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Happy Spaces

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Happy Spaces

After graduating from the Cornell Hotel School, Sarah worked in the hospitality industry for over a decade.

Helping students & overwhelmed adults get organized—mentally, physically, and academically. ✨Coaching for ADHD, time management, study skills & productivity
🎯 Custom strategies, real accountability + systems that actually work
📅Schedule a free consult She has managed both hotels and luxury apartment communities. In 2016, Sarah decided to follow her passion and launch Happy Spaces. She is excited to bring her love of organization, time management and productivity into the lives of her clients.

05/28/2026

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The other day, I caught myself saying, “I just need to get through this week.” And if I’m being honest, I’ve said some version of that more times than I’d like to admit.

Somewhere along the way, fun started to feel like a reward. Something that comes after the work is done…if there’s any time or energy left. And most days, there isn’t.

But when I think back to childhood, fun wasn’t something we earned. It was the center of everything. Playing outside, laughing with friends, making up games, losing track of time. It wasn’t extra. It was essential.

And I think we forget that.

We fill our days with responsibilities, appointments, and to-do lists, and then wonder why we feel drained. What if part of the answer is simpler than we think? What if we need to bring a little more play back in?

Not in a big, overwhelming way. Just small moments.

It could be turning on music and dancing in the kitchen for a few minutes. Playing a quick game with your kids. Calling a friend who makes you laugh. Watching something light and silly instead of something heavy. Doing something just because it sounds fun, not because it’s productive.

It’s not about how much time you spend. It’s about making space for it at all. Giving yourself something to look forward to. Letting joy be part of your day, not just the end of it.

Because when we allow ourselves to have fun, even in small ways, something shifts. We feel lighter. More present. A little more like ourselves.

So maybe this week isn’t just about getting through.

Maybe it’s about finding a few moments to actually enjoy along the way.

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05/21/2026

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The other night, I found myself sitting at the table after everything had quieted down. The to-do list was still there, of course. It always is. But instead of picking it back up, I reached for something different. A set of markers and a random piece of paper.

Nothing fancy. No plan. I just started coloring.

And somewhere in those few quiet minutes, I felt a shift. My shoulders softened. My mind slowed down. It wasn’t about creating something beautiful or impressive. It was just about doing something…different. Something that was mine.

We don’t always think of creativity as something essential. It can feel extra. Optional. Like something we’ll get to “when there’s time.” But the truth is, using your creative outlets can be a powerful way to support your mental health.

It doesn’t have to be big. It can be coloring, doodling, baking, writing, organizing a space, rearranging a room, planting flowers, or anything that lets you create, move, or express something from the inside out.

There’s something about creativity that pulls us out of the constant thinking and into the present moment. It gives our minds a break from the loops and the lists. It creates a little bit of breathing room.

And maybe most importantly, it reminds us that we’re allowed to do things just because they feel good.

So if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just a little off, try reaching for something creative. Keep it simple. Keep it yours.

You don’t need a lot of time. You don’t need to be “good” at it.

You just need to start.

Sometimes that small act of creating is exactly what helps you feel a little more like yourself again.

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05/14/2026

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There are days when the list feels never-ending. The kind of days where everything feels a little too loud, a little too full, and you’re not even sure where to start.

On those days, I’ve learned I don’t need to tackle everything. I just need to take back a little bit of control.

One of my favorite ways to do that is by clearing one small space.

Not the whole room. Not the whole house. Just one drawer, one bin, one corner that’s quietly been collecting more than it needs to.

Maybe it’s that desk drawer filled with random office supplies. The pens that don’t work, the paperclips, the things you keep meaning to go through. Or the junk drawer many of us all have. The one that somehow holds everything and nothing at the same time. Sometimes it’s as simple as going through winter hats, scarves, and gloves, noticing what still serves you and what’s just…seen better days.

There’s something grounding about it. You’re making decisions. You’re letting things go. You’re creating a little bit of space where there wasn’t any before.

And it’s small enough that it doesn’t feel overwhelming. You can do it in 15 minutes. No pressure, no perfection. Just a small, intentional reset.

It might not solve everything on your list. But it does something important. It reminds you that you can shift things, even in a small way. That you can create a little calm in the middle of the chaos.

And sometimes, that’s exactly where the overwhelm starts to soften.

P.S. If you’d like this blog to come straight to your inbox (no social media rabbit holes required), subscribe here → https://www.happyspacesbysarah.com/blog

05/07/2026

Mental Health Matters: Connect With Someone You Care About

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Connection. Real, in-person, human connection. It’s something we all crave, even if we forget it sometimes.

I’m not saying texting your friends, chatting while gaming, or messaging on Snapchat isn’t valuable—they are. But there’s something different, something powerful about face-to-face connection, or even a phone call where you really talk. That kind of connection has a way of grounding us, reminding us we’re not alone, and boosting our mood in ways that scrolling or quick messages can’t.

Think about it: when was the last time you really planned a connection with someone? Not just a text, but coffee, lunch, or a walk outside? Even 20–30 minutes can make a difference.

Getting Started
Try this as an experiment: before your meet-up, check in with yourself. How are you feeling on a scale of 1–10? Then, after, notice the difference. You might be surprised at how much lighter, calmer, or more positive you feel.

Connection doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. It can be a quick coffee, a walk around the block, or a shared meal. The key is being intentional and making it regular.

The other thing I love about this practice is that it creates a ripple effect. When you feel supported and connected, everything else feels a little easier. Your mood lifts, stress feels lighter, and even small daily tasks can feel more manageable.

So this week, ask yourself: who matters to me? How can I connect with them? And when will I make that connection happen?

Even one meaningful interaction can be a small but powerful boost to your mental health.

P.S. If you’d like this blog to come straight to your inbox (no social media rabbit holes required), subscribe here → https://www.happyspacesbysarah.com/blog

04/30/2026

Mental Health Matters: Setting Boundaries With Technology

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I want to talk about something we all do, maybe a little too much: screens.

Social media, video games, endless scrolling… these tools are designed to keep us hooked. The short-form videos, the constant updates, they pull us in, and before we know it, an hour has passed. And while it can be entertaining, it also comes with a mental cost: comparison, self-judgment, and that little voice telling us we’re not doing enough or not measuring up.

That’s why setting boundaries with technology can be such a simple but powerful mental health practice.

Maybe it’s a “no phone at the dinner table” rule, so you actually notice your kids’ stories or connect with your partner. Maybe it’s turning screens off an hour before bed, giving your brain time to wind down and your body a chance to rest.

Even small breaks can make a difference. And the bonus? You can fill that time with things that actually improve your mental health: reading, journaling, stretching, or just sitting quietly with your thoughts.

Boundaries don’t have to be drastic. It’s not about quitting technology entirely. It’s about being intentional with it. About noticing how it affects your mood and energy, and giving yourself space to recharge.

Try experimenting. Pick one screen boundary this week. Notice how it feels. You might be surprised at how much lighter, calmer, or more connected you feel, not because you did more, but because you gave yourself a little space.

What’s one boundary you could try this week?

P.S. If you’d like this blog to come straight to your inbox (no social media rabbit holes required), subscribe here → https://www.happyspacesbysarah.com/blog

04/23/2026

Mental Health Matters: The Power of Getting Outside

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As part of the Mental Health Matters series, I want to talk about something simple but surprisingly impactful: getting outside and moving your body.

We all know a sunny day can lift your mood, but even just being outside, sunny or cloudy, has real benefits. That fresh air, a little light, the change of scenery… it all helps. If the winter felt long or you notice seasonal dips in mood, spring is the perfect reminder to make getting outside a priority.

Movement doesn’t have to mean a gym session or a long hike. For me, it’s a quick walk with some fun tunes. I even mapped a route that takes me out my front door and back in 20 minutes, perfect for slipping in between Zoom calls.

Maybe your version looks different. Maybe it’s rollerblading, biking, scootering, gardening, or even mowing the lawn. All of these get your body moving and your mind outside, which helps you feel better.

And here’s the magic: when you feel better, the rest of life becomes a little easier. Tasks get done, priorities fall into place, and suddenly there’s space for that precious “me time.” Movement and sunshine are small, tangible ways to support your mental health, and that support ripples out into everything else.

So today, take a moment. Step outside. Move in a way that works for you. Even ten minutes counts. Your brain, and your mood, will thank you.

P.S. If you’d like this blog to come straight to your inbox (no social media rabbit holes required), subscribe here → https://www.happyspacesbysarah.com/blog

04/16/2026

Mental Health Matters: Start With One Small Thing

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I’ve been thinking about writing a short series of blog posts about mental health. Not in a big, abstract way, but in the everyday, practical ways we can take care of ourselves.

Because sometimes mental health support looks less like a breakthrough and more like… opening the mail.

When life feels overwhelming, the list of things we “should” do can start to feel impossibly large. The longer the list sits there, the heavier it feels. And the heavier it feels, the harder it is to start.

But here’s something I’ve noticed again and again—with students, with clients, and in my own life.

Small wins matter.

When you accomplish even a tiny task, your brain gets a little boost. A small hit of dopamine. It’s your brain’s way of saying, Nice job. Keep going.

And often, that small win helps shift something internally. You start to feel a little less stuck. A little less overwhelmed. A little more hopeful that the rest of the list might actually be manageable.

The task itself doesn’t have to be big.

It could be opening the stack of mail that’s been sitting on the counter so you finally know what’s in there.

It could be depositing the check that’s been sitting in your bag.

It might be replying to the text you’ve been avoiding, scheduling the dentist appointment, or picking up the prescription you’ve been meaning to grab all week.

None of these things are life-changing on their own.

But each one is a small step forward.

And sometimes, one small step is exactly what your brain needs to believe that forward is possible.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed right now, try asking yourself one simple question:

What is one small thing I could do today?

Then start there.

Just one small thing.

P.S. If you’d like this blog to come straight to your inbox (no social media rabbit holes required), subscribe here → https://www.happyspacesbysarah.com/blog

04/02/2026

The Part No One Talks About After You Reach the Goal

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Roman senator Pliny the Younger once wrote: “An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit.”

When I first read that, I paused. Because I’ve felt that exact thing.

We spend so much time believing that when we finally get there—land the opportunity, reach the goal, finish the project—it will feel different. Bigger. Lasting.

And it does feel good.

For a moment.

Then the next morning, you wake up, make your coffee, and life continues.

Not because the achievement didn’t matter. But because achievement is a moment. Life is what surrounds it.

I’ve seen this in myself, and in so many of my clients.

Someone works toward something for months or years. They reach it. They feel proud. And also, quietly surprised at how normal it feels.

Because what filled their days wasn’t the achievement. It was the process.

The early mornings. The uncomfortable starts. The steady showing up.

The real life of it.

I see the opposite too. The things we dread for weeks—taxes, emails, difficult conversations.

And then once they’re done, the relief is immediate.

Not because the task was joyful. But because the weight was never really in the doing. It was in the anticipating.

It’s a reminder that so much of our emotional experience lives in the story we tell ourselves along the way.

Which brings me to the question I’ve started asking myself more often:

Do I enjoy the life required to reach this goal?

Not the moment of arrival.

The Tuesday mornings. The pace of the days. The person I am while I’m pursuing it.

Because the truth is, you only reach the goal once.

But you live the journey every single day.

This doesn’t mean every day will be exciting. Some parts will always be boring, uncomfortable, or hard. That’s part of building anything meaningful.

But if the entire experience feels draining, misaligned, or like something you’re just enduring until you arrive, it’s worth pausing.

Not to quit immediately. But to ask:

Is this goal creating a life I actually want to live?

Or am I postponing my happiness until some future moment?

I’m still ambitious. I still set goals. I still love building things.

But I’m paying more attention now to the experience of getting there.

Because the quiet truth is this:

The goal will pass.

The life you live while pursuing it, that’s what stays.

So if you’re working toward something right now, the most important question isn’t just, Will I be happy when I get there?

It’s this:

Can I find moments of meaning while I’m on the way?

Because the journey isn’t just the path to your life.

It is your life.

P.S. If you’d like this blog to come straight to your inbox (no social media rabbit holes required), subscribe here → https://www.happyspacesbysarah.com/blog

03/26/2026

Do you ever fall more behind when you have less to do?

It sounds backward, but it's a real trap, and most of us have fallen into it.

I wrote about why small tasks are sometimes harder than big ones, and what to do about it.

You can find the link to the full blog post in the comments below⬇️

03/19/2026

I accidentally sent a blog out a month early — to hundreds of people — while standing in the middle of a children's museum on vacation. My phone wouldn't stop buzzing. And I made a choice: I stayed present anyway.

Here's what that moment reminded me about:

Mistakes don't happen when you're overthinking, over-planning, or waiting for the perfect moment. They happen when you're actually doing the thing.

You can find the link to the full blog post in the comments below⬇️

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Albany, NY

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Monday	9am - 7pm
Tuesday	9am - 7pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 7pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

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http://www.HappySpacesBySarah.com/

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