We all live in an increasingly busy world. We plan our days listening to podcasts while commuting to work. We answer emails while eating at the dinner table and fold laundry with the television on. However, as we race to finish these many competing necessary tasks, we often find ourselves losing our connection to the present moment (that is, missing out on what we’re doing and how we’re feeling).
What is Mindfulness?
The cultivation of mindfulness has roots in Buddhism, however most religions include some form of prayer or meditative technique to help shift your thoughts from day-to-day preoccupations towards an appreciation of the present and a larger perspective of life.
Mindfulness is the practice of purposefully focusing our attention on the present moment – accepting and embracing it without judgment. Mindfulness techniques include basic mindfulness meditation, urge surfing, and paying close attention to senses, bodily sensations, and emotions. Implementing mindfulness can be as simple as "being present" while you lock your front door: close the door; notice how the door handle feels; listen to the keys engage the lock; acknowledge your home is safe and secure.
Why is Mindfulness Important?
Mindfulness improves well-being: Increasing your capacity for mindfulness supports many positive attitudes that contribute to a satisfied life. Being mindful makes it easier to savor life’s pleasures in real time, helps you commit fully to activities, and creates greater capacity to manage adverse events.
Mindfulness improves physical health: Practicing mindfulness has been shown to help relieve stress, lower blood pressure, treat heart disease, reduce chronic pain, settle the stomach, and improve sleep quality.
Mindfulness improves mental health: Many psychotherapists have turned to mindfulness in recent years to help treat issues like depression, anxiety, inter-personal conflicts, and obsessive-compulsive disorders in their patients.
How Can Mindfulness Apply to Interior Design?
Be mindful about the design of your home and office environments ensuring they reflect a happy, healthy, balanced, and calming atmosphere. Some of my favorite mindfulness design tips include: thinking of your house as a whole, choosing colors carefully, creating sensory interest with contrasting textures, taking time to declutter and remove unnecessary visual stimuli. Remember, interior design should always reflect the person. Be mindful about collecting objects that inspire you as you display them whether it’s photo frames, vintage mirrors, books, or unique artifacts from your travels abroad.
“Wherever you are, be there totally.” – Eckhart Tolle
CONSULTATION PACKAGES
Julie and her team have a passion for creating beautiful, engaging and functional spaces, focusing on both the physical as well as the emotional well being of your environment. Click on the links below for package details:
Whether it is directing the flow of chi through the arrangement of furnishings, design or colors; Julie and her team can help you to create the spaces that support your vision of a balanced life, rich in the areas that matter to you.
A well designed environment boosts employees' performance, promotes efficiency and creates a comforting space for incoming clients.
There is no second chance to make a good first impression. When the time comes to sell or rent your home, ease the transition and maximize return by helping your home look its very best.
Universal Design is the concept of creating a thoughtful space for all people, regardless of their age, size or ability. Universal Design is a perfect design solution to pursue because of the comprehensive features that endure throughout a life span.