Friday with Heidi: The impact of your surroundings…

This week has been filled with many lovely things. 

From a taster for a new community project idea that landed in my brain a few weeks ago, to a meeting on the back of this event to bring it to reality, to making cakes for friends, choosing bespoke yoga pants fabric that is just lush and planning a night out with some campers to support one of our instructors, Karen, this weekend. 

It’s been full on and speedy. 

Amongst all this I’ve been text-chatting with my Dad who has been excitedly reporting back on a new look for his driveway that he’s been planning for about 4 months or so. 

There was nothing wrong with his old driveway according to me. 

But for Dad he felt that the black tarmac left him feeling like he was living in a car park and it needed to go. 

He’s had it all dug up and replaced with some lighter, brighter stone that, when it’s pointed, will look fabulous. 

He’s so pleased already. 

Despite having made some significant cosmetic internal changes to their house when they moved 18 months ago, it seems this one thing will have the biggest impact on him and how he feels about where they live. 

It made me think about the environment we live, work and play in and how it’s affecting us. 

Take your office or desk for example… I know, too much, too soon for some of you?!

I do work amongst piles of books, bank statements and notebooks ( I love a notebook, don’t you just love a notebook?).

It’s not ideal at all, and I often put half a day by to tidy it up so it’s lovely and clear. However I find within a week or so it’s back to it’s comfy piles.

I may have piles of papers, but I also sit right next to the window. I get daylight and fresh air coming at me all day long and that one thing alone makes working at my desk a nice place to be. 

Last year I moved my office downstairs to our dining room and converted it for a while. Whilst there I wasn’t in daylight as much and wasn’t able to open a window and last year I had a tricky time with my mood and motivation, I attribute some of that to being in that space. 

How are your surroundings affecting you?

Are you living amongst unopened post? Old magazines that could be thrown away? Piles of receipts that are no longer needed or do you have to skirt around mounds of bags to get in and out of doorways. 

Although you may have got used to it, would it make life easier if it was gone?

The same goes for how we feel about our health and well-being spaces. 

Is your kitchen set up to be a healthy space where it’s easy to prepare meals?

Are your workout clothes ones you like or are they scrappy old tee-shirts from a work conference 3 years ago?

Is your water bottle one you want to drink out of, or is it a bashed Evian one with the label all torn off? Or, this one makes me smile when I see it, is it a Peppa Pig one because that’s all you could find quickly?!

These things make a difference. 

Clean the fridge. Chuck some old tee shirts to the charity bag or tear into dusters or old rags and buy a new bottle! 

Change your environment and you’ll change how you feel.

Change how you feel and you’ll change your results. 

Win, win!