When thinking about rooms like your office, living room or bedroom it’s easy to view them as only spaces that hold our stuff. Most people overlook the power of space, these rooms can shape our mental and physical health in ways you’d never realize.
It may seem like a stretch, but hear me out. There’s tons of science to back this, proving that if you make small changes to your spaces it can lead to a huge impact on your life.
Environmentally Friendly
There’s a field of science called epigenetics that shows how your surroundings and lifestyle choices can literally switch certain genes on or off. Yeah, your DNA isn’t the whole story. It’s how your body reacts to your environment that matters.
Take a wild example from history: during World War II, a famine hit the Netherlands hard (the “Dutch Hunger Winter”). Years later, researchers found that babies conceived during that time grew up with higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and loads of other health issues—even though they weren’t born into famine themselves. The famine triggered changes that snowballed through generations.
Pretty crazy, right? While most of us aren’t living through anything that extreme, it’s a reminder that our environment has a massive impact. Not just on us, but potentially on our kids and even grandkids.
So what does that mean for you today? It means taking control of your environment isn’t just good for you—it’s good for the people you care about, too.
FLOW: A Simple Way to Upgrade Your Space
Creating a better environment doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about making your spaces work for you. That’s where the concept of FLOW comes in:
Focus
Limit
Organize
Wonder
Let’s break that down.
1. Focus: Set Your Space Up for Success
Whatever you do in a room, make sure the space supports that activity. A bedroom should help you sleep. An office should help you work. Your kitchen should make cooking easier. Seems simple but think about it, how often do you let clutter or distractions creep in and derail your plans?
For example, if you’re trying to eat healthier, make it easy on yourself. Keep your blender out for smoothies, stock your pantry with good ingredients, and organize your fridge so healthy choices are front and center. Little tweaks like this can make worlds of a difference.
2. Limit: Get Rid of the Bad Stuff
This one’s obvious but often overlooked—limit the toxins in your home. Cleaning products, air fresheners, even some personal care items are loaded with chemicals that could be harming your health.
A good starting point would be to download an app like Yuka, which lets you scan everyday products and see how safe (or not) they are. Start swapping out the worst offenders for natural alternatives. You don’t have to do it all at once, just start small and build from there.
3. Organize: Declutter Your Space, Declutter Your Mind
Clutter isn’t just annoying but it’s stressful too. When your space is a mess, your brain has to work overtime to process all the visual noise. Take a little time to sort through your stuff.
Keep what matters and find a home for it. Toss or donate the rest.
A clean, organized space not only looks better, but it feels better. You’ll be amazed at how much calmer and more productive you feel.
4. Wonder: Make Your Space Uniquely Yours
This is the fun part. Once you’ve decluttered and optimized your space, add those personal touches that make it feel like home. Maybe it’s a wall of your favorite photos, plants that brighten the room, or a cozy chair with a throw blanket that just screams “relax here.”
The key is to create a space that brings you joy. Don’t worry about impressing anyone else, this is about you.
Why Spaces Matter
The spaces we spend time in are more than just walls and furniture. They’re the backdrop of our lives. When we love where we are, we’re more likely to love the life we’re living. It’s really that easy.
Create a FLOW Makeover
I want to challenge you, pick one room—just one—and give it a FLOW makeover. Declutter it, set it up for what you actually use it for, remove any toxins, and make it unique to you. Start small. Even some little changes can completely shift the vibe of your space.
You might be surprised what it does for your mental health.
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