Design Intervention:

The 5-Day “Micro-Comfort Zone” Challenge

Following the refinement of my theoretical framework on homesickness and emotional comfort, I have officially launched the first wave of my research interventions!

1. The Design of the Intervention
   Six adults (all over the age of eighteen) have been enlisted to participate in a five-day sensory experiment called the “Micro-Comfort Zone Challenge.”

Instead of mailing complicated physical materials, I gave each participant a structured Sensory Challenge Card and instructed them to use their own personal belongings to create a modest, devoted “refuge” in their current living area.

Two main sensory channels are the focus of the task:

Tactile/Soft Elements: Adding tactile soothing and physical warmth by using stuffed animals, soft blankets, pillows, or other items.

Olfactory Elements: Including pleasant or familiar fragrances (e.g., room sprays, scented candles, beloved perfumes, or clothing with a unique personal scent).

For five days in a row, participants are instructed to gather these components into a specific nook (such as a rug, an armchair, or a corner of their bed) and spend ten to fifteen minutes a day interacting with this area while documenting their daily emotions, thoughts, and sensory reactions.

2. Theoretical Foundation and Hypothesis
   My latest literature review and useful design research are closely connected by this intervention:

Tactile Anchors (Transitional Objects): Plush toys frequently serve as transitional objects in developmental and clinical psychology (Winnicott, 1953). These tactile objects offer nonjudgmental consolation and physical anchoring to adult international students who are suffering spatial disorientation.

Olfactory Memory Activation: Fragrances skip cognitive filters and enter the limbic system directly, causing instantaneous emotional memories (the Proustian phenomena).

Psychological Agency: Participants exercise agency over their micro-environment by actively modifying their immediate surroundings to create a personal “safe zone,” so mitigating emotions of homesickness or spatial disorientation.

I’m interested to see how this five-day routine affects their sense of spatial belonging and emotional health.

3. Interview Guide for Post-Intervention
   I will conduct a semi-structured debriefing interview with each of the six participants for 15 to 20 minutes following the conclusion of the 5-day challenge.