Self-love
Nurture the birds. Cold winters hit garden birds hard, so give them a helping hand by feeding them frequently. Remember to leave some water out too during icy or dry periods. Whether you have a large garden or a tiny balcony, you can still help. This will also improve the feel of your home by fostering a connection with the natural world.
House into home. In the spirit of Japanese decluttering expert Marie Kondo’s KonMari method (she encourages keeping only what sparks joy in your home), I vote that 2017 be all about getting in touch with the person we really are and what we really love, and reflecting those values, quirks and favorite things in our homes. Fortunately, trend forecasters are predicting an “anything goes” decorating movement in line with our desire to make our homes a haven from the harried world outside.
Set up an automatic deposit into your savings account — your spending will soon adapt accordingly. I do this already, but this year, I’m going to increase the portion I save. The more I save, the more travel choices I’ll have. And what better way is there to spend money? If you’re more sensible than I am, you should probably put a little extra into your mortgage each month as well, even if it’s just a few dollars.
Meaningful connections. Squeezing in a quick coffee break with a friend shouldn’t be a challenge, but packed schedules and commitments often mean it is. What if, instead, you planned ahead for an unhurried get-together over lunch with the people you like most or would love to get to know better? Lingering over good food with friends is considered one of life’s greatest pleasures across the globe. More of it, I say.
Streamlined living. Rushing is the new normal, but in 2017, I’m going to say no to that. Instead, I’m looking to slow the pace and increase my enjoyment. Tip: Reduce your wardrobe to go-together pieces you love, and put systems in place at home and at work to streamline your day. Doing so will cut down on the number of decisions you have to make and free up a surprising amount of time.
The more high-tech our lives become, the more nature we need to achieve natural balance,” writes Richard Louv in his book The Nature Principle. In addition to lowering blood pressure, heart rates and cortisol levels, time spent in nature is known to reduce stress, improve immune function and facilitate good sleep. “The outdoor world can expand our senses and reignite a sense of awe and wonder not felt since we were children,” Louv writes. “Nature can help us feel fully alive.”
Be brave and change the big picture if you need to. If your living situation is stretching you financially or otherwise stressing you out (maintenance of a large home can be exhausting!) take a step back and consider whether changing where you live could make your life easier. What would it feel like to live well within your means, in a big-enough home? Or consider what your life would be like if you lived in a smaller space, closer to your work and friends … or farther away from the city, in a place where you could grow that garden you’ve always wanted. Use the new year as an opportunity to do some bigger-picture thinking about what you want from your home. Take action: Make a list of pros and cons about moving into a different (perhaps smaller or less expensive) home. Take your time and revisit your list over the next week until you feel you have a handle on what your next move should be (or not be).
Remove or change things you do not like. Removing the negative is just as important (or even more important than) adding the positive. Have you been living with a wall color, chair or box of mementos that is weighing you down? Make 2015 the year to say goodbye to all of the things in your home that are not serving you. Take action: Walk through your home with a notepad and start a list of the things you would get rid of right now if you didn’t have to worry about what to do with them. Once you’re finished, sit down with a cup of tea and look over your list as objectively as you can — what on the list could you get rid of today? What’s holding you back from letting go of the other items? Get rid of at least one thing on your list today and make a plan to let go of the others.
Ways to experience the sense of taste at home: Bring home an unusual fruit or vegetable from the farmers market to try. Put away your phone and turn off the TV before you sit down to eat. Add slices of fresh lemon or sprigs of mint to the water you keep at your desk while you work. Go for quality over quantity — a small wedge of really good cheese or a square of dark chocolate — and savor each morsel.
Ways to experience the sense of smell at home: Put scented geraniums or herbs on a windowsill and run your hands through them to release the fragrance when you walk by. Cook a meal from scratch, noticing the aroma of the fresh vegetables and herbs as you wash and chop. Use essential oils in a diffuser or dropped into your bathtub. Simmer a small pot of water with a few cinnamon sticks, orange peels, apple peels and cloves. Light beeswax or naturally scented candles. Open up the windows to let in the fresh air.
Ways to experience the sense of hearing at home: Experiment with playing different types of music and notice the effect it has on your mood. Play a record and savor the imperfect analog sound. Hang chimes or bells where the breeze can riffle through them. If outside sounds are bothersome, invest in soundproofing. Install a small fountain inside or on your patio and enjoy the sounds of burbling water.
Ways to experience the sense of sight at home: Light a candle and take a moment to simply gaze into the flickering flame. Pull a comfortable chair up to the window with the best view in the house and spend a few minutes looking out. Take a break from the computer to look up at the clouds. Leisurely look at a favorite work of art — either a piece hanging on your wall or in an art book. Quietly observe your pet, child or partner and look for something you haven’t noticed before.
Touch The sense of touch makes a wonderful antidote to a modern life often filled with screens and visual information. When we feel something wonderful — whether it’s the sensation of slipping into a hot bath on a cold night or of padding the smooth wooden floorboards of the living room with bare feet — it grounds us in the present moment.
Quiet evening of reflection. Not into staying up late? Get cozy at home instead. Turn down the lighting, put on relaxing music and take a long soak in the tub. Treat yourself to a new journal for 2015 and spend some time during the evening writing in it. If you find yourself stuck, try exploring one of these topics: Write a letter from your future self describing where you are in your life at this time next year. List what you are ready to let go of from 2014. List fun things you want to experience in the year ahead. Choose a word for 2015. If you’re feeling crafty, make a mood board to go along with the observations in your journal.
Refresh your guest bedroom. If you are expecting summer visitors, now is a good time to get the guest room in order. Clear away personal items and clutter, and make sure there are fresh sheets, extra blankets, window coverings and bath towels. Perks like a basket of travel-size toiletries, fun paperback books, local maps, bottles of water and chocolates are always welcome
7. Cook a double dinner. On Sunday, or whenever during the weekend you find yourself with some downtime at home, consider cooking an extra dinner. It could be a big-batch dish with leftovers for the next night, or something that can be easily doubled and frozen for a busy night later in the week. There’s nothing quite like good smells coming from the kitchen to make a weekend feel complete.
6. Pick a weekend high point. This could be a big home project you’ve been wanting to tackle, like building a playhouse or painting a room, or it could be a social event like a party or date night. A great weekend tends to have one high point — two or three major events or projects will only leave you feeling exhausted
3. Save up Saturday treats. Try to gather up a few small but special items each week and keep them in reserve for Saturday. A tin of special tea, fresh croissants picked up from the bakery on Friday evening, a bar of fancy chocolate, a bouquet of flowers, a stack of new library books — anticipation makes the pleasure even greater
Invest in the power of natural ingredients. Since we just tackled the subject of oven cleaners, consider this: If you’re not a fan of strong-smelling chemical cleaners that can be toxic to both people and animals, use natural ingredients like baking soda or vinegar in your spring-cleaning efforts. You might even think of creating natural cleaning solutions as a detail of your home overhaul — after all, getting rid of toxic cleaners and replacing them with natural alternatives, perhaps stored in spray bottles, is a task unto itself. To start, a basic mixture of one-quarter cup of baking soda dissolved in a quart of warm water will work for many home cleaning tasks. Tip: Lemons are another great natural cleaning product. They have antiseptic and antibacterial properties, and you can use them for everything from bringing copper pans back to a shine — using a little lemon and salt — to cleaning your cutting board and teakettle.
Q