Embracing Wellness at Home
Dogtor Almond J.
Goals and Routines
Try to develop a routine that works for you. What you do in the morning and how you start your day is important. If you’re religious/spiritual, try to start your day with prayer and/or positive manifestations. Try to develop a routine consisting of a few things you’d like to do every morning whether it’s to take a morning shower, have tea, water your plants, and/or journal. Knowing that you have things to do, no matter how small, will motivate you to get out of bed especially on the days we don’t want to. It may also help to have another routine to follow at some other point during the day whether it’s in the afternoon, after work, or before bedtime. Lastly, set feasible daily, weekly, and/or monthly goals. Having goals ignites a powerful force within us that pushes us to achieve and accomplish them.
Journal
Journaling is cleansing. I recommend it to everyone. If you’re having a hard time getting into it, buy a new one that you really like. It’ll help to give you the motivation to write.
Remember:
Write about the good days also. In addition to being a useful coping mechanism, specifically when it comes to processing, journaling is also data collection. It helps with mood tracking. You can go back and reread your entries to see that the days are not all bad and that you experience joy, peace, and love, sometimes more than you think. This can inspire you to keep pushing.
It may also help to be direct. Sometimes I start my entries with “Today I feel ___ because ___” to help me identify patterns of what triggers what emotions. This is also a great way to practice being upfront and assertive with your feelings.
Pets
Pets are great company to have. A dog or a cat might feel like an investment, but totally worth it. They may also seem like a lot of responsibility and they do teach you a lot of lessons about just that. However, if responsibility is a concern, then consider something more low maintenance. You may also consider pet sitting for a neighbor or friend. Either way, pets release hormones in our brains that boosts our moods.
Get Outside
Vitamin D from the sun helps with depression and fresh air helps with breathing, clarity, and reducing anxiety. Time outdoors can be beneficial in stimulating your senses in healthy and positive ways. Read more here. You can go to a local park or beach and find a spot where there aren’t many people around to read a book, write, or simply listen to music and relax.
Plants
Plants are great to have in your space! Caring for them has mental, emotional and spiritual benefits and their presence in your home has physical ones too. I began caring for plants in April 2020 and I still have a thriving three year old Monstera that moved with me from New England to the DMV. Like caring for pets, you can learn a lot from the give and take relationship of caring for plants. You nurture it, give it attention, water it and it grows to give you oxygen, good energy and purify the air. Gardening and caring for plants is not simple so it’s totally okay if you don’t get it quite right the first time. It’s worth trying again (or getting something low maintenance).
Aromatherapy
Whether it’s a diffuser, wax melter, or candles, aromatherapy is good for relieving stress and lifting your mood and energy. Different scents have different benefits and effects. In addition, incense is good too, as well as sage, frankincense, myrrh, etc.
Books
Keep your mind stimulated and start a new book. Though I’ve always had a joy for reading, buying and building a bookcase in my apartment has motivated me to buy and read even more. Consider e-books and podcasts too. I prefer physical copies, but I have started listening to Audiobooks and it saves me a ton of time since I can multitask while I listen. It’s also okay to read fiction and romance novels as well; self-help books can feel emotionally laborious sometimes.
Music
“When it hits, you feel no pain.” Music can be used to lift your mood and spirits. If you live alone, music can help you to feel less lonely. Music that’s loaded with metaphors can help you to think critically for deeper meaning. Sometimes, I like to put on my favorite music and just sit back and listen to it.
White Noise
White noise can help with sleep and concentration. I personally bought a white noise machine to help me fall asleep because I can’t sleep when it’s too quiet, in true New York fashion. There are also dozens of calming apps you can download to your phone and put on at night before going to sleep or when trying to tune in to your creative mind.
Try New Things
Try something new. This can be anything. I’ve tried a few new things in recent years including juicing, golfing, camping, raising caterpillars, gardening, painting, and different fitness classes. I’m excited to go fishing for the first time too! You can start with something else like a minor change to your appearance, driving somewhere new, exploring a new genre of music, or learning a new skill.
Your physical comfort is important to your wellness.
Rearrange your furniture and redecorate your home with a new rug, curtains, painting, plants, or printed and framed pictures
Hang a eucalyptus bunch (and lavender) over your shower head. You can purchase both for $3-$5 from Trader Joes, Whole Foods or a market.
Invest in a water filter and avoid drinking or serving tap
If you’re working from home, invest in a desk and comfortable office chair
Invest in your bedding. If you can afford to trade out your bedding for some quality comforters and sheets, they’re totally worth it.
Deep clean and declutter. Hire a cleaner every now and then if you have the means to do so.
White noise and Black out curtains may help to improve the quality of your sleep. If you have noisy neighbors or if you can’t sleep when it’s too quiet, it may help to invest in a white noise machine. Black out curtains also help to keep the room dark for those who are sensitve to light.
