Creating a Living Space to Support Your Wellness Goals
Achieving personal wellness has a lot to do with creating an environment that supports success.
The kitchen: Follow these tips to set up your kitchen in a way that will support your goals - whether it’s about cooking more, eating healthier meals, or cutting down on emotional eating or other triggers.
Give the kitchen a good, deep cleaning. No one wants to cook and spend time in a kitchen where they can still see dirt and grime left over by former inhabitants. If your budget supports it, this might also mean painting or replacing materials or appliances that are beyond being helped by a good scrub.
Ditch food clutter such as expired spices, packaged foods that don’t support your current goals, or ingredients that you don’t have the motivation to learn what to do with.
Minimize kitchen gadget clutter such as mismatched storage containers, unused gadgets, or duplicate items that you don’t need. This type of clutter increases the opportunity for overwhelm and inaction. Investing in fewer, but good quality kitchen items that are visually appealing can go a long way in increasing your desire to make use of them.
Minimize your cookbook and recipe collections. Too many cookbooks and recipes can result in you not using any of them at all. There are loads of recipes available online, so keep the only the ones in print that really matter to you and reflect the way you want to be eating.
Whether or not you love to cook and spend time in the kitchen, treat the space as an important part of your home and decorate accordingly. Don’t be afraid to display plants, fresh herbs, beautiful dishes, or even family photos in the kitchen. As with any room, a space that makes you feel warm and cozy will be a space that you’ll be more likely to spend time in.
Organize your refrigerator and freezer and don’t go too crazy “stocking up.” Just as having too many kitchen gadgets and recipes can lead to overwhelm and inaction, so too can an abundance of food choices. If you feel comfortable having some back stock of food - go for it - but make sure you can see and organize what you have and that it’s readily usable.
When it comes to eating healthy, fresh is best whenever possible. Keep fresh, cut up items in glass containers in the front of your refrigerator. You are much more likely to grab pre-cut veggies that are staring you in the face when you open the refrigerator, than veggies buried at the bottom of a closed drawer and out of sight.
If meal planning is a tool that works for you, try a fun chalkboard or display of your planned meals each week. Having meal plans in writing creates some accountability, lets your family know in advance what’s coming up, and cuts down on the likelihood that you’ll be swayed to order out more often than you want to. It also makes grocery shopping quicker, easier, cuts down on purchases made out of hunger, cuts down on food waste, and helps you save money.
The bedroom: The highest priority in the bedroom is creating an environment that supports high quality sleep. Sleep is an integral part of a wellness plan and can not be overstated.
Keep the room a comfortable temperature, usually cooler than during the day.
Invest in a good quality mattress and bedding whenever possible.
Keep technology out. Phones, tablets, and TVs have important places in many of our lives, but when used in the bedroom can lead to inability to fall asleep or experience healthy sleep cycles. If you work or study from home, try to designate a space other than the bedroom to do so.
The items and decor in your bedroom should inspire feelings of calmness, tranquility, and peace.
Clear the clutter from your closet. Having fewer options that fit and that you look forward to wearing will lessen the time and energy needed to get dressed. Your closet doesn’t need to be a reminder of how your body was different in the past. If you want to keep some beloved clothing items that used to fit, contain them to a small box or basket. If you’re someone who’s motivated by the idea of fitting in to them again, get them out periodically as a reminder. If not, put them out of sight for the time being. If the clothing items inspire painful feelings, donate them to make room for a new, future version of yourself.
Space to work: The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that a lot more people are working, going to school, or starting businesses from home.
Especially if this is new to you, designate a space in your home specifically for work. This will help you keep work related stress from entering other parts of your home and help you maintain some boundaries. It doesn’t have to be a home office, since this isn’t practical for those living in smaller spaces. It could be as simple as a small desk in a designated part of your living or dining room.
Reduce office clutter. Paperwork and office supplies are two categories that tend to get out of control quickly. Digitize (and back up) as much paperwork as possible. For those that prefer to keep paper copies, create a simple folder or hanging file system and miscellaneous papers will have a quick, easy, designated place to go.
For some, it helps to keep a physical item that reminds them of their connection to their work. Whether that’s a family photo, a small bulletin board displaying thank you notes from clients, or some plants and flowers, find something that speaks to you and makes you want to spend time in the space.
Space for movement: Whether you go to a gym, exercise outside, or inside your home, enhance your ability to follow through and look forward to your routine.
If you go to the gym or consistently exercise outside no matter the weather, you may not need to worry about a designated space inside your home. In that case, focus on having items you need ready to go - whether that’s a gym bag with workout gear already packed, or getting your clothes laid out and leaving your coat and shoes by the door. This is especially helpful if you work out early in the morning when you will be much more likely to follow through if the process doesn’t feel complicated and you have no excuse not to go.
Even if you primarily exercise outside the home, you may find it valuable to have a space inside your home in case there are days you just don’t want to leave the house but still feel like doing a workout.
If you primarily engage in exercise or movement inside your home, put some thought into the space you will use. If your basement is available but feels cold and dark, you might be unlikely to use it. Consider creating a warm and inviting spot, ideally where you have physical space to move without bumping into furniture. You might also need to consider time of day. If the space you want to use isn’t realistic in the morning because you’re cautious about waking up housemates, consider altering your schedule or making adjustments to other spaces.
More general tips for your living space:
Watch interior design shows or look at photos online. There is a wealth of information on how to make the best use of different size spaces.
Try to choose furniture that fits your space proportionately and arrange it in ways that allow for ease of movement.
Keep water easily accessible all day long. You’re much more likely to remember to drink if you have a glass, water bottle, or fun pitcher in sight.
It might not always cross your mind, but take a moment to feel gratitude that you have a place to call home - and care for it as an expression of that gratitude.
Your home likely contains stories of your past and evidence of your present life. Remember to leave room for the future that you want to create.