Environmental Health Archives - Page 7 of 7

How to Organize Your Closet

On February 11, 2019

In Emotional Health, Environmental Health, Getting Organized, Lifestyle Blog, Stress Management

How is your closet looking these days? Do you feel calm or confused when looking in your closet? This is one activity we all do every day so it can really set you off before your day even begins. Wouldn’t it be better to have some organization so you don’t have to feel overwhelmed when you are getting dressed? I’m sure this is one thing we can all agree on — we have too much stuff.

The next tip from my 6 week Stress Solution coaching program is to DETOX Your Closet. Holding onto that pretty blouse or dress because you just know you’ll wear it again one day? I hear ya. I am one of those people who hold onto jeans that are too tight just in case I lose that extra 10 pounds so I can wear them again.

This isn’t just about throwing clothes away…don’t worry. This time is about decluttering your life, but the organization is also on the list. Depending on your personal situation, a simple organizational system put into place may solve your closet clutter. If you have an abundance of clothes, shoes, and outerwear overflowing from your closet as well, it just may be time to go through it all and downsize.

Organize Your Closet

As you’re going through your closet clutter, take into account what you haven’t used in quite some time.

Remember the 3 pile method— garbage, keep, and donate.

If you can’t remember the last time you wore an item of clothing… toss it in the donate pile. Come on, we all have way too much stuff in our closets that we do not need, just doesn’t fit anymore, or is way out of style.

Sometimes it is just a matter of refolding clothes or hanging up stuff to get it out of that unorganized pile in the corner. You would be surprised how much better your closet can look with some new hangers and some cloth bins to organize the miscellaneous items. Out with the old and in with the new! Setting time aside to tackle this task may seem daunting, but you will feel so much better after it’s over.

Less clutter = less STRESS!

DIY or Professional Advice

There are plenty of options when it comes to cleaning up your closet. Going all out and having someone build and design one for you is one way to go if you can afford it. If you want to stay on a budget, check out places like Home Depot for more economical options. My go-to favorite is Amazon because they always seem to offer affordable solutions. You can even visit the Dollar General store for some simple fixes that will make your closet ten times better than it is now.

Organizing is a fun DIY project for snowy winter days at home. If this makes you feel overwhelmed, try enlisting some help from that organized perfectionist friend. You know we all have at least one! Unless you are already blessed with an amazing walk-in closet, it can get pretty expensive so buy a little at a time.

So get to it! It doesn’t have to take up all of your time. As I always say, keep it simple and do one thing at a time. I promise being less cluttered at home will make you feel good and accomplished. What would you like to challenge yourself to start in the very near future?

Comment below and let me know what challenges you are facing with the organization. Always love to hear from you!

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

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3 Ways to Declutter Your Home

By Jill Ciampi

On January 22, 2019

In Emotional Health, Environmental Health, Getting Organized, Lifestyle Blog, Stress Management

How organized is your house right now? Do you need some extra help to declutter your surroundings? There will always be times when you feel unorganized and a little behind on cleaning. There is nothing wrong with that because life gets super busy sometimes. I may be the exception but I love to clean. I find it extremely therapeutic and helps my anxiety a lot.

Cleaning and organizing are my top ways to handle anxious thoughts and helps to calm me down and forget about my issues for a while.

The next tip from my premium Stress Solution program is to Detox Your Space. This one is best to be done perhaps one room at a time or even 1/2 room at a time. A couple of months ago, I blogged about how important it is to have a clean and organized home environment. Your environment around you has a big impact on the state of your health and can either help you or harm you.

The Three Pile Approach

This past weekend, we were stuck in the house because of a snowstorm. So I got the motivation to clean one of the kid’s rooms.. instead of watching Netflix which is what I really wanted to do! Although it took a few hours, I was able to sort through games, clothes, and some other junk that really needed to go!

To keep it simple I made 3 piles. Donate, Keep, Throw Out.

It always feels really good to complete a project like this and I have to say that his room now looks pretty damn good. Let’s see how long it lasts for!

Make a Declutter Plan

Your home is your sanctuary. Your place of retreat, comfort, and stability. Over the years, it is possible to accumulate a lot of junk. When you walk throughout your home, what feeling do you get? Is it peaceful and calming? Or, perhaps there is clutter that is causing anxiety for you. More often than not, we have quite a bit of stuff we could stand to get rid of.

Clutter in the house will breed clutter within your mind. Making a plan to give your home a thorough deep cleaning will revitalize your mood and get you ready for the next stage of your refreshed life. Having a clean living space is a wonderful way to give yourself a more peaceful demeanor.

What can you do to make your home more enjoyable for you? Don’t get overwhelmed with the idea of going through all of your belongings all at once. Spreading this out over time will help make this task enjoyable and attainable. Committing to one or two tasks a day will have you done in no time at all.

Start slowly. First, make a declutter plan and write a checklist. Second, think about what steps to take to achieve this project. And then get started and I promise you will feel better in no time! Check out these tips from Good Housekeeping.

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

2 Simple Ways to Reduce Anxiety at Home

By Jill Ciampi

On November 16, 2018

In Anxiety & Depression, Chronic Pain, Emotional Health, Environmental Health, Getting Organized, Lifestyle Blog, Stress Management

Home. What does that mean to you? For me, home is my sanctuary and a place I can relax with my loved ones, be myself, and best of all catch up on my rest. For some people, home is not so welcoming or loving and sometimes is the last place they want to be. Home should be a safe and comfortable oasis to unwind and renew our energy.

Your Home Environment

The fourth aspect of health that I talked about in my last post is the Environmental component. Again, there are many ways to interpret this aspect. We talked a little about the external environment as far as weather and other factors that can affect our health. Today, I would like to talk about our home environment.

Do you dream of going home, putting your pajamas on, and snuggling up with a cozy blanket to watch a movie or maybe your favorite Netflix show? I have to admit I am somewhat of a homebody and sometimes need an extra push to go out because, after all, I am an Introvert. That being said, I cherish time with my friends and family and I love experiencing new things and traveling to different places.

As I get older, I find myself wanting more and more to just come home to relax. There’s nothing wrong with needing some time alone to recover from the stress of the day. Even if it is just a few stolen moments in the bathroom before you have to cook for your family and take care of everyone else! 😉

Your Home’s Role in Your Health

What makes a home so comfortable that you can’t wait to get there? Is it that you can just unwind and be yourself and not worry about having to be “on” for others? Why is it so important to feel safe, secure, comfortable, and happy in our homes? Our home environment plays a huge role in health and disease. Think about it… we spend a lot of time at home so it is hopefully a place with less stress. If it isn’t, then the stress you feel at home will eventually add up and possibly harm your health unless you can manage it well. Let’s talk about a couple of simple ways you can make your home a little less stressful.

2 Ways to Feel Great About Your Home

There are so many ways we can foster a healthy home environment. I don’t know about you but cleanliness and organization are my top 2.

Having a Clean Home

For me, having an organized and clean space to live in makes me feel good and a lot less anxious. Cleaning is one of my top ways to deal with anxiety. If you are focused on some other activity it will give your brain a break from the anxious thoughts. It is different for everyone what exactly makes a healthy home environment. Cleaning is tiring but can be very therapeutic.

I can tell you this…if you are living in a cluttered and unclean home you are adding unnecessary stress to your life and it will eventually affect you. Do me a favor and watch an episode of Hoarders. It is so sad how some people live but it does give you some idea of how living in a dirty and cluttered home can affect your health and relationships.

Being Organized at Home

Having some organization at home is my second way to deal with stress. I love looking through websites for ideas on creative ways to organize. Two of my favorites are Real Simple and HGTV. Check out their article- 20 Habits of People with Really Clean Houses. Both websites have some really interesting and simple ideas for organization.

Organizing doesn’t have to be expensive. You can stay on a budget by picking up items at the dollar store or Walmart. Pick up some baskets and those cool bins to organize stuff in your closet or pantry. It’s best to start with one project at a time. Don’t overwhelm yourself! Ask for help from a friend or look into hiring a professional organizer if you really are into it.

Just know that when you are done it feels so great and I guarantee you will think about other areas in your house to move onto next! The winter is the perfect season to take a look around your house and identify what may need a little organizing and clean up. Make those snow days a little productive after some time on the couch with a good book or TV show.

Today is a great day to start 🙂

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage Stress, Chronic Pain, and Anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

How our Environment Affects our Health

By Jill Ciampi

On November 12, 2018

In Chronic Pain, Emotional Health, Environmental Health, Lifestyle Blog, Stress Management

The environment we find ourselves in has a significant impact on our health. There are different ways to look at this- internally and externally. From where you live and work, to the outside environment as well all play a part in shaping our well being.

The fourth aspect of health is Environmental. Our external environment affects our health and well being. Factors such as air pollution, quality of water, and weather may all have an impact on our bodies and how they function. Our internal environment created by our genetic material is not as cast in stone as we think. Our genes are affected by many things. We can enhance our health by providing an environment that diminishes our disposition to certain diseases.

Does your body feel different or achy when it’s cold and rainy? During a snowstorm, do you feel really stiff and maybe have less pep in your step? How about when the springtime approaches and the allergies start acting up? These are all examples of how the environment can affect our bodies and impact our health. There are so many factors involved with environmental health. From the toxins in the air and food to the environment at home and work.

Think about it, how can you be healthy if you spend most of your time in an unhappy home or really stressful workplace? Sometimes you can’t change your circumstances so easily but there are always options for how to manage the stress. Life is too short to stay in an unhealthy situation. You always have the power and choice to stay or go.

Seasonal Changes & Your Mood

Do you feel a difference in your mood and energy levels with the recent time change? Daylight Savings seems to be a hard transition for some people. For some reason, it takes me a few weeks to become adjusted. Darker and colder days are not my thing. To be honest, I really do love the Autumn season but I do NOT love the winter. Since I live in New England, I guess I just have to put up with it for now until I get to live on some exotic island. 😉

I am definitely affected by the seasons changing and do experience what’s known as Seasonal Affective Disorder which is otherwise known as SAD. Some symptoms of SAD can include loss of energy, feelings of sadness, and having problems with sleep. A lot of people struggle with this during the winter months and it is totally normal. Be careful because you are more likely to overeat and crave more carbs during this time of year as well which will cause weight gain.

Healthy Tips

Stepping up your workout routine and getting outside in the sunlight are both very helpful to increase the happy hormones in your body. Some other ways of combating these changes are light therapy boxes, natural supplements or prescribed medications, and talking to a healthcare professional or a loved one. My doctor has told me as soon as I start to wear long-sleeve shirts, it is best to increase my Vitamin D intake which has been helpful.

Ask your doctor about what would be best for you. And if you need more help and are feeling depressed for too long, please seek out a professional to talk to. There is no shame in asking for help. I have seen my share of therapists and it can be extremely helpful to get through tough times. For more detailed information on SAD, visit the Mayo Clinic website.

Chronic stress along with inflammation are the top reasons for developing diseases but there is hope! In future posts, I will discuss stress in the home and work environments and how they both affect our health and some simple ways to deal with those issues.

For now, enjoy the extra hour of sleep, keep moving and enjoy the present moment 🙂

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.