Now that Fall is upon us, we gradually make the change to being inside our homes more than outdoors. It's even more important to give the inside of our home attention, not only to lessen the stress in preparing for football and holiday parties but, most of all, to make our home a cozy retreat.
We don't want our homes to cause a "stress response," which starts in the brain when we think of a stressful thought. The negative thought makes our hypothalamus, part of the brain, secrete a hormone that causes our adrenal glands to secret the stress hormone cortisol. Excess cortisol creates many unfavorable conditions in the body, including weight gain, high blood pressure, and hormonal imbalances.
Notice how you feel as you enter your home when you return from work. Is it a feeling of relief and peace to be in your own beautiful space, or do you feel stress from the clutter and unfinished projects?
Here are a few tips to make your home your sanctuary:
*Family members, especially children, love to have cubbies to store their belongings (as shown above). I have learned from experience that teaching children organizational skills will definitely lay a good foundation for the future.
*It's helpful to start with small areas of the home first to gain some momentum. You could start with a kitchen drawer while waiting for dinner to cook. Begin to clean a bookshelf on that rainy day. Getting creative with small chunks of time will soon amount to bigger progress!
*Shoji screens are a great way to cover up a cluttered area until you have time to address it. For example, screens can be used to hide a litter box or a messy desk.
*Two creative options to store clutter: The kitchen cart shown stores items that would clutter the kitchen countertop. Although the server was made to hold dining room extras, it stores a laptop, papers, and tablecloths.
There is ample research online on the negative health impacts of clutter. For more information, here is a helpful article.
Happy organizing!
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