Hello friends, it’s Amy! This week, I have some personal information I’d like to share with you. The big buzzwords for 2020 have been “health” and “self-care”. Now more than ever, we have been keenly aware of how important it is to take care of our bodies and our minds. This year has convinced us that investing in our health and well-being is worth everything. We need strong immune systems and strong mental health to navigate through these unpredictable and uncharted waters. Additionally, our homes have become ground central for work, play, learning, cooking, eating, and exercise. We’re seeing that pretty much all of our clients have developed needs to make their home multi-functional and find spaces to do a variety of activities.
Today on the blog, we are talking about making a space to exercise, meditate and do all the things you need to do to take care of your mind, body and soul. It can be challenging to find space if your home is already operating at full capacity and you don’t have an empty bedroom to convert. We’ve included some ideas below to incorporate a self-care area, even in the smallest of spaces.
I was really interested in writing this blog because I have a personal testimonial to share on this subject. Before I had ever heard the word COVID-19, I had decided that 2020 was going to be the year that I focused on my health and well-being. I usually have a theme for each year’s goal and this year was going to be “Healthy 2020”, which in some ways was rather ironic, but in others, completely appropriate. I have spent so much of my life focused on raising a family and growing my business that I neglected to take good care of myself. As I am now in my 50’s, I knew it was now or never. As the adage says, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, I was well-aware that developing new habits and changing my lifestyle was going to be difficult.
I am happy to report that I have done it! It all started with planning (the key ingredient!) and eating healthier meals. I then developed a morning routine that includes meditation and; prayer, goal setting, visualization, journaling and exercise. This process is based off a life changing book I read called, The Miracle Morning. I can’t tell you how much it has improved my overall well being! I have lost weight, gained more confidence and clarity, feel significantly less stressed, and I know it is making a big difference in dealing with all of the challenges that COVID-19 has brought to our lives. I am quite passionate about how much this process has made my life better and I would be happy to share more with anyone that is interested! Send me a message if you want to chat!
So enough about me… Let’s talk about how you can incorporate a space in your home to take time for self-care, whether it be cardio exercise, yoga, dancing, meditation, prayer, or just reading or journaling in a cozy corner! I had just joined a fitness center when the pandemic hit. I started exercising at home with the classes online and soon realized how convenient it was to exercise at home in the morning and to avoid driving to a gym. I looked into home products like the Peloton, however, I ended up buying a Mirror home fitness product. I absolutely love it! I had the luxury of an extra guest bedroom that I converted to my “Miracle Morning“ room. I bought a Gorilla Mat that sits right on top of the carpet and comes in multiple sizes– mine is a 5 x 7 size. The Mirror can just lean up against any wall and is the size of a normal full-length mirror. I brought in a console table that holds my hand weights and exercise bands. I have a cute chair and also a floor cushion for meditation, prayer and journaling. I added an accent wall with beautiful wallpaper that makes me happy. I have a real plants and an essential oil diffuser to activate the senses and create a soothing environment when needed. I could still fit a sofa sleeper or daybed in this room for guests and I will probably add that in the near future.
Now, let’s be real– not everyone can have an amazingly large and beautiful space dedicated to their workouts like these:
Realistically, most of us are trying to find room and create spaces that have to allow for multiple functions. Some of the easiest spaces to converge are guest bedrooms and home offices. You can use an exercise bike or treadmill that holds your laptop, so you can move while reading your email or participating in a ZOOM meeting. Flexible, ergonomic desks allow for you to either sit or stand. We’ve incorporated these into our design studio workspace and we all love them! You can use exercise bands while standing at your desk as another way to get in some muscle toning while working.
Organization is key. Be sure to plan a place to store the items you’ll need at hand so they have a home and keep the space tidy. Here are a few fun ideas for storage!
A trifecta would be a combination home office, exercise room and guest room! How do you do that? Get a Murphy bed system that has a built-in desk and then add a treadmill, bike, or whatever exercise tools you need.
If you don’t have a room with extra space, you can make a small area work with The Mirror, or a Peloton exercise bike. Many exercise bikes and work benches are foldable and can be stored under a bed or in a closet. If you enjoy yoga, you can very easily do that just about anywhere! All you really need is a yoga mat, which can be rolled up and put away as soon as you finish. Your living room can convert to an exercise space or yoga studio instantly. Just find a place to store the items so you don’t have to see them when guests arrive. Coffee tables or end tables with drawers, storage ottomans or pretty lidded baskets can hold and hide hand weights, jump ropes or exercise bands.
Lastly, here are a few tips for getting yourself motivated:
#1 – Make a commitment to yourself to make these changes and focus on WHY you want to do it.
#2 – Dedicate a space in your home that you want to convert or alter and invest a little time and money into making it really functional. Making an investment in this process helps you take it more seriously as well.
#3 – Buy the right tools and equipment so you have what you need to be successful. This may sound silly, but I think buying yourself a cute new exercise outfit can also make it a little more exciting!
#4 – Find motivational sayings that mean something to you and print them and frame them, or put them on the wall as graphics or framed art. I created a vision board for myself with pictures of the things I want to achieve in my life. I have it framed and displayed in my exercise room and it helps me to visualize my success and reminds me of what I am working towards.
#5 – Schedule time in your planner for exercise and/or self-care. Treat it as if it were an important meeting. After all, what is more important than your own health and well-being?
Wishing you great health and happiness,
Amy
Leave a Reply