When you think about wellness, what comes to mind? For many people, the first thing that comes to mind is exercise. While exercise is certainly an important part of wellness, it’s not the only factor. In fact, your home environment can play a huge role in your overall wellness. It can help you to cultivate peace and prosperity, and it can also provide a place of tranquility and comfort.

If you’re looking for ways to center your home and improve your wellbeing, follow these four tips!

TIP 1: CLEAR THE CLUTTER, CLEAR THE MIND

When life gets busy, the remnants of ‘crazy’ tend to get left behind. Take the time to clear your space and start fresh. By taking a few minutes every day to tidy up scattered items, you can reclaim your space for future projects and intentions. To solidify that purity, smudge your space with sage or sweet grass. Send love to your home through action and intention and feel the joy return.

TIP 2: MAKE SPACE FOR JOY

Don’t just stop with tidying. Set a day to remove any objects or belongings that add unnecessary bulk or stress to your space. If they no longer serve you, let them go. Donate your old clothes and toss out the remnants of past projects. You will free up your home for enjoyment, purpose and new intention. Let your space ignite calmness and creativity.

TIP 3: CREATE A MOMENT

Do you have a favourite piece of art, plant or book that you love but you just don’t appreciate right now? Collect those items and feature them in a special area of your home in a way that shows them love and dedication. Make sure you intentionally display your treasures to create the energetic atmosphere you wish to cultivate.

TIP 4: BRING LIFE TO YOUR LIVING SPACE

Fill your home with life, whether it be with plants, music, art, or scent. If you’re feeling energetically drained, let yourself relax in your home and appreciate these little things that make you happy. Turn on some music, sit with your succulents, and light a scented candle. This is your space, time to enjoy it.

Allie Hasbany, designer extraordinaire and The Sentinel’s former Head of Housekeeping. She holds a diploma in Interior Design, and spends her off-time renovating travel trailers and doing various home improvement projects. When she’s not bringing purpose and intention to the spaces around her, she spends her time in the garden or walking the trails of Nelson with her dog Hagan.

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Feeling overwhelmed? Irritable? Perhaps your skin is breaking out and you’re missing your favourite retreat and wellness centre? It sounds like you’re stressed out. We don’t blame you – these are tough times.

Stress is a natural bodily response that occurs when the hormone cortisol gets secreted by the adrenal glands. While cortisol production is normal, too much of it can affect your entire body, including your digestive system, mood, sex drive, and even your immune response.

Here are a few tips to reduce that cortisol at home, just as it would if you were here at The Sentinel, watching the sun silently set behind the mountains.

1. GET MOVING

From a Chinese medicine perspective, stress is often the result of qi (the TCM term for vital energy) stagnation. In other words, energy is getting stuck in various parts of the body. Getting that qi flowing through any number of movement practices is a great way to counter stress.

From a scientific perspective, we know that regular heart-thumping exercise releases endorphins. Not only do endorphins reduce cortisol, they improve mood and help you to relax as well.

If you want guided exercise, we recommend you check out Kim Novotny’s somatic therapy series, or any one of Boho Beautiful’s invigorating yoga classes. 

2. GET SOME DEEP SLEEP

Sleep is actually our most powerful natural stress reducer. Crucial physiological changes occur while we are in deep sleep that affect our memories, mood, and judgment significantly. Moreover, a lack of sleep contributes to elevated cortisol levels.

So, make sure you develop good sleep hygiene. We recommend between 7-9 hours of solid rest each night. Better yet, avoid caffeinated drinks several hours before sleep, set a regular sleep schedule, and make sure your bedroom is as cozy as can be. 

3. REST & RELAX

While this may be easier said than done, teaching your mind and body to relax is the ultimate way to start actively combating stress in your life. This is what we love to share most at the Sentinel.

Every year we have renowned facilitators give workshops on everything from Wim Hoff cold immersion therapy to Women’s Expressive Dance Journeys. It’s important that you find a tool that works for you to take the edge off. Take a look at our upcoming programs, find some inspiration, and get connected to yourself!

The easiest way to tap into that meditative state right where you are in this moment is to simply pause and breathe. Get comfortable, remove all distractions, and mindfully follow the inhale and the exhale.

We promise you’ll be less stressed out in no time![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]