It is important to create spaces that nurture your Soul, and allow you to feel invigorated and rejuvenated so that you can live your best life. Come home to a place that lifts your spirit and makes you feel fabulous to be in your space. Does your home inspire you?

Create a Heaven at Home

Many in the Northern Hemisphere have felt the extreme effects of Mother Nature and the blast of frigid air. Even those who are fortunate to live in temperate climates have experienced colder than typical temperatures. In the Northeast we have had our share of winter Nor’Easters and wind chills below zero which have made for fun moments on frozen ponds or swooshing down hills. For many, these colder temperatures bring a natural inclination to spend more time indoors. This makes it especially essential to notice how your home environment is affecting you. Are you irritated by a room that you wish was decorated in a different way or do you melt into the couch and snuggle up under a blanket relishing your divine nest that nurtures your body, mind and spirit?

Your home environment plays an important role in your life. Not only does it give you a place to take shelter, but also it affects everything from your mood and appetite to your health, work and relationships. I could write a whole book on how your home impacts you and all the things you can do to make it support you and help you live the life of your dreams (oh, I did!… and it will launch in November 2014!). If you are currently living in a space that doesn’t make your heart sing and your spirit soar let’s look at two simple things you can do to create heaven in your home.

1. Notice

Often we are so consumed by the activities in our everyday living that we overlook our environments. You may find yourself running in to quickly make dinner before rushing out to get to this or that. In the frenzy you hardly have time to notice what your home looks like and more importantly feels like, but unfortunately your subconscious is very aware on multiple levels. Take a moment to assess each room in your home and determine if it uplifts you or bums you out.

2. Action

If you find that there are spaces that are not making you smile, it is time to take action. Too often we say to ourselves, “I will get to that later”. But, in the frenetic pace we never manage to make time to take action. This has a compounded detrimental effect on our wellbeing. We are simultaneously being drained from the area that we want to change and also from the constant reminder that we didn’t make the time to complete the task we had hoped to accomplish. This lack of action leads to a self-defeating internal dialogue that hinders self-confidence, feelings of worthiness and joy. Take action today, even if it is just a small step, towards creating your ultimate home heaven.

It is easy to walk through life in a fog, not fully aware of the world around us because we are tuned into various things from technology and to-do lists to commitments and work that distract us from living in the here and now of full awareness. Taking time to notice your home environment can be an important first step in creating a heavenly home that will support you in every area of your life. Taking action is the critical next step to help you realize and create a home that brings you joy, confidence and vitality.

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Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Organize the Clutter

As we start to move into the colder months we begin the tendency to naturally spend more time indoors. The idea of more time inside might be hard to fathom as you enjoy the crisp air, inspiring autumnal colors and the opportunity to go apple or pumpkin picking to celebrate the season. However, as the leaves begin their descent and cool nights become cold days our instincts take hold and we begin our migration indoors. Knowing that this experience is on the horizon is your opening to begin creating an indoor space that you will love to occupy. Consciously creating a space that can nurture and support your well-being. One simple way to optimize your nest is to remove clutter and organize your belongings. Taking time now to make your space great, before you are stuck inside from a snow storm or freezing temperatures, will help you savor those moments of sipping mulled cider or hot chocolate by the fire, that are on the horizon.

This article will give you simple solutions to help you clear the clutter and begin enjoying your space.

Clutter brings low energy to your home and depletes your vitality. When you have a cluttered space it bogs down your personal energy due to the innate mechanisms in the subconscious part of the brain that unconsciously keep you focused on the instinctual need to clear the clutter. So, whether you are walking by the piles of clutter or engaged in an activity miles away, part of you is tuned- in to the need to let you and your space breath easy. Begin to remove the clutter and organize your stuff now so that you are able to truly enjoy your home in the coming months when you will be spending more time inside.

1. Organize Your Strategy

Breaking the process of clutter clearing down into manageable pieces takes out the overwhelm. Don’t try to tackle everything all at once this can be defeating. Put a strategy in place so that you know exactly what needs to be done and when. Make a list of the rooms that need to be revitalized and the areas within each room that need your attention. Something like…

Bedroom: Fri-Sun

Drawer next to bed: Fri

Closet: Sat

Dresser: Sun

Mudroom: Mon-Wed

Key drawer: Mon

Closet: Tues & Wed

Realistically assess how much time each space will take you to purge and organize. Give yourself ample time to complete each area so that you are able to accomplish your goals. This will leave you feeling satisfied and confident allowing you to tackle each new area. This is a much better feeling than being disappointed that you were unable to complete what you had set out on accomplishing.

2. What You Need: 4 categories

Throw out, Donate, Not Ready to Part With, & Find a Home

The process of clearing the clutter is simple. There are four categories: throw out, donate, not ready to part with but never use and find a home. You will need a big heavy-duty garbage bag, a large shopping bag and two boxes. In big bold marker label the boxes “Find a Spot” and “1 Year” with today’s date. Begin going through the first area on your list and put items that are garbage in the big garbage bag. Include anything worn, broken, chipped or in disrepair. Next, take your big shopping bag and go on a shopping spree in your closet or drawer for someone less fortunate than you. Plan to donate these items to an actual person or organization in need. You will benefit from the act of giving which will uplift your spirit. Find the things that are in good shape that you haven’t worn or used in you-can’t-remember-when and have lost their sparkle for you. Put these items in the shopping bag to donate. With the remaining items decipher items you truly love and use regularly (put these in the “Find a Spot” box) with the items that you like but never use (place these items in the “1-Year” with today’s date box).

3. Take Action Immediately

Take immediate action with the boxes and bags so that they don’t become unwanted clutter. Throw out the garbage, bring the donation bag to the person in need, tape up the “1 year” box and place it in an area where you can put the all the “1 year” boxes. (Did I mention that if you haven’t gone back to the box in a year you should donate or throw out the box?)

With the items in the “Find a Spot” box it is helpful to create a designated spot. This will help you know where items are and where to place items when you are finished using them… that way the area won’t get cluttered again.

4. Start in Your Bedroom

Begin with your bedroom. Make this a nest that nurtures you and an oasis away from clutter elsewhere. This room is incredibly important because you (hopefully) spend seven or so hours in it each day. It is the last room you see before you nod off for a sweet slumber and the first room you see upon waking. Creating an organized bedroom will help your sleep to be sweeter effecting your mind, body and spirit. It will also help you to begin your day in a more positive way. Allow your bedroom to give you the support you need and deserve. This will help you tackle the next cluttered area on your list.

As you clear your space, begin to notice the before and after difference in your overall sense of well-being. Do you and your space breath easy? Are you going to enjoy spending time watching the snowflakes fall outside your window?

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

What Does Your Home Say About You?

As I decorate for the different seasons I often take note of how I feel in my home. As I walk around my abode replacing summer accessories with fall foliage decorations or holiday trimmings with splashes of spring embellishments I take a moment to really notice my space and the messages it is sending me. This gives me the opportunity to determine if my space is supporting me or depleting my essence. It also gives me a great barometer for where I am at personally. If clutter has begun to pile up or my desk has cascading files, I know that I am in a state of overwhelm and it is time to shift gears. Let’s look at your home and determine what it is saying to you and about you. Your home not only speaks to you but it says a great deal about you. A Buddhist monk once said, “When you get up in the morning, the way you leave your bed, tells us what is going on in your head.” You can begin to understand yourself better by looking at your environment and determining what it is saying about you and to you.

Let’s look at a few ways to begin the process…

First, begin to notice your space overall. If you had to describe it in in a few words, what would those words be? Would you say neat, clean and organized or would you say disheveled, messy and cluttered? Would the words be serene and harmonious or chaotic and discordant? Finding the words to describe your space gives you the first clue about your internal environment. In my many years of working inside people’s homes I have witnessed a wide variety of examples of home spaces that reflect the inner environment of the inhabitants who live there. There is the teen whose room is a disheveled mess, (the one whom literally needs to hunt to find things at the bottom of mile high piles) which conveys that they are feeling a bit lost and probably searching for themselves. There is the mudroom that has labeled bins and color-coded calendars probably belonging to the type-A parent whose household runs seamlessly despite having six kids. Then there is the home of the overwhelmed and harried inhabitant, which is conveyed in the piles of clutter that demonstrate an outward representation of their internal barometer. Your home gives you information on your psychological state; begin to notice the clues that your home is giving you.

Second, observe the messages that the items in your home are sending you. Everything in your home literally speaks to you and your subconscious. It is your job to see, hear and identify the messages. Begin to look around your home and determine if the objects that surround you on a daily basis are sending you supportive, nurturing messages or life draining messages that deplete your vitality. When you walk by a piece of artwork that you picked up on your last vacation it may make you smile. As time goes on and the artwork fades into the background walls, your subconscious still takes note of the happy memories when you walk by the art and it uplifts your spirit. The same phenomenon takes place when you walk by items that hold negative memories. The expensive vase that was gifted to you by the relative who made unkind remarks year’s earlier triggers those energy-draining memories in your subconscious every time it comes into view. Begin to notice the messages that the items in your home are sending you.

Third, set an intention for your home. Do you want to live in a space of harmony and serenity? Do you envision your dream home as a clutter free oasis where everything is easy to find? I recently re-read an article on Rob Lowe in Architectural Digest. In the interview he explained that he had a vision or goal for his Southern California home. He wanted to create a space that was comfortable, kid friendly and welcomed guests to relax and enjoy themselves despite the grandeur of the home. He wanted it to be a space alive with energy. The pictures conveyed a space that captured the essence of his intention and goal. Decide what type of environment would best support you and set that intention for your home.

The fourth key is to clear your environment of the things that do not resonate with the intention you have set for your space or the one’s you have determined have negative associations. Look at every space and every item within the space and determine if it is aligned with your vision. If it is, great! If it isn’t, it is time to clear the clutter to make room for only things that support you and the goals for your home.

These four steps can give you a new way to access your home environment and inner environment. Learning what your space says about you can be an eye opening experience. Deciphering the messages your space currently holds can help you determine the intentions, goals and vision for your future space. Envisioning this aspiration will help you create the inner and outer environment of your dreams!

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

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