com/podcast
Thank you for your support for the past two years. Here’s to more conversations and more kindness in all the spaces we choose to create.