Natalia Chi
Spring officially arrives on Monday, March 20th. spring cleaning It may be on your to-do list.
But cleaning up your space isn’t just for looks. physical health? It can also affect the mind.?
Anita YokotaThe therapist turned designer and author of Home Therapy understands the relationship between environment and mental health. After 20 years as a therapist, she now helps her clients identify frustrating pain points in her home and modify spaces to increase productivity and encourage being with her loved ones. We help you how to do it.
“It’s more than just fixing old kitchen cabinets and old flooring. It’s much more than that.”
To kick off the season on the right foot, Yokota shared her tips for refreshing your home with mental health in mind.
Use the “ski resort” method. If you feel overwhelmed by seeing a particular space in full, Yokota suggests what she calls the “piste method.” This is how you start in one place and zigzag around the room (like skiing down a mountain). Develop a streamlined plan of attack and create a kind of momentum.
“People love it because it’s bite-sized (and) can be done, but it’s also very satisfying because it can complete a room or space,” she says.
Don’t be afraid to use boundaries to organize. Don’t underestimate the power of a basket when it comes to getting organized, says Yokota.
“Baskets not only organize clutter in style, but they also make me feel visually enclosed,” she says. “I don’t think people realize how much security a good perimeter provides.”
Stimulate the senses: Yokota explains that an easy way to mindfully refresh your home is with scent.
“Spring is the time for renewal. Whether it’s the bathroom or the bedroom, they’re really important places to renew yourself,” she says, adding that it’s a useful tool for “stimulating your olfactory system.” Point out the aromatherapy diffuser.
“It sends that message to our brains for what I call the happiness hormones, which are serotonin and dopamine,” she adds. To do.”
Sensitive to odors? Yokota suggests that refreshing the environment with an air purifier is one option he suggests.
Set up a holding box. Yokota says that when putting things away or letting go, people often respond to feeling overwhelmed by either throwing them away or saving money.
“When I don’t like this feeling of overwhelm, Tosser says, it’s like, ‘I’m going to get rid of it, I’m just going to wipe it out.’ I’m just going to put my head in the sand and I’ll keep everything,” she explains.
To avoid falling into one of these buckets, Yokota suggests setting up a box or bin where unknown items can be placed for a set amount of time. For example, if the item hasn’t been used by him within 48 hours, it’s safer to keep it or let it go.
“Having a storage box or something that visually symbolizes our ambivalence and helps us… can be overwhelming. It’s such a powerful organizational tool,” she says. say.
Be kind to yourself: Yokota says that when you’re overwhelmed by your home, it’s a signal to check yourself and your expectations for your space.
“Am I expecting too much and putting pressure on myself? When you’re feeling overwhelmed, you probably think, ‘My house should be clean’ ‘ and we start to personalize things,” she says.
Instead, try to meet yourself in the middle by asking:
- What can I do today and now?
- What are your expectations of yourself that allow you to give yourself grace?
“The more realistic expectations you have about yourself and your home, the more receptive you are to it,” says Yokota.
