Overcome Overwhelm & Return to Optimum Balance

This year, more than ever, I have observed families and individuals trying to shift gears and move into high speed over-drive because of the demands that are inherent in the Fall season, and in the expectations that have been placed on them by others or themselves. This whirlwind of over stimulation, endless to-do’s, and need to be in constant motion, or productivity can tax our body, mind and spirit leaving us feeling drained, overwhelmed, and exhausted. This formula sets one up for sickness and sadness. Let’s look at how this happens and simple solutions to move from this unbalanced condition to a state of harmony, equilibrium and vitality.

In the last month we have accelerated from the gentle swing of summer sunshine energy to the ramped-up rapid frenzy of activities, school agendas and work deadlines. This increased pace that is a natural part of the cadence of growth and expansion during the Fall season has shifted into over-drive leaving the passengers on this speeding train feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Living in this perpetual state wears the body down by producing stress hormones that course through the body. When left on, stress hormones create havoc for the system overall, leaving you feeling run-down or sick.

For me, I hit the Fall season running. My pace wasn’t the 10-minute mile that I can sustain for miles upon miles. Instead, it was an all out sprint. Juggling new schools, a plethora of extracurricular activities, carpool schedules that needed organization, and a work trip that included 12-hour days and a red-eye flight home. This coupled with restaurant food and a lack of sleep led to the feeling of hitting a brick wall. My body finally took matters into it’s own hands and said, “We are stopping, NOW!” I succumbed to a flu that left me unable to move out of bed for 2 days. I tried to write during this down time, but found that my headache and brain fog would not cooperate. There is such divine magic in the human body! I still wanted to press forward even though my body was saying I needed a break. It then created an additional condition so that I had no choice but to recuperate and rejuvenate. When I finally stopped pushing, and took the position that I needed to rest, the stress hormones were able to dissipate and my body was able to begin the process of moving back into balance which allowed healing to occur. Let’s look at 3 ways to help you move from the stress and strain of daily living that can wear down the body and shift you into a state of vibrant vitality and harmonious calm.

1. Take a ‘Time-Out’

We all need the opportunity to recharge our batteries on a regular basis. You can do this by incorporating a ‘time-out’ into your routine whether it is on a daily or weekly basis… or, better yet, both! Find a few minutes each day to center yourself, become grounded and nurture you! For some, that might be taking a few moments in the day to sit quietly and read a book while sipping tea or enjoying a bath at the end of the day. Whatever that ‘time-out’ is for you, it is imperative to include it in your life. The amazing thing is, studies have shown that when you take a moment to recharge daily, you are able to be more efficient and effective as you move through your life.

2. Create a Sacred Spot that Allows You to Unwind

Your home can be a great source of comfort and support in your life. Creating a spot within your home that is a retreat, or sacred spot to help you unwind or recharge your batteries can have a huge impact on your overall sense of wellbeing. This special spot, whether it is your bedroom, bathroom, creative room or designated meditation place can have a tremendous benefit on your feeling of balance which impacts your health, harmony and happiness. Tune in to where in your home this special oasis exists and make it the best it can be to support and nurture you.

3. Superfood Fuel & Detox the Toxic Body Burden

Incorporating a clean eating lifestyle along with a regular detox program will allow your body to run optimally. Clean eating ensures you are putting ideal fuel in your body to allow it to run to its peak potential. Remove the toxins that build up in your body and become stuck from restaurant food, packaged food and the fun cocktails you might have enjoyed while looking at the summer sunsets. Detoxing gives you the opportunity to hit the reset button on your health and vitality! It clears away the hundreds of toxins that become stuck in your body from daily living. The build up of these toxins creates a toxic “body burden” effect, which induces a similar consequence on your system that stress hormones cause. Thus, leaving your body weakened and unable to fight off dis-ease, sickness and depression. Detoxing regularly and incorporating a clean eating lifestyle will help you to feel balanced, healthy and vibrant!

Use these three Home in Harmony Lifestyle Simple Solutions to help you maintain your equilibrium daily and turn to them during periods of stress and overwhelm. Take a few moments each day and gift yourself time to recharge you, give yourself wholesome foods that support great health, remove the inundation of toxins in your system with a regular detox program and create a special spot in your home that allows you to relax, unwind and rejuvenate you! These will help bring your body, mind and spirit back into balance, harmony & great health!

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Happy Soaring!

XOXO

The Toxic Truth & What You Need to Know

Did you know that the average person holds more than 700 toxic chemicals in their bodies? These toxins are inhaled from the myriad of chemical by-products that fill the air from industry or from the off-gassing of goods within one’s home. You also ingest these toxins in the foods you consume, the water you drink or a whole host of beverages that are anything but healthy. Once absorbed, ingested or inhaled these toxins can become stuck in the body throwing it out of balance, and causing a wide range of issues from depression and inflammation to weight gain and disease.

The toxic truth is that the over inundation of toxins in everyday living has dramatic implications for the body’s ability to remain in a state of optimum health, harmony and balance. Gaining the conscious awareness regarding toxins is the first step in regaining a balanced state within the body.The second step is to begin to take action to eliminate toxic items from your life and learn how to remove the toxins that are already trapped within your body so they don’t become stuck in your body and wreak havoc.

It is important to access your lifestyle to determine where, how and when you can design healthy habits that will decrease your body burden and toxicity levels.

Let’s look at some simple solutions…

The first solution is to understand the problem. The dilemma to understanding the problem is that weeding through all of the noise on what is toxic and what isn’t can be challenging. Big business is designed to manufacture and sell products to gain profit at the lowest price. That translates to many companies not caring about what goes in or on their products. Instead, the bottom line profits are what matters. Educating yourself about the toxins lurking in your life is the key.

The second solution is finding alternative healthy products that you can swap out for the unhealthy ones. Reading labels and understanding them is essential to creating a healthy home and ridding toxins from your life. Anywhere that you can make a swap you should consider it because not only does each unhealthy product create stress on your body system, but the inundation of so many toxins day after day is more than the body was designed to take.

Lastly, the third solution is making a habit out of the new, healthier products you have begun to explore. Lasting vibrant health and wellness comes from habitual behavior that promotes conscious choices made from an awakened state that support a healthy lifestyle.

Toxins are all around us, but they can be tamed with awareness through the education you can find in books, seminars or coaching. Decide how you are going to learn and grow. This will help you find the toxins lurking in your home and life.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

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.

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