Author Archives: Megan Antlfinger

Home Harmony Help

Remember back to when you moved into your first place and were excited at the space you could create and call your own. Can you recall the feelings of eager anticipation as you began to design your space that seemed to be a metaphor for your life and the exciting experiences and opportunities that lay ahead? Do your feelings for your home and life match the enthusiasm that you once felt or know that you could feel?

Your home is the foundation of your life, either supporting and nurturing you psychologically, physically and spiritually or depleting you on all levels. Learning how to create a space that optimally supports your health and harmony is a fundamental element to live to your highest potential.

Let’s look at some examples…

Colors have an incredible impact on your mind and body. Color can literally change your body chemistry and create an emotional response in the brain. Different colors stimulate the brain to feel a range of emotions from anger and aggression to hunger or calm. Specific colors can cause an increase in heart rate or a cooling effect on the body. Taking color into consideration and utilizing it to maximize your optimal environment is key when designing your home that impacts your life.

The materials and products you bring home can either support or deplete your efforts in creating a body full of energy, vitality and great health. Your health has an impact on all other areas of your life whether it is emotional wellbeing or clarity of mind. Understanding that toxins lurk in the home furnishings, rugs, paints, cleaning products and air fresheners is the first step in creating a healthy, non-toxic home. My mantra has always been “Knowledge is power. It gives you the power of conscious choice.” This allows you to consciously choose what you want in your home instead of inadvertently bringing harmful products inside that are often misrepresented by advertising and big business. Learning simple techniques, solutions and alternate options will support your goals for optimum health, vitality and harmony.

Your home is continuously whispering to your subconscious. These subliminal messages are in the objects, design and furnishings that form the framework of your home that has a direct impact on your sense of peace and satisfaction. It is important to understand what the feedback loop is saying and that it is on a continuous replay setting. You can change the channel to a positive frequency when you develop an awareness of the hidden messages in your space and replace them with positive vibes.

These are a few of the elements that can help you create a strong foundation in home harmony. Becoming aware of the impact your home has on your psychological, physical and spiritual well-being gives you the knowledge to make the best possible choices in designing your home which is integral in creating your best life.

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Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Home Harmony During Transition

Have you ever had an experience that was less than pleasant and realized looking back that it was part of a greater plan packed with valuable lessons? These moments can be golden nuggets that shape the landscape of your life. They can help you adapt and mold your life into a richer and more fulfilling experience, something even greater than you thought possible.

For me, I have always been aware of the great impact that my environment has on my wellbeing. This understanding lead me down the path of combining my skill set of interior design and psychology which allows me to help others create homes that nurture and support their experience in their inner and outer world. This integration builds a solid foundation that one can come home to, to be nurtured, re-energized and rejuvenated.

This summer, the golden nugget was a new found appreciation of how deeply rooted we are in our space. I often teach that our homes are a direct reflection of what we are experiencing in our inner world. We also hold our spaces in our subconscious, dwelling on clutter that needs to be dealt with, doors that need to be painted or window treatments that need to be created. We expend an inordinate amount of unconscious energy on our homes, especially when things are less than harmonious. On the flip side, our homes can revitalize our essence and help us meet the demands of things on the other side of the door. But, what do we do if we don’t have a space to call our own, are transitioning from one space to the next or are continuously on the move?

I have had to examine this question before when we moved from one state to another. That relocation helped guide me in creating a systematic strategy to make the transition smooth and effortless for my family. The change flowed with grace and thankfully the acclimation process was relatively calm and uneventful for all. This was achieved in part because of my need and efforts in creating nurturing spaces within our home. I knew it would take me a bit of time to complete the full-scale house project of setting up, re-configuring and designing to my standards. Instead, I made smaller “safe-havens” for each person in the family. Everyone had a space that would rejuvenate their being so they could go forth into their new world like explorers on a courageous expedition meeting new friends, teachers and unfamiliar territory. This “safe-haven” gave them a place to feel connected and rooted so that the barrage of new experiences wouldn’t leave them feeling dizzy and out-of-balance.

This summer we decided to accommodate all of the busy schedules comprised of heavy work travel, sport training camps and an assortment of sporting tournaments. We attempted to spend as much time as we could each week at our little cottage by the Vineyard Sound. Little did I realize that going back and forth from our main home to our tiny cottage could be so depleting. What I recognized was that I was missing the deep seeded need to feel connected or rooted in my space that gives me support, comfort and a daily injection of calm and harmony. The back and forth left me feeling uprooted and disoriented. I realized that this lack of grounding was at the center of my angst and feelings of imbalance. It made me wonder how individuals and families who constantly relocate, need to move or are in transition maneuver the transitioning landscape. How do they maintain a balanced state and what solutions could be utilized to create a sense of rooted grounding and comfort.

These were my thoughts, which I realized could help with any turmoil, or transition that is happening in one’s life…

1. Safe-Haven

When moving into a new space it can be beneficial to the psyche to select one area and make it comfortable, aesthetically pleasing & inviting. A spot where you can take a deep breath and re-calibrate. With the upheaval that comes with moving I usually suggest making one’s bedroom that space. We spend so many hours a day in that room that it is important to make this space great. Additionally, it is the last space you see as you close your eyes which has an impact on how restful your sleep will be. And, it is the first area you see upon waking which can set the tone for the day ahead. Simplify this space and make it a clutter free zone void of boxes. Think serene and supportive. This will ground you in your new space and help you connect to your inner calm.

2. Clear the Clutter

During a move or a transitioning state, items are typically packed up in boxes. Hopefully those boxes are organized and labeled (we will save the how-to’s of that process for another day) which will help you to navigate with little effort and less energy than if things are haphazardly thrown together. Keeping moving boxes out of your special “safe-haven” area gives you breathing room. Moving boxes or any clutter on the to-do list can cause anxiety and stress. Keeping one space clear from clutter or boxes will give you a sense of calm while in that space. Yet, another reason to make your sleeping area that space.

3. Close to Your Heart Objects

Pictures, mementos or a favorite stuffed bear are all items that can create a smile. Placing a few of these items around your new or temporary space can bring joy to your inner being. Include items that have joyful memories associated with them so that happy hormones are triggered in your body by your unconscious. Notice your feelings or your family’s reaction to whatever items you choose. Make sure you don’t pick things that leave you feeling melancholy about your last home; this will have the reverse effect. Bringing objects that are close to your heart into your new space will help your new space become more connected to your heart.

These are a few solutions to help you feel grounded and calm during times of transition. Your space can support you as you move through your life experience. Why not utilize its impact to give you support, comfort and a daily injection of calm and harmony.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

3 Ways to Make a Study Space that will Help Your Kids get Good Grades

For many school age children summer days are relaxed, filled with sunshine and outdoor activities. Stressors include having enough suntan lotion, whether the jellyfish have arrived or how late the curfew will be. All that changes as the brisk breezes roll in and carefree days morph into structured schedules, homework and alarm clocks that are set way to early. All of a sudden tranquil summer reading is completed and grueling hours of homework ensue. School days have begun and it seems like the workloads have increased, the expectations are higher and the hours needed to maintain good grades are grueling. I recently listened to a mom explain how her high school age son maintained his fabulous grades by pulling the infamous college “all-nighter” on numerous occasions. He then had to meet the day ahead that included classroom hours, sport practice and more homework. He was so wiped out that by the time he made it home he was so exhausted he passed on dinner and went straight to bed. This all-to-common event is obviously not good for the mind, body or spirit. Let’s look at some ways to create a study space that will help your kids get great grades.

1. Quiet Haven

There is a reason that many college kids like to go the library to study. It is a peaceful space away from the action that promotes focus and concentration (which are fundamental in getting good grades). Creating a space that supports your child’s ability to focus will help them assimilate their school material. Designating a space within your home that is a quiet zone during study time is ideal for optimizing good grades. This quiet haven should be void of electronic temptations like TV or video games. This space should also be at a distance from areas that have a lot of traffic, are away from disruptive walk through spaces and where there is a lot of activity. These areas disturb concentration and one’s ability to thoroughly absorb material that needs to be remembered or new ideas that are being created.

2. Away from the Bedroom

If at all possible it is better to make sure your child’s study space is somewhere other than their bedroom. This might seem counter to the first tip. Let me explain. We naturally associate different areas of our home with different activities. You might walk into your kitchen and begin to notice you are hungry or stroll by the bathroom and realize that you need to use the facilities or decide you want to brush your teeth. Because more than 85% of our behavior as a species is habitual we can use this innate instinct to help foster exemplary study habits or a good night’s sleep. But, we don’t want to confuse the two. It is important for your child’s bedroom to be associated with rest and relaxation to support a restorative environment allowing the body to be rejuvenated, especially with the stressors they are inundated with on a daily basis. Making the bedroom a study space provokes the brain to correlate the space with school pressures, which can trigger stress hormones that inhibit restful sleep. Find a study space away from the bedroom.

3. Conducive Color

Color has the ability to affect our psychological and physical body. You can use colors that are conducive for studying to improve your child’s ability to get great grades. For example, studies have shown that the color red elevates a person’s heart rate and increases their appetite. This would hinder and distract a child from focusing on their homework. Using blue which has a calming quality or white that fosters clarity and concentration would be better. Use color to help create a study space that encourages great grades.

Now that the crisp air has arrived, football and soccer have begun and homework is in full swing it is important to support your child’s scholastic endeavors by creating a space that encourages them to perform to the best of their abilities. Use your home environment to help them reach their academic goals and make great grades!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

How Your Home Can Help You Meet the Demands of Fall

Recently I was asked if I could elaborate on what I mean when I speak of the importance of de-cluttering one’s home. Overtime and through the course of participating and teaching many classes I have found that when a question comes up for one individual, many people can benefit from hearing the response. So, today I am going to answer the question of one in hopes that it will benefit many. Fortunately, this is the perfect time to take a look at clutter with the transition of summer to fall.

Most people have been taught that the New Year begins in January with confetti, champagne and fireworks. For me, I have always thought of the beginning of the new school year as a fresh start of time and place. Even the years where I was not tied to the physical constraints of the school cadence I found the rhythm of changing winds made an internal shift at my core. The summer was a time of freedom, play and relaxation followed by the crisp breezes that brought structure and a roused sense of determined action. Sea and sand exchanged for activity and to-do lists. One way I was able to maneuver gracefully in the changing winds was to organize my place, and clear my space in preparation for what was to come. This preparedness action is similar to prepping for a tumultuous incoming storm. It can give you clarity and energy to meet the demands of the natural momentum of the season ahead.

Your home influences your ability to move with effortless grace through each day. Creating an organized, clutter free space gives you a sanctuary that nurtures you and supports you for expansion and clarity. This foundation allows you to go out into the world and soar.

The trick to clutter clearing is to take small steps that will have a big and lasting impact. The last thing you want to do is embark on too big a task and stop before you’ve reached the finish line because of overwhelm. Similarly, you don’t want to only finish one area and lack the motivation to move to other areas. Begin small and allow the momentum of manageable achievements motivate you. When I suggest small, I really mean small. A drawer or closet is a great option. When you are finished with that first area notice how you feel. Perhaps lighter as if a weight was removed from your shoulders?

That’s the thing with clutter, it becomes a heavy burden that you carry with you whether you are in your home or not. It drains your energy as you ruminate over the clutter whether you are staring at it in the closet, or thinking about it from your work desk. Taking action and beginning to clear the weight will free you from the heaviness that clutter creates in your life. Think about the last time you cleaned your room and how great you felt after. Imagine that feeling every time you walk in or out your home.

Taking the time now before we transition to Fall can help you navigate the cool winds of change without the cumbersome weight that clutter creates. This will allow smooth sailing as you prepare to meet the demands of the season to come.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Summer Well -Being

It is hard to believe that the long, lingering days of this steamy summer are beginning to disappear replaced with the need for sweatshirts and blankets to keep warm in the chill of the evening breezes. Every year at this time I contemplatively look back at the summer sad to see it go but soothed by the many memories created as I watch my children frolic in the ocean, enjoy summer friendships and am able to pause to take a deep breath from the frenetic activity that consumes the three seasons to come. With a few weeks left before the schedules and commitments began I want to take a look at some simple ways you can embrace the blessings the remainder of the summer has to offer.

Summertime gives us so many splendid gifts to create harmony in our lives. It shares with us an abundance of fruits and vegetables that promote health. Warm days allow us to enjoy the outdoors and breath fresh air, which is good for our body and soul. It is also a time of rest, rejuvenation and connection.

I often think of the saying “the lazy, hazy days of summer” when wistful flashes of clam shacks, sand between the toes and the smell of suntan lotion come to mind. It brings me back to my childhood when life not only seemed slower but moved at an entirely different pace. Those were the days before cell phones, smart phones and iPads.

In those days, people enjoyed the art of connection and communication without the distraction of texting or email alerts. Going to the beach was a cacophony of sounds, textures and visual splendor. Waves crashing, seagulls squawking and children laughing as they were tumbled about in the sea tickled our ears. The visual impact of the blue sky with puffy white clouds that were forever morphing into new shapes, the golden sand that warmed our feet and the sparkling water that danced in the sunlight. Smart phones didn’t pull our attention and awareness away from the natural magnificence around us. Today it is easy to hear the beep, ring or tapping of fingers on a touchscreen to remind us that we have one more email or call to make.

Last summer, I watched a teenage couple walking down the beach. Instead of holding hands or chatting about whatever it is that teenagers chat about these days, they both walked along heads bent down over their phones while their fingers furiously navigated their technology. Initially I giggled at the idea that maybe they were texting each other. But, those feelings swiftly turned to sadness knowing that they were missing out on truly connecting with each other and connecting to their incredible surroundings.

I invite you to be in awareness of the many gifts that the summer season offers. Take the time to slow down, breath the fresh air, taste the succulent red ripe strawberries and listen to the symphony of birds. Incorporate the cadence of the lazy, hazy days of summer into your routine and power off to rejuvenate and restore your connection to the world and the people around you.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO