Winter is often a hard time of year for many people with its grey skies and overabundance of darkness. The cold and precipitation can easily keep you from venturing outside, but that shouldn’t prevent you from maintaining your personal wellbeing. It is during this time of year that we look to our homes as a safe haven so it’s crucial to make necessary adjustments to further promote wellness and healing.
Looking for a place to start can be overwhelming and may seem daunting at first. But there’s no reason to let those feelings get to you and start having an adverse effect. There are many areas in your home that can aid in your personal wellness and overall well-being. Once you’ve identified which areas need the most help, just a few adjustments can make a world of difference in any room.
In Your Bedroom
Your bedroom is your sanctuary. If yours doesn’t give that feeling to you, then you’re in need of a few changes. Otherwise you will likely have a hard time fully relaxing and finding peace in there. Start with the lighting. A bedroom is a place of rest and rejuvenation so there should be no bright and harsh lighting. Instead, opt to replace your current bulbs with ones that offer soft light. This small change can instantly put you in a better and more relaxed mood to help your body fully recoup after a long day.
Next look toward your actual bed and make sure it’s doing everything possible to help you get your best sleep every night. If your mattress causes you back pain that makes you toss and turn throughout the night, replace it with a new and more comfortable one. Make sure your sheets, comforter, blanket and pillows are working in your favor as well. If you tend to get hot at night opt for moisture-wicking sheets, a light comforter and cooling pillow, for instance.
Doing what you can in your bedroom to ensure a good night’s rest is essential to your overall well-being. Without it, no matter what other healthy habits you adopt in your life, you are putting yourself at risk of illness, burnout and depression.
In the Kitchen and Dining Area
Food is a key aspect of wellness and healing, making your kitchen and dining area a central hub for your well-being. From the food you have in the fridge, to the tools you use to prepare it and even how you eat your meals, all play into your personal wellness level. We all know how important it is to eat healthily and limit our intake of any junk food. But sometimes we just crave something that isn’t good for us. In that case you can always stock up on and prepare healthy alternatives to your favorite junk food so you can satisfy your craving while still maintaining your healthy habits. There are also healthy alternatives to cooking. For example, using an air fryer instead of an actual fryer cuts down the amount of grease you’re putting into your body.
How you consume your meals also can impact your wellness. Try to stick to certain meal times that work with your schedule. Having designated times to eat will help your body regulate when it is hungry and can expect nourishment. Eating in your dining area is also important. Whether that’s a table in the kitchen or an actual dining room, having a place to eat will be helpful in preventing you from overeating. If you’re in front of a television eating on a TV tray for example, you’ll be more likely to over consume and feel sick later.
In the Living Room
Where your bedroom is a place for sleep and rejuvenation, your living room is a place for relaxed entertaining and activity. To promote wellness and healing in this space, look to the decor you have. Muted and neutral tones work best for wall color and furniture to give the area a calm feel. You should also ensure that the room is as organized and clutter-free as possible. Overwhelming your guests and your own senses with too many bright colors, lights and items will make the space feel too crowded to enjoy and relax in.
One decor element to make sure you include here is candles. Sporadically placing them throughout the room will spread their glow and scent throughout the entirety of the space and immediately set a calming mood once lit. Having candles made with essential oils will offer plenty of benefits as well. One with lavender will help relax those in the room, while one with lemongrass scent will help combat any headaches and inflammation.
In a Recreation Space
Whether you have a spare room that was converted to a rec room or a renovated basement, there are plenty of ways this general space can help your personal wellness and health. Turn the space into a way to start a new hobby or to even perfect one you’re already practicing. Yogi’s can even engage with their community from around the world and look for advice on or new healing and wellness practices all from the comfort of their home studio.
The best part about this space is that it is customizable to your personal needs and preferences. You can even divide the room to meet your needs, for example it can be part yoga studio and part home spa. Whatever you need and want it to be, it can be. Having this dedicated area for your hobbies will give you a place to go relieve stress and focus on yourself all without having to venture out into the cold.
Jennifer is passionate about wellness as it relates to home decor. She thoroughly believes that having a place to retreat to is essential for everyone. Relaxation, happiness and personality are all major principles to her and the core of what she believes a person’s space should embody.
