Is your space sabotaging your self-care?

So, here we are. We’re a few weeks into the new year, and the temptation to take stock of our lives and set some intentions is omnipresent. I’ll probably write another post soon about how I’ve come to staunchly embrace February 1 - not January 1 - as my personal New Year, but that’s for another time :-p. Come January, many of us still go all-in, turning those NYE intentions into full-fledged resolutions, but let's be honest – there's often an ominous overtone of, "Is this gonna stick, or am I going to slip back into a loop of self-sabotage?"

There’s a statistic that says only 9% of people turn their New Year’s resolutions into lasting lifestyle changes, so your concern isn’t unwarranted. But what if I told you that your battle with staying on track has less to do with your willpower and more with the design of the space you're in?

Does this sound familiar?

Every day, we wake up with a finite amount of willpower. No magic supplement or superfood is changing that anytime soon.  As we navigate the morning rush, busy workdays, and family obligations, our willpower diminishes. By the end of the day, we have very little energy left to make new choices or implement lifestyle changes, even if we desire them greatly. Decision fatigue is a very real thing, and it can take a remarkable amount of energy, awareness, and commitment to rewrite a behavior pattern. The bottom line: behavior change ain’t easy.

Purposeful Design

The role our living spaces play in either supporting or sabotaging our self-care efforts is often overlooked. Our behavior is continually shaped by our environment, and armed with this knowledge, we can approach our resolutions more strategically. What if we tweak our living spaces to be our guides when our willpower is on empty?

Let’s consider some examples:

1) Digital Detox Zone

Intention: Reduce your screen time
Solution: Designate a screen-free sanctuary in your space. Set out board games or craft supplies to encourage decompression and connection with family and friends. Consider placing your phone in a container in another room, out of sight, to resist the temptation of notifications. There are several products on Etsy that could help reinforce a “no phone zone,” from signs to phone boxes (see below).

2) Sleep Hygiene

Intention: Go to bed earlier and read for 30 minutes before bedtime

Solution: I’ve been slow to jump on the smart-home train, but here’s a case where using timers to create “mood shifts” in your environment can be a huge help in encouraging a new behavior such as going to bed earlier. Set up automatic timers for your lights to dim about 45 minutes before bed, subtly nudging you towards your reading nook. Take that as a cue to get ready for bed, maybe make a cuppa chamomile tea, then begin your reading. Extra bonus: time your reading light to shut off after 30 minutes, so you don't get sucked into a late-night reading marathon. The next morning before heading to work, prepare your reading nook to make it enticing. Choose your reading material in advance and arrange your favorite blankets and pillows, allowing you to effortlessly dive into a good book later in the evening.

3) Meal Planning
Intention: Cook 2 meals every Monday that will last you through the week

Making my kitchen vibrant, inviting space was a big part of curating an environment that I actually wanted to cook in.

Solution: I successfully managed to do this particular behavior change this past fall. What made it stick? Setting a consistent time AND putting it in my calendar, gathering all of my favorite recipes in one spot (I’m still a paper-lover so for me this meant printing them out and creating a recipe binder), making sure I had enough large food containers to store my creations in, and having my BFF roomie commit to doing this with me (yes, I consider people part of your environment). To make the process extra enjoyable, I typically put on a favorite background show as I cooked, or played music that put me in a good mood. I also made the kitchen as cozy of a space as possible, adding warm colors through the decor and life through several hanging plants. Soon, Monday evenings became a beautiful time to connect with my bestie and feel good about nourishing our bodies through healthy, home-cooked food.

In a Nutshell

Behavior change is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. Your space can be your best ally in shifting your patterns and moving towards a more aligned You. So take a moment to assess your space—does it sabotage or support your resolutions and intentions for the year ahead? It's crucial to recognize the symbiotic relationship between our behavior and our living spaces. Craft your space intentionally, and watch how it becomes your partner in those lifestyle changes.

If you need assistance optimizing your space, I’m here to help! This is the kind of stuff we work on in my online Spirit House Alignments; we work together to take your resolutions further, optimize your space, and create a sanctuary that truly reflects who you are - and who you’re becoming.

xo,

Joanie