There are a million reasons why it is important to keep your stress levels at a minimum, and although reducing stress is often easier said than done, a few changes in your home design could make it easier to adapt practices that keep you calm and collected.
- Organize: Being unable to find the things that you need in your own home is frustrating, and having all of that visual clutter isn’t productive either. Starting with your desk and important documents, organize the things you use and donate what you don’t. Select a method of organizing documents (binders, filing cabinet, folder system) and have all of the supplies on hand to make it easy to file new papers away as you get them. Then move on to the closets and other rooms in your house.
- Designate a spot for keys, purses, and wallets: Ever been caught running late for an important meeting and you can’t find your keys? Or been stuck in line at a grocery store and realize that you forgot your wallet? Create a space right inside your front door where your family can store all the essential items they take when they leave the house. Maybe even keep a few umbrellas there too to make rainy days less hectic.
- Eat Healthy: Arrange the kitchen so that cooking is less stressful by putting all spices, pots, pans, and utensils within easy reach. Have fruits and vegetables accessible on the countertop or ready to go in the fridge. The easier it is to grab a healthy snack or cook a healthy meal, the more likely you will be to do it. Also, sit down with friends and family for meals at the dining room table. Eating together encourages people to eat at a slower pace and recognize when they feel full, while eating on the go or in front of the TV urges people to eat more and choose less healthy options.
- Sleep Well: Whatever colors and decor make you feel relaxed, that is what you should use to create a private retreat in your bedroom. If you feel overwhelmed by all the choices, stick with shades of blue, green, purple, and yellow. A great mattress from Serta will also go a long way toward helping you fall asleep faster. Also, don’t tempt yourself by installing a TV in the bedroom! The light from televisions keeps you up later and makes your sleep less restful.
- Exercise: Regular exercise will also help keep stress at bay, so motivate yourself with a reserved spot in your house to exercise at home or to keep your gym bag in a spot where you can grab it and go. Even if you only have time and space to do a 7-minute workout before showering in the morning, every little bit adds up quickly.
Utilizing your home to promote healthy activities that will positively affect your mind and body is a great way to stick with a routine that works. However, it is also important to recognize that you cannot control everything, and sometimes things are not going to work out perfectly. A little clutter is normal every once in a while, and you might skip a day of exercise here and there. Don’t let these minor hiccups discourage you, and instead accept the situation and know that you can always do better tomorrow.