Mindful Design

 

Many months into this pandemic, we seem to be taking an "it is what it is" attitude.  We have to.  We have no choice.  We have no control.  We are buckled up and in survival mode.  The chaos around us is so confusing!  If you're like me, you may have started out strong when we were told to stay home.  I was feeling like I was going to take this time to be productive, learn something new, relish the opportunity to relax.  There was nowhere to go, nowhere to rush, no one to see, so why not make the best of it?  I was working on my book full speed ahead.  That attitude did not last long! 

Five months in and a kind of lackadaisical haze had befallen me.  My structure had fallen by the wayside, my diet went to shit, and depression set in.  Seven months in and I summoned my resiliency muscle memory.  Too many challenges, too little control leaves one helpless and hopeless.  That's where mindfulness comes in.

What do we have control over when everything around us is falling apart?  We have our mind, we have our body, we have our spirit, and we have our living space. 

We have the present moment.

The practice of being more aware of the present moment is very powerful!  When you’re a witness to your actions, your awareness enables you to make decisions that are better for your wellbeing.  That is mindfulness.

The world is an exhausting place right now ~ Let's create more beauty within.  This is such a transformative time.  We will and are rising to the occasion.

Let's channel our energy into making mindful design choices that will foster a happy, healthy, calm environment even when, especially when, things around us feel chaotic.

1.  Find a sense of order in everything.  From your meals to your self care ritual to your housekeeping, order helps the mind and body remain calm.  You want to stress less!  The energy around you should be supporting that desire for inner peace and a sense of sanctuary.  It literally has the power to change your brainwaves.  Our work/home life lines have been blurred.  If you are multi tasking from home, order is essential!  Different zones for different activities at the very least.  Clean up or finish up one task and put it away before you begin another.  A sense of order is a self care ritual.

2.  Buddy up with a plant, or now that we can go out again, keep fresh flowers in the house.  Having something living in your space enriches your energy and the oxygen in the air.

3.  Get out in nature.  Go for a walk.  Go for a ride.  Change your scenery.  The smell in the air, the sun on your skin, the scent of the trees are incredibly restorative.  The quiet you derive from being in nature keeps you mindful of employing a "big picture" attitude.  Feeling present in that moment allows for an attitude of gratitude.

4.  Engage your senses with scent.  Smell is our most sensitive sense.  It triggers memory more than any other sense, so make sure it is a positive, pleasant memory that is evoked.  Candles, aromatherapy or essential oils can subtly change your experience in a space and alter your mood.  Make sure the scents you use are chemical free! 

5.  That is a natural segway into really attempting to eliminate the amount of chemicals you bring into your environment or put on or in your body.  Chemicals can have crazy toxic effects on each of us.  You may not notice much in any one instance, but the cumulative effect of toxins surrounding us is absolutely making us sick.  Balance of body = balance of home.

6.  Live by the light.  There is so much research about the benefits of  living in tune with our circadian rhythm.  Our biological clock works hand in hand with circadian rhythm to keep our wake/sleep cycle  balanced and our immune system healthy.  Ergo, when we are in balance.... all things are in balance.

7.  Self care is not a luxury!  Surround yourself with beauty and things that bring you joy; objects, people, music, anything!  Treat yourself like a queen.  Take a long bath, indulge in a bit of chocolate, carve out some alone time.  It could be anything that lifts your spirits and puts a smile on your face.  When you take care of yourself, you can show up as the best version of yourself for others.  

8.  Change your perspective and your world changes.  Whether it be the stories you tell yourself or the objects on your table, a fresh perspective begets fresh energy and with that wisdom abundance springs.

Your living space should enhance your happiness and wellbeing, and by living space I am referring to your body and mind as well as your environment.  Everything is connected and everything is energetically linked.

photos; 1. art by Mary Finlayson, bath by mama medicine, side table design by Alessandra Branca