4 Small Ways to Look After Your Health at Home
Arrange your environment to encourage good habits, such as getting enough sleep, exercising and eating right
Patricia Lee
24 March 2020
Houzz Contributor. Patricia Lee is a professional home organizer in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the co-owner of Tailorly with her business partner Jeanne Taylor. Together they create beautiful homes through decluttering, organizing, and styling. For more information visit www.tailorly.net.
Houzz Contributor. Patricia Lee is a professional home organizer in the San Francisco... More
When our schedules get busy, it can be easy to sacrifice our health. Neglecting sleep, exercise and nutrition can be the path of least resistance. But there are small steps you can take at home to keep your health on track in stressful times. I recommend you get started on these ahead of your next busy phase.
1. Sleep
Get rid of bedside clutter
Getting enough rest is a foundation of good health, but it sure is easy to neglect the nightly ZZZs when life gets busy. A bedroom that feels restful and calm signals to your body and mind that it’s time to downshift from your hectic day.
To create a calm aura in your bedroom, start by tidying your bedside and removing anything you no longer use or need. Think books you’ve already read, outdated magazines or unused hand lotions. Keep only those things you use, such as a lamp, alarm clock and phone, or that soothe you or bring you joy, such as a photo of a loved one, a small vase or a special book. Having just a few items on your bedside table makes it easier to keep clean and dust-free.
Browse bedside tables
Get rid of bedside clutter
Getting enough rest is a foundation of good health, but it sure is easy to neglect the nightly ZZZs when life gets busy. A bedroom that feels restful and calm signals to your body and mind that it’s time to downshift from your hectic day.
To create a calm aura in your bedroom, start by tidying your bedside and removing anything you no longer use or need. Think books you’ve already read, outdated magazines or unused hand lotions. Keep only those things you use, such as a lamp, alarm clock and phone, or that soothe you or bring you joy, such as a photo of a loved one, a small vase or a special book. Having just a few items on your bedside table makes it easier to keep clean and dust-free.
Browse bedside tables
2. Exercise
Designate an area for workout clothes and equipment
If your goal is to exercise several times a week, consider devoting a section of your dresser or wardrobe to your workout clothes and towels. Keeping everything together will save you time since you won’t need to dig to find your outfits. This is especially helpful if you work out early in the morning and want to savour every last minute of sleep.
Similarly, keep your exercise equipment (yoga mats, weights, exercise balls) in one area (perhaps close to the TV if you stream a workout). I keep all the accessories I need for walking –sunglasses, hat, gloves, earphones, sunscreen – in a drawer in my entryway table. That way I can get out the door without delay. If you take classes, pre-pack your gym bag with toiletries, towels and other personal items. After laundering, you can place items right back into the bag or your dedicated gym clothes space.
Designate an area for workout clothes and equipment
If your goal is to exercise several times a week, consider devoting a section of your dresser or wardrobe to your workout clothes and towels. Keeping everything together will save you time since you won’t need to dig to find your outfits. This is especially helpful if you work out early in the morning and want to savour every last minute of sleep.
Similarly, keep your exercise equipment (yoga mats, weights, exercise balls) in one area (perhaps close to the TV if you stream a workout). I keep all the accessories I need for walking –sunglasses, hat, gloves, earphones, sunscreen – in a drawer in my entryway table. That way I can get out the door without delay. If you take classes, pre-pack your gym bag with toiletries, towels and other personal items. After laundering, you can place items right back into the bag or your dedicated gym clothes space.
3. Nutrition
Clean out the fridge and pantry
If you have to dig through a lot of items just to gather the ingredients to make a dish, it’s going to be inconvenient for you to create healthful meals and you may resort to easier, less nutritious options. Don’t let refrigerator clutter be an obstacle. After tossing old and spoiled foods, group the remaining items by category – vegetables, fruits, meats, condiments, breakfast foods – to make them easier to find. If salad is a staple, consider putting all your salad ingredients on a tray or in a small basket so you can pull them all out at once. Similarly, group ingredients for sandwich or juicing – or whatever category you prepare frequently.
Clean out the fridge and pantry
If you have to dig through a lot of items just to gather the ingredients to make a dish, it’s going to be inconvenient for you to create healthful meals and you may resort to easier, less nutritious options. Don’t let refrigerator clutter be an obstacle. After tossing old and spoiled foods, group the remaining items by category – vegetables, fruits, meats, condiments, breakfast foods – to make them easier to find. If salad is a staple, consider putting all your salad ingredients on a tray or in a small basket so you can pull them all out at once. Similarly, group ingredients for sandwich or juicing – or whatever category you prepare frequently.
Get rid of unhealthy options
It’s difficult to stay on track nutrition-wise if you’re surrounded by temptation, so consider letting go of foods that don’t support your goals. Rather than tossing perfectly edible items, consider donating unopened, unexpired, nonperishable goods. Toss or compost food whose containers have been opened or that have expired, and recycle the containers if possible.
Reconsider your buying habits
Buying in bulk can be tempting since the cost per item tends to be so much lower. But consider whether this method actually equates to savings for you. If you’re habitually unable to finish items before they’re past their prime, then perhaps buying in bulk doesn’t make sense. You’ll ultimately save money – and precious space in your refrigerator.
How to clean your fridge, inside and out
It’s difficult to stay on track nutrition-wise if you’re surrounded by temptation, so consider letting go of foods that don’t support your goals. Rather than tossing perfectly edible items, consider donating unopened, unexpired, nonperishable goods. Toss or compost food whose containers have been opened or that have expired, and recycle the containers if possible.
Reconsider your buying habits
Buying in bulk can be tempting since the cost per item tends to be so much lower. But consider whether this method actually equates to savings for you. If you’re habitually unable to finish items before they’re past their prime, then perhaps buying in bulk doesn’t make sense. You’ll ultimately save money – and precious space in your refrigerator.
How to clean your fridge, inside and out
4. Down time
Plan time to unwind in an uncluttered space
Time reserved just for ourselves is good for the soul, but it can be hard to find room for it in our schedules. When my children were little and I had the rare moment to myself, I would waste time trying to decide what to do – clean the house or exercise; read a book or grocery shop in peace – and end up not doing much at all.
I recommend you schedule time in your calendar for yourself and respect the appointment as you would any other. I also recommend deciding ahead of time how you’ll spend your me-time, so that you don’t fritter it away weighing the possibilities.
Plan time to unwind in an uncluttered space
Time reserved just for ourselves is good for the soul, but it can be hard to find room for it in our schedules. When my children were little and I had the rare moment to myself, I would waste time trying to decide what to do – clean the house or exercise; read a book or grocery shop in peace – and end up not doing much at all.
I recommend you schedule time in your calendar for yourself and respect the appointment as you would any other. I also recommend deciding ahead of time how you’ll spend your me-time, so that you don’t fritter it away weighing the possibilities.
If you can’t relax during your unwind time because of clutter, then I recommend you use that time to work on eliminating it. Decluttering can be overwhelming, emotional and time-consuming, so be gentle on yourself while you do it. You’re making progress even if you take just 15 minutes a day to make decisions on your belongings. Often, physical decluttering can lead to emotional decluttering. Once you’ve decluttered a space, you may find it easier to relax and really unwind during your precious time to yourself.
If you can’t tackle decluttering alone, consider hiring a professional home organiser. A competent one will keep you on track with your goals, guide you through the decision process without judgment and help you plan your space so it works best for how you live. And working together means you’ll reach your goal faster.
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Do you have tips on how to improve your health at home? Share them in the Comments below.
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If you can’t tackle decluttering alone, consider hiring a professional home organiser. A competent one will keep you on track with your goals, guide you through the decision process without judgment and help you plan your space so it works best for how you live. And working together means you’ll reach your goal faster.
TELL US
Do you have tips on how to improve your health at home? Share them in the Comments below.
MORE
Read more health stories
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Would love to know the name of wall color. Also, information on nightstands. Thank You.
Our bedroom windows face West. Ugh. Even with loE 366 glass in new windows , this room is not conductive to sleep. Rolldown solar shades have made a huge impact on our rest. The diffused light is calming and cooling.
Great ideas!