Health Vibes - Turn Home Spaces into Healing Places
Easy fixes can turn spaces in your home into places of healing. You'll need spaces specifically designed to help you relax, recharge, and de-stress. To give yourself the best "healing" atmosphere, you'll also need spaces for laughter & play time, exercise, and quality sleep.
Turn Home Spaces into Healing Places
With all the stress, and to do lists, and people clamoring for our attention every day - we desperately need to make our home a place of healing.
Give yourself a little bit of "me" time every day.
If you live with others - take inventory of shared spaces that you'd like to use and claim it at certain times. Maybe post it on a calendar or the door.
Activities should not add more stress or workload - but should help you relax, recharge, and de-stress.
Hit your internal "refresh" button - laugh more, exercise & be active, relax mind & body, eat well, and get good sleep.
Home Spaces - Inside
Living room - entertaining friends, movie night, board games, and playing with kids & pets.
Kitchen - cooking if you enjoy it. Cooking with friends is a double win & de-stressor.
Master bedroom - resting, sleeping, and "happy" time with your spouse. That's it, nothing else.
Bathroom - hot soak in the tub and a scrub.
Spare bedroom - exercising, reading, and hobbies.
Home Spaces - Outside
Exercise & do yoga. And: Walk to Live a Better Life.
Play team sports like badminton and lawn games.
Read, take a nap in the sun, or lounge poolside.
Grow a veggie garden & plant flowers.
Have an afternoon BBQ or romantical dinner for two.
Roast marshmallows by the fire and laugh with friends.
Throw a pool or jacuzzi party.
Home Spaces & Healing Places
Spaces: Living Room & Kitchen
Colors & Lighting
The living room is multi-functional with a variety of ways to turn the space into a healing place. To create a healing atmosphere, the living room should have a warm, inviting vibe. It should say welcome home and be comfortable but not cluttered.
Choose a basic light or medium "warm" color and a couple warm accent colors. Warm colors are happy, inviting, and passionate. Use warm colors for furniture pieces, artwork, accessories like pillows, throw blankets, and curtain valances (the border panel on each side of the window). Also, when using wood choose warm tones like cherry, maple, mahogany, or oak. Tile & stone should also be neutral warm tones.
Daytime lighting should be bright but warm, with as much natural light as possible. If you're short on windows, consider a skylight or enlarging 1 or 2 windows. Use warm white, not cool white bulbs for a softer light. Add a couple short rows of lights on either side of a fireplace or central focal point for a dramatic flair at night.
You could also use colored bulbs in lamps or colored glass lamp shades to add a touch of romance. A dimmer switch is another option. It you want to keep it simple - stockpile candles for the times you want a romantic, sexy space.
Kitchen
The kitchen can be a healing space especially if you like to cook.... and eat. Use whatever colors you like, but keep in mind if you go with most everything white - it looks sterile and lifeless.
If you want your kitchen to be inviting, and look alive - and you still prefer white and light colors - add a plant, appliances, or other items that add color like a fruit basket & flower vase.
Lighting should be bright white with cool white bulbs. For date night - cook dinner together and have fun. Dim the lights & put on some sexy tunes to seriously boost your happy hormones.
The whiter the surface colors, the more you can see crumbs & dirty fingerprints. Only keep appliances on the countertops if they're used often during the week. An un-cluttered kitchen is more inviting, fresh, and gives it a cleaner look. If the kitchen is open to the living room, consider adding the same or similar accent colors in the kitchen so the spaces blend well together.
Entertaining Ideas
Other entertaining ideas: book club, bible study, a yoga class. If you or a friend have a talent in a hobby like acrylic art or jewelry making - you could share with friends or teach classes once a month. There's also movie night, board game night, and a fun international food themed dinner night.
The whole idea of entertaining is to socialize - nurture friendships, spend time with loved ones, and laugh. LAUGH A LOT. Enjoying time with others will boost all 4 of your happy hormones which is a huge healing benefit. Learn how to: Make Happy Hormones.
Food Parties
First - we don't want to add more stress with a big workload. Keep it fairly simple & easy. If I host a girls lunch or dinner with close friends, I'll make the entrée and maybe drinks.
Since I'm a fan of sharing, I like potluck style meals and ask others to bring a side dish or dessert. Depending on the event, I might just provide drinks and a light snack. I also keep indoor parties smaller - up to 10 people, clean-up is easy and you can develop stronger bonds with smaller groups.
Fireplaces
Fire places are both practical and romantical. How relaxing is reading a book by the fireplace at night in your favorite comfy chair? Even the crackling sounds are calming. Plus, if you're having a date night, then... I'll let you fill in the blank!
Music Players
It doesn't matter - old school vinyl records, stacks of CD's, or 2,000 on an IPOD - keep your music ready to play in the living area. Music is always a perfect choice to bring on a serious happy jam, wind you way down, or get you in that certain ooh, la, la mood. With the lights down low and the right music playing - let the healing power begin.
Entertaining & Healing Spaces
Spaces: Master Bedroom
Colors & Lighting
Bedroom colors can be light or dark, but choose "cool" colors like blues or teals. Cool colors induce a calming and peaceful vibe. For lighting - I prefer the warm tone bulbs which is softer than bright cool white. Candles are awesome in the bedroom, especially if you want to start out by giving your spouse a massage with aphrodisiac scents like jasmine, rose, or vanilla essential oils in a coconut oil base.
Don't Do This in the Bedroom
Don't do this in the bedroom - No TV, working on your laptop, looking at your phone or updating social media. And, absoutely NO arguing. If you want to read - do it over in the corner in a comfy chair or better yet another room, but don't read in bed.
The bedroom, and especially your bed, should be associated with enjoyable & relaxing activities - a good night's sleep, snuggling, pillow talk, and "happy" time with your spouse. Doing these things will turn this space into a healing place.
More Spaces for Healing
Get Good Sleep
If you struggle with tossing and turning at night - try a heavy blanket or comforter. The little bit of extra pressure feels like a soft hug and encourages your body to relax which makes it easier to fall asleep.
Heavy blankets actually help the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone and seratonin, a happy hormone. Blankets about 10% of your body weight work best and also help with sleep disorders and restless leg syndrome.
Allow morning light into the bedroom to set your sleep-wake cycle - to fall asleep & wake up easier. A study in Sleep Health also said, let morning light into the office to keep your rhythm.
Cool temps. Another scientific fact - you sleep better when it's cooler. Keep your home or bedroom between 60 to 65 degrees F. at night. Personally, I like 55-58 with a slightly warmer comforter. Infants may need up to 68 degrees F. Mother's with infants should read how overheating impacts your baby. The elderly may need even higher temperatures.
If your bedroom is too warm it's hard to fall asleep & stay asleep. Use a ceiling fan or floor standing fan during hot nights and add some air conditioning. Since everyone is slightly different - some of you may prefer slightly warmer or cooler temps to sleep in.
Non habit-forming sleep aids. Take 5 mg melatonin, the sleep hormone prior to bed. Also, if don't get enough magnesium in your diet - take magnesium glycinate powder in the early evening. It has many health benefits including reducing stress and helping with sleep. To help keep heart disease and stroke away - get 7-9 hours of quality sleep.
Spaces: Spare Bedroom
Hopefully you have a spare bedroom that can be arranged to serve multiple purposes - a hobby room, home office, and possibly a guest room. Possibly an exercise room. The living room may be a better choice if you have a closet to store your weights and has more room to move around in. Outdoors is another great option: What's Always with You?
Exercise - Weights for strong bones & muscles. Yoga for strength, balance, and mobility. And total body movement for cardio, mobility, and heart health. A large screen TV, weights, and yoga mat are the basic needs.
Hobbies - Studies show that it's mentally calming when you make something with your hands, even if it takes some effort and a little sweat. It's also very satisfying to see the your progress & completed project. A folding table and 3-5 drawer cabinet for supplies will get you going on so many hobbies.
Hobby Examples - playing the guitar or keyboards, cooking, gardening, wood working, ceramics, painting, building model trains, making jewelry, making candles, crafting with buttons or plants & mosses, knitting, framing photography, scrap booking, sewing clothes, and many other crafts. As mentioned above, if you or a friend has a talent or skill - invite others over to share, or teach classes for extra play money. So many possibilities, and so much fun.
Spaces: Master Bath
The master bathroom should be a healing sanctuary with a spa vibe. Enjoy it regularly. A nice big shower and stand-alone bathtub built for 2 gives you more options & more healing benefits.
Lots of healing occurs - a hot bath will boost in happy hormones, sooth and relax tight muscles, and give you a total de-stressing, brain slowing, and restorative experience.
For more de-stressing affects - add dried flowers like lavender or an essential oil to the bath. The scent stays on your body which is great if it's bedtime. Or, use a diffuser breathe in an essential oil scent.
Treat yourself with "me" time - turn on soft music & light the candles. See WOW ways to: Relax Your Mind or Go Cuckoo.
Shower hack for better health: when you're done with your hot shower, turn on the cold water. Start with 30 seconds and build your way up to 2-3 minutes. There are numerous physical & mental healing benefits, such as a better immune system, less pain & inflammation therefore boosting your body's recovery time after workouts or injury, higher metabolism & circulation. It also helps relieve stress & depression. Who knew? Cold water.
Healing Hack: Indoor Plants
Plants can turn any space in your home into a healing place. Did you know that indoor plants are not only a beautiful piece of art, but they also provide healing benefits? Having 3-4 plants in the living room, and a couple in the kitchen & master bedroom will provide gentle healing.
A grouping of plants around a space simulates being in nature. And nature has proven to help with our mental & emotional health by reducing stress and creating a peaceful space. Peppermint, lavender, jasmine, rose, lemon & orange, eucalyptus, rosemary, and others help your brain relax.
Plants in general help your brain to slow itself down, even without the strong scents.
Some plants improve the air quality by removing allergens in the air. They attack mold, dust, and volatile organic compounds in the air. Try the Boston fern, English ivy, spider plant, Chinese evergreen, or bamboo palm. The peace lily is known to remove 78% of mold in the air. The snake plant is one of the most effective at removing everyday kinds of indoor pollution.
Healing Hacks in Home Spaces
Some plants improve breathing and respiratory system by creating more oxygen.
Try the snake plant, peace lily, and aloe vera plant. It's no surprise that these also help you focus better.
These 3 plants may also improve sleep quality in the bedroom, especially people with allergies.
Excessive use of plants can be harmful, reduce air circulation, increase humidity levels, and possibly cause bug infestations.
A few plants are toxic to dogs & children if ingested.
Many plants have healing properties and are steamed down into concentrated essential oils that heal a huge variety of illnesses & injuries. They boost your immune system, heal wounds, relieve pain, help digestion, balance hormones, moisturize skin, and so much more. And besides being natural air purifiers, they even help during the dry season by adding moisture into the air. See some healing remedies using essential oils: Natural Remedies Heal.
Healing Hack: Pets
Pets, especially dogs provide us with great health benefits for our minds & body. I'm an animal lover in general - dogs, horses, donkeys, mini goats, rabbits, and more. Dogs & horses can become service animals, providing benefits that include emotional support and stress reduction.
Look at these blogs to learn about the healing benefits of animals. Click for: How Do Pets Improve Your Life?
Healing Hack: Dry Climate
If you live in a dry climate, or your winters are dry - you need more moisture in the air for better health. A humidifier in your bedroom will help dry skin, psoriasis, asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses. It can also help with snoring. If you have an ultrasonic humidifier - add a drop of essential oils for added healing. Adding a humidifier in the bedroom will cost less than $40.
Spaces: Outside
Your outdoor space also needs to be a multi-purpose sanctuary: for socializing, playtime, laughter, relaxing, resting, meditating, and enjoying nature. It can also double as an exercise venue.
Front porch - set up a bistro type table and 2 chairs or maybe a bench and a rug for Sparky the dog. Have yourself a bit of quiet time in the morning or evening sipping on your favorite beverage.
Back deck - Add a rug, floor pillows and chairs or benches. And don't forget BBQ equipment.
Back yard - it needs plants, flowers, and trees so you can immerse yourself in the healing powers of nature.
Plant a herb garden in a vertical stand, or a small veggie garden. Great options for organic food.
On the lawn - play badminton, ping-pong, bocce ball, or horse shoes.
The healing power of hot water - soak in a jacuzzi or hot tub. For extra happy hormones - enjoy it on date night.
Plan a romantic dinner with twinkly lights around the deck and then sit by the fire pit together and enjoy the stars.
Put a small or large water feature on the deck - the sound of water trickling down is very de-stressing & calming.
Hammock or lounge chairs - if you don't like hammocks, get a few reclining lounge chairs and just "BE".
Throw a BBQ for friends & family. Invite the neighbors too. You can use inexpensive fun summer plates and cups.
Have a pet or child play date in the back yard with a friend or two.
Gather 'round the fire pit for a good ol' fashion marshmallow roast and a sing-along.
Have a super fun pool party during the day - or for date night with a few other couples.
Did you know a messy, cluttered home actually triggers more stress? Studies done by UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) found that the stress hormone cortisol increased significantly in homes with a lot of CLUTTER. Personally, I think of clutter as chaos, and it definitely stresses me.
In contrast, studies are proving that those living in a fairly clean, organized, and un-cluttered homes are less stressed and more relaxed at home. They also sleep a little better and tend to be more productive. Is it possible the minimalist lifestyle trend was created to de-clutter and de-stress a very stressed out generation?
This is how de-cluttering my home lifted a load off me. First, know that I always keep a pretty clean, organized, and de-cluttered home & office. Coming home after work, I usually felt a little stress fading away simply because it wasn't in a chaotic cluttered state. However - it's still easy to accumulate "stuff" over the decades.
Back to my story.... I decided to turn my spring cleaning into an experiment. For stuff in closets, storage spaces, and the garage - if I haven't used it in over 5 years it's going to be donated. After purging everything using my 5 year rule, I found that I had several empty shelves everywhere.
It's actually amazing - I felt mentally & physically lighter.... not weighed down, even though I only cleaned out storage spaces. End result: studies are correct - it's LESS stressful & burdensome to live a de-cluttered life.
Added bonus - Think of all the money you'll save not buying more "stuff" you'll use for a minute and then toss in a closet. Think about a little less clutter that will de-tangle your home, creating a healing sanctuary. You may save enough over a year for the car or vacation you really need. Less clutter = less stress = more healing spaces = more happy.
Let's do an experiment.
Compare the photos on the left & right. If you walked into a home that looked like the left 2 photos, then the right 2 photos - how would you feel? Left photos = do you feel stressed, chaotic and not at ease? Right photos = do you feel calm, cozy, and de-stressed?
DeClutter for a Healing Place
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