By Gail Bicknell, ASID, CAPS
We hear a lot these days about self-care~ the practice of being well. Wellness, I believe, means making thoughtful and deliberate choices about how to live a healthy and happy life. In the 1990s, Peggy Swarbrick, an occupational therapist and researcher, introduced the concept of a “Wellness Wheel.” A Wellness Wheel has eight centrally connected sections and has been adopted by the US Health and Human Services Department as a model to promote behavioral health for the nation. The eight dimensions are Emotional, Physical, Intellectual, Environmental, Social, Spiritual, Financial, and Occupational and everyone can be better supported with a well-organized, clean, efficient, safe, and comfortable home.
Let’s look at some specific practices you can adopt to promote your and your family’s self-care at home. In the kitchen, keep up with the dishes, unloading and refilling the dishwasher so things don’t gravitate to your sink. Clean up spills as soon as they happen. Put things back into cupboards after you use them. In the bathroom, hang up towels or replace them, keep floors and bathmats dry to prevent slipping, and clean your toilet and shower/tub as often as needed. In both the kitchen and bath, keep counters and mirrors wiped clean. Make your beds daily, hang up clothing, or drop it into a hamper. In every room, try, try, try to keep clutter to a minimum. Baskets and bins can provide “a place for everything.” Cleanliness and keeping order go a long way toward having a home that’s physically safe and emotionally inviting.
Then add the touches that will revive your mind and spirit. A comfortable family space where you can gather for meals and to relax is essential. Maybe a small desk and chair would give you a place to be with your thoughts to read, paint, or journal. A cozy lounge chair is a wonderful place to curl up and read. Even new toss pillows on the sofa can add color and a fresh inviting look.
Meditating or listening to music or a podcast engages and expands your mind. Taking a warm bath or shower relaxes and renews. The pleasant scent of fresh flowers or candles will lift your mood. A cozy and comfortable bed invites rest and sleep. One of the most affordable and easiest changes you can make in your home is to add indoor plants. They enhance the appearance of your home,
provide a mood boost, reduce stress, and help keep your air cleaner by eliminating pollutants. Plants look good and make you feel good as well. Another simple but highly effective practice is to develop a basic morning and nighttime routine to add order and structure~ you’ll likely begin to find it automatic and comforting. Start small. Begin with one area you’d like to improve and give it a try.
Where we spend our time affects our health and our moods. A home that feels safe, clean, and orderly will do wonders for your outlook. Above all else, your home is your space. Fill it with what you love.
Ready to care for yourself? I’d love to talk to you! Gail Bicknell, ASID, CAPS-Fair Street Interiors
fairstreetinteriors.squarespace.com
fairstreetinteriors@gmail.com
