Why is our environment so important to our health?
You may have noticed at this time more than any other how your home and work environment play a major role in how well you feel. Perhaps over the last few months you have had to adapt your home to become in part, a work or even school or learning environment, and the challenges you faced in creating this transitional environment. Most of us lately, without a doubt, have spent more time at home than usual. This may have been a positive change for lots of us, and conversely may have been more difficult for others. Whatever your situation I have no doubt that our experiences have had an impact on our general health and well being.
Maybe it's time to think about how to enhance our experience at home, to improve our outlook and to promote better health. I am NOT saying that it is imperative to sell up and move home. In fact, your environment is not as responsible for unhappiness, boredom or discontent as much as you think. How you feel within your environment is within your power to monitor or be mindful of, adjust and alter as you wish, appraise and accept moment to moment. Here are a few tips to consider that may help promote a healthier environment.
1. Let there be light! There is no doubt about……. a bit of Vitamin D is essential for better health. Discover where the light comes in to your home and at what time of day it's there. You don’t need an outdoor space - open a window, place a chair strategically for 10 mins of brightness. If you are an ‘early bird’ leave the curtains open to wake naturally with the light. If you are a ’night owl’ close the curtains! for the morning but fling them open later in the afternoon.
2. Change your space - I have fond memories of brilliant days when my sister would call me first thing in the morning after her husband had left the house for the entire day and say ‘Hurry up and come over, we have work to do’. Which inevitably meant moving furniture, sometimes rooms! We would have a ball reconfiguring the house, even more of a laugh when my brother in law would get home not knowing where the living room was. That was extreme but even changing the angle of your favourite chair gives you a different view, and ultimately perspective, on the life around you. It is also an opportunity to get to all that dust that collects behind and under furniture.
3. Change a habit - if you always sit in front of the TV with your dinner, try eating at the dining table. If you have your coffee in bed, move to the chair that looks out the window. Where do you normally read? Find another spot but equally as comfortable as the previous. Each of these small changes will set your eyes on a different scene, stimulate different thoughts and reactions to what you see, and familiarise you with a different part of your life.
4. Lists - take time to appreciate one thing about your environment and also one thing you would like to change each day. Make these things simple. Look closely for them. Take the time.
5. Share your environment. Things are enjoyed more when you share them. Obviously this is what we have all felt withdrawn from during lockdown. The chance to do this in person will come, but for now, pick up the phone, email a friend, facetime or even write a letter sharing your experiences. And if people aren’t your thing, buy a pot plant and nurture your new friend while watching how this new addition breaths life into your home.