UFM: moving to wellness

Your Home

Updated on June 29, 2012

One thing that always strikes me when I travel to Latin America is how few things their homes contain but how well maintained they are. On a run outside a small town in Cuba, we saw people combing their little dry dirt yards into perfect little mowed looking rows. Shacks with no windows are flanked with crisp white shirts hanging on frayed twine outside.

I don't as often feel the same love emanating from homes here. Too often they feel generic. I think it's important that homes be tidy and neat. Of course, everyone has a different comfort level... but I for one feel disorganized, stressed and out of sorts when my house is untidy. Other matters seem to blow up, I feel unsettled, and I don't enjoy being home. I like to fill my environment with things that make me happy and eliminate the noise that doesn't. I don't mean buying stuff to fill space, it's more about the elimination of clutter to leave more room and allow more appreciation for the stuff you really love. It will also save you time on cleaning and be easier to organize! On that note, get rid of negative items like fat jeans. Fill your environment with positive wonderful things that make you feel happy and optimistic.

In the kitchen I like to organize it according to the healthy foods that I eat most. If you want to use more spices, make them accessible. If you want to eat more nuts, have them front and centre. Your fridge and freezer will be way easier to navigate and you will likely have less food waste if you organize them with tubs and baskets. I have one for vegetables, breads, baking, etc. I even use a similar system with canvas grocery bags in my deep freeze. Lastly, throw out the junk. You're not going to eat it right? Who is? Your family? If you shouldn't eat it, why should they? What is in your kitchen is an extension of what you put it your body. Keep it clean, whole and fresh.