May is mental health awareness month. In this month’s blog post, I want to share some ideas and guidance on how you can nurture your mental health and how organising your spaces can help contribute to this.
In the world we live in today, being busy and burnt out is often seen as a sign of success and ambition. We trade our time spending late nights and weekends at the laptop trying to get ahead of deadlines and catch up on emails, at the expense of quality time with our loved ones or time out to connect with the things that inspire us and bring us joy. This can lead to overwhelm, increased levels of stress and frustration, and can even cause damage to our physical and mental health.
I have witnessed many friends and family members trying to live in this toxic cycle of trying to keep up with the rat race, justifying this lifestyle by saying things like, “One day it will all be worth it.” and “I’m working hard to give my kids the life I never had.”. The sad reality is, life is short. It seems to fly past us. A busy week can quickly turn into a busy month, a busy year, and before you know it, you’re on the same “too busy” hamster wheel that everyone seems to be stuck on.
This lifestyle, together with social calendars that are too full, saying ‘yes’ to things that you don’t really want to do, and a huge tendency to spend free time on devices, causes life to feel chaotic and out of control. This comes at the cost of time doing things you love; taking a walk in the woods with your partner, taking the time to enjoy your cuppa in the morning or, watching your children laugh and have fun. In a world that is saying “Go, Go, Go!”, it takes bravery to want something different and to say “No.”.
These tips can help uplift your mental health and help you feel calmer, lighter and more connected to a life you enjoy.
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Declutter and Organise Your Space
A beautiful and welcoming space can help you to feel calm and at peace. By surrounding yourself with items that bring you happiness, you can uplift your mood and increase your peace of mind. Clutter causes a huge amount of overwhelm and stress and can cause life to feel chaotic and out of control. When you declutter and organise your space, you are creating a sanctuary where you can unwind and take care of your mental health. Start small by getting your living room decluttered and organised and transform it into a cosy place where you can relax and spend time with your family. Getting organised in your daily planner or calendar can also have benefits on your mental health. Prioritising the tasks on your to-do list and time blocking these accordingly into your calendar can improve productivity and allow you to get the most important things on your list sorted. Give yourself grace if you don’t get to complete the less important tasks, they can always be done on another day!
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A Good Work – Life Balance
It is a personal choice in our household that work doesn’t get done outside of work hours and that personal and family time is something that should be cherished. Work-life balance is integral to living a sustainable life that nurtures and supports your well-being. Carving out time every day to enrich your mental and physical health, to fill your cup, and to value time with loved ones, is a conscious decision that you must make for yourself. It takes effort and determination to resist the path of overworking and burnout, but it will contribute greatly to improving your mental health. Be purposeful in scheduling time in your calendar for activities that you enjoy, whether it be for meditation, exercise or even just some good old fun! Physically allocate time in your daily planner to put the laptop and work away and focus on the things that you love doing; this will force your brain to realise just how important work-life balance is!
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Be Kind to Your Mind and Body
Having a healthy lifestyle that supports your physical and mental well-being will help to alleviate overwhelm and stress. Physical exercise increases productivity and creativity and boosts feel-good hormones that help you feel uplifted. There are many ways to get active, whether you enjoy a calming yoga session or love getting your frustrations out on the punching bag, you just need to find what works for you. Eating nutritious food, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, in your daily diet is good for brain health and helps provide the nutrients that your body needs to function well. Eating a balanced diet that is rich in nutrients will help you improve your mood, increase energy levels, and have clearer thinking. Make it easier to find good, nutritious food by cleaning out and reorganising your fridge and pantry. Meditation and breathing exercises can help calm the mind and bring peace in times of anxiety. Take time out every day, even if it’s only 5 minutes, to practice mindful meditation or deep breathing because it will calm the mind and bring you clarity and peace.
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Spend Time in Nature
Spending time in nature is an amazing way to reduce stress and anxiety and is beneficial for mental health. Taking a walk in your local park, hiking in the woods, or having a relaxing walk on the beach are all ways that you can enjoy the peace that nature has to offer. Simply having a cup of tea while listening to the birds chirping outside can bring a moment of joy and serenity. Take notice of the small wonders of nature – the smell of jasmine in the air; the feeling of the sun shining on your skin and the pitter patter of raindrops on a rainy day. These small moments can be used to calm your mind and improve your mental well-being. Bring the outdoors into your home with the addition of a few house plants that will freshen up and add a sense of calm to your spaces. A few woodland or floral scented candles are never a bad idea either!
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Connect With Your Loved Ones
Spending quality time with the people that you love reduces anxiety and stress and helps you feel connected and grounded. Talking about your worries and fears with family and friends that can help and support you is a great way to feel calmer and more at ease in the pressures of life. Being mindful and appreciative in the small moments spent with loved ones can help you focus on the present and not on the worries or stresses of the future. Purposefully making time in your schedule to connect with friends and family on a regular basis will contribute to better mental health. Having an organised and tranquil home can lead to deeper and more meaningful connections with your loved ones because you don’t have clutter around to take away from the moment. Creating a home that you and your family love to spend time together in will have huge benefits on your mental and physical well-being.
I hope that these tips have helped you on your journey to creating an environment where your mental health can thrive and one where you and your family can live a more mindful and peaceful life.
If you have any questions on how I can help you create organised spaces in your home, I welcome you to get in touch.
