Last week as I sat high up in the Hollywood Hills overlooking Downtown LA, I began to reflect on the importance of environment. It was absolutely blissful to be in such a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere and I was so happy to be there. It got me thinking. Our environment is so important to both our emotional and physical well being. Our minds are drawn towards pollution, pesticides and all the other horrid toxins that can exist in our physical environment when we think about the term ‘toxic environment’. Sure these can all have a negative impact on our physical health and it makes sense to be aware of these factors. However, these are often things that are out with our control. Unless we make the decision to live in the remotest place on earth then they are going to be part of our daily lives to some extent. What we need to think of are the things we can control. There is so much more in our environment that impacts on our health and happiness. Our home and our work are probably the two most significant environments we place ourselves in but think of the term environment as meaning every single place that you choose to be in. Does it make you happy being there? Are there any changes you can make if it does not?
Our home will be the most important environment to us folks with a chronic illness as it where we are likely to spend the largest proportion of our time. This means it should be a relaxing, stress-free and enjoyable environment. How do you feel being in your home? If it’s the complete opposite to what I just described then you need to think about the steps you can take to improve this. Here are a few ideas that can help you to improve your home environment:
♥ DECLUTTER ♥
If you are anything like me then you will find it easy to collect stuff. Stuff that I don’t even need has the tendency to accumulate in my home. If you are like me then mess and clutter will also stress you out. There is a lot to be said for living a minimalist lifestyle. You may not be into the concept of Feng Shui but having a tidy, clutter free home is super important in helping you feel calm, relaxed and happy. So how can you go about achieving that? Spend just five minutes each day re-organising your home. Make a list of all the things you do not want or need and plan to give them away or throw them out. Each day spend those five minutes working your way through that list. This is something you need to make the time and energy for.
♥ STAMP YOUR PERSONALITY ON IT ♥
I spent a year and a half staring at magnolia walls and it did my head in. I hated it! I saved and I saved and I saved until I could afford to have a professional come in and repaint my house. It is still a neutral colour but oh boy do I like it. My house now feels like a home. I decided to stick to neutral as I get easily bored with how my home looks. It is far easier and way cheaper to keep my walls neutral and change up the colour scheme of the rooms by changing cushion covers etc. Putting your personality into your home does not need to be an expensive thing either. Visit thrift shops, markets and car boot sales and check out any items that have the potential to be upcycled.
♥ INVEST IN COMFORT ♥
Lets face it. We will be spending a lot of time in bed and on that sofa. Investing in good quality, comfortable furniture is a must.
♥ HAVE A VASE OF FLOWERS ♥
This might just be a ‘me’ thing but I love nothing more than to have flowers fill my home. Although fresh is always best you can get lovely bouquets of artificial flowers that not only look gorgeous but are also good for the bank balance too.
♥ USE SCENTED CANDLES ♥
I love scented candles. There is no better way to create a calm, peaceful environment than to fill it with a beautiful aroma. I find air fresheners are too chemically and harsh on my senses but the aroma of a candle agrees with me just fine and I can burn one for hours without any trouble (I just make sure all my internal doors are open to create ventilation).
♥ SURROUND YOURSELF WITH NOSTALGIA♥
Momentos and photos that evoke good memories should be placed around your home. Nostalgia is a very powerful way to create good feelings and emotions. Why not create a photo wall, for example?
Employ these tips and you are sure to create a happy, relaxing environment that is peaceful and enjoyable to be in. Do you have any other tips or advice for creating a good environment?
