We are all familiar with long days at the office, driving kids to hockey and soccer practice, and caring for elderly parents, to name just a few competing to-dos. Juggling life’s umpteen priorities can be taxing and stress inducing.
With a schedule that’s chock full, you want your home base to be as stress-free as possible. Your home is one place that you can make a sanctuary—somewhere you can recharge your energy rather than deplete it. But how do you make sure your home is stress reducing rather than stress inducing?
Here are some useful tips you can use to de-stress your home, and your life:
1) Develop a bedtime routine – Whether it’s taking a bath, having a cup of caffeine-free tea, meditating or catching up on your reading list, the time before you go to sleep is one in which you can unwind, take stock of your day and prepare for the next. You want to make sure your space is conducive to quality sleep. That means taking steps to limit electronic devices. In addition to competing for your mental bandwidth, the blue light emitted from many devices can take a toll on your REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. You might also want to make some modifications to your bedroom space, like installing blackout blinds, to ensure you get the best rest possible.
2) Create technology-free zones – It’s always tempting to answer that last inbound email from your co-worker, but being plugged in all the time can be counterproductive. Having access to Netflix in your bedroom will make sure you’re caught up on your favourite show, but can also be eroding the quality of your sleep. Establish zones where you limit or even eliminate screen time, so you can be present for your family and take time for yourself. You’ll find that your energy and productivity levels get a boost.
3) De-clutter for calm – Let’s face it, online shopping isn’t doing us any favours. It’s now easier than ever to acquire everything we want. And while this has upped the convenience factor, it’s also upped the clutter factor. If you’ve read Marie Kondo’s bestseller The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, you know that tidying and de-cluttering are tied to one’s overall well-being. According to Psychology Today, “Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli (visual, olfactory, tactile), causing our senses to work overtime on stimuli that aren't necessary or important.” So it’s important to rid your space of the unnecessary, even if it means taking it one room at a time. You might consider creating a “landing strip”—a space for everyday items like keys, wallets, and inbound mail. This will allow you to quickly locate frequently used items and create the first line of defense against the clutter that enters your home.
4) De-stress your kitchen – Proper meal planning with healthy ingredients can help you take control of your health, and is naturally tied to reduced stress levels. Junk food and processed foods provide temporary enjoyment, but create a negative feedback loop in terms of your long-term health, so why not remove these temptations from your home?
Here are few tips to consider:
1) Plan meals at least a week ahead of time.
2) Eat what’s fresh and in-season and try to stick to the ‘five-ingredient rule’ to avoid unnecessary chemicals and preservatives.
3) Keep your fridge and pantry efficient so that you reduce food waste and always have the staples in place to eat well.
Your state of mind will improve the quality of your sleep, ability to relax and nutrition. Remember, creating a stress-free home environment often starts with conscious effort. Your physical space is just one of the factors that contribute to your wellbeing. We always have the big picture in mind.