Guest Post By: Curtis Fisher from Tradesbright

When you think about your health, you may not think that your home has that much of an effect. But the reality is that the place you hang your hat does have an influence on the way you feel, both mentally and physically. And if your home does not promote health and wellness, you may find yourself visiting the doctor more often than you’d like. Here are four improvements you can make that will improve your quality of life, starting with your health.

New Paint

Paint itself doesn’t improve your health. Rather, the color of the paint on your walls can have a profound effect on your mood. If you find that you routinely feel down, painting your home in warm hues, such as orange and yellow, may brighten the mood. Likewise, when you have trouble sleeping, a pastel palette of blues and greens can help soothe the soul.

When you aren’t sure what colors work best with your home, Michael Helwig Interiors can help with an affordable color consultation. By having a professional evaluation, you can avoid colors that would clash with your carpet and furnishings and create a space that works for you.

An Outdoor Retreat

Spending time in nature has many significant health benefits. Among them are a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Further, immersing yourself in nature may help lower your brain’s production of cortisol — the stress hormone.

To create an outdoor retreat, start by fencing in an area where you can enjoy privacy. A wooden fence costs an average of $2,753, which breaks down to $7 to $15 per square foot for materials and between $10 and $30 per linear foot for installation. Once you have your retreat sectioned off, you can do anything from installing a swimming pool to planting a flower garden. Whatever gets you outdoors and makes you feel relaxed is the perfect space for you.

A Beautiful Bathroom

The benefits of hydrotherapy (a warm bath) are vast. For one, soaking in warm water can raise your heart rate, which can improve cardiovascular function. The same temperature bathwater might even help with breathing troubles. Further, you can regulate both your core body temperature and blood flow by immersing yourself in a soothing bath.

Start your bathroom upgrade by installing a new tub. Your local hardware store will have many models available or, if budget allows, order a designer soaking tub for around $3,775.

A New HVAC

Indoor air pollution is no laughing matter. In fact, the air circulating through your home right now may cause symptoms of stress, the flu, and allergies. If you are breathing in contaminated air, you’re prone to upper respiratory distress, fatigue, sneezing, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. Bluepoint Environmental notes that severe effects of indoor air pollution include nausea and vomiting, fever, and even hearing loss.

If you still have a dated HVAC unit, it is likely not as efficient at removing dust and other particles from the air. Further, if your unit is too small for your home, there may be areas that receive very little ventilation at all. Considering that you spend nearly 90 percent of your time indoors, investing in your heating and cooling unit is a smart choice that can benefit your health while lowering your utility bills and energy consumption.

You owe it to yourself to enjoy a peaceful place of respite that gives you a helping hand where health is concerned. Fortunately, small steps, like changing the color of your walls, can take you a long way toward improving your wellness. Other things, such as remodeling your bathroom, investing in a new HVAC unit, and building a personal outdoor retreat, will also give you more of what you need to be the best version of you.

Thanks so much for stopping by and reading today! I can’t tell you how much your time and attention means to me.

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5 Simple Ways to Create a Sacred Space After a Life Change

After my long-term relationship ended, I found myself in a new house and facing the task of unpacking my stuff. I had accumulated many things, including a slew of emotions and habits that needed to be examined and weighed to determine their necessity going forward. My life change was gradual, so I did have time to prepare but, even with that, I still had boxes piled up to the ceiling and a task list long as my arm to get through. It certainly wasn’t easy and there were plenty of days that I decided not to dig into the pile.

As I grew more accustomed to my new house, I was able to clear out some space in the spare room. It occurred to me that a lot of the stuff I had moved wasn’t necessary. I had moved piles from one corner of the room to another and still hadn’t found a place for them. I’ve always believed that stuff taking up space without a reason isn’t necessary and that was certainly the case here. I had accumulated things that didn’t have a purpose anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I love finishing touches and accessories. They’re important to bring a room’s look together. My beef is with clutter that takes up space and saps energy. If you climb over clutter to get to what you’re looking for, it’s time to edit.

After purging out what I did not need, I began to see the opportunity to create a sacred space to reconnect with myself, which was just the exact right project for that time. My plans came together quite easily because I knew that I wanted a simple space without a lot of fuss. I had a certain footprint to work with and once my intentions aligned, I was able to get it set up in a weekend. I use this space to meditate and journal in the morning. It is hands down my favorite part of my day and I always look forward to getting up in the morning just to have that time.

Having A Place To Meditate, Reflect Or Just Plain Chill Out Is Important For Your Happiness And Well Being.

I know that I am lucky to have an actual room that I can use for this purpose but, you don’t have to have an entire room to create a sacred space. You can accomplish the same thing with a mediation cushion, small chair or any comfortable surface in a corner. A sacred space is simply where you feel comfortable to reconnect with your source, God, the universe or whatever you prefer to call it.

• According to thegoodbody.com, “In-depth yet uncomplicated research in the form of reviews, case studies and product analyses”, from June, 2019”, statistics show that “Since 2012 the number of people practicing meditation has tripled” and that “over 14% of US adults have tried meditation at least once.”

I will link the study below so you can check it out.

Our lives are busy, and we’re not meant to grind our days away without a chance to recharge. And, it’s not realistic to think that you’ll remember to slow down and recharge in between work, meetings, care giving and everything else you do to keep the world spinning and the lights on. The fact that you’ve found a few moments to ponder this really means that you are at least interested in a slowing down for some self-care and it’s important to pay attention to that. Having a personal, sacred space, doesn’t have to be elaborate, it just needs to support you for a few moments so you can re-energize yourself. Here’s 5 simple ways to create a sacred space after a life change.

1. Choose The Location Of Your Sacred Space

Think about the space you want to transform. Visualize how you want it to be and think about how it will feel. What will it be like to meditate in a space that is your own oasis for a few minutes? Allow yourself to really feel what that would be like. Imagine the space as a bubble where you are protected, supported and free to feel all the goodness that comes with that feeling. It’s more about how the practice makes you feel than the space itself. Will your space be an entire room or the corner of the kitchen table? It doesn’t matter because the benefit you gain is internal and you can make that as expansive or contained as you want. If you have space for a comfy cushion, or chair, and a place to reconnect with your thoughts through meditation or writing, you’re in business. It’s all about how you get into a head space where you can achieve relaxation and peace while you’re there.

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Michael is Principal designer and blogger at Michael Helwig Interiors in beautiful Buffalo, New York. Since 2011, he’s a space planning expert, offering online interior e-design services for folks living in small homes, or for those with awkward and tricky layouts. He’s a frequent expert contributor to many National media publications and news outlets on topics related to decorating, interior design, diy projects, and more. Michael happily shares his experience to help folks avoid expensive mistakes and decorating disappointments. You can follow him on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook @interiorsmh.