Healthy living is all about the values we adopt and choices we go for to achieve a well-balanced lifestyle.

Unfortunately, the road to achieving wellness can be quite challenging at times, that some people would put a pause on their commitment to live a healthier lifestyle whenever they are at home.

Some would eat their hearts out, be a couch potato glued in front of the television for hours, or would nail themselves to their bed for days, at the expense of fat-burning activities such as, well, chores. What you do at home should complement your efforts elsewhere to live a life that is well-rounded and free of infirmities.

Avoiding crimes against healthy living in your own dwelling should not take millions of pesos and drastic changes to the home—just subtle changes in rooms and habits. Here are some simple, do-it-yourself measures to transform your home from an excuse to an integral part of your wellness journey.

Rules

Probably the most convenient method to transform the home is to lay down rules. Make personal commitments like “No fried Fridays.” Indulge your whole household by setting no-phone areas, enforcing a no-shouting/cursing policy or scheduling “healthy family meals” that nobody should skip. Just make sure these rules do not become counterproductive to your fitness goals, and that these would allow the home, in the heyday of technology, become a venue for real, personal relationships.

Aura

Design spaces according to the aura you want to capture. For example, play with color: neutral colors go to areas where you want to read, chill and spend time in peace; bright colors for areas where you want to feel dynamic and happy; or dark colors for avant garde rooms. Make the room more exciting by playing with palettes. Up the ante with aroma sticks or ambient sounds. The mise-en-scène has to work for the purpose of the space.

Décor

In designing our homes, we usually talk about the number and size of rooms, where the walls would be, and where the furniture and appliances would go. Rarely do we intentionally plan the decorations. The décor should inspire you, as the dweller, motivate you. Show off your collections and photos, display quirky items you found from your travels, gather collectibles from advocacies you identify with, or display conversation-starting art.

Flora

Plants are always a good addition. Allocate spaces for vertical gardens, where you can cultivate herbs, vegetables or even some insect-repelling plants. It’s exciting when your own produce makes it to your plate during mealtime or when your ornamental plants are also helping you save on costs. Make room for a pop of both color and life by adding flower vases or plant pots. The sight of plants moving with the wind or when struck by light will always freshen up the mind.

Dieting

As Filipinos, we are big on food and flavor. We like rice, oils, fat, salt, sweets. So, it is important that we decide our meals and snacks based on how they contribute to our total well-being. Increase the vegetables and fruits on your plate, lessen the carbohydrates (read: rice). Prefer steamed over fried. Look for healthier alternatives to your standard cooking oils and sweeteners. Always remember that a considerable chunk of your well-being is the food you eat.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY STEPHBRAVO

Space

Ergonomics always helps you play with space. Predict how people would behave in a room and rearrange the furniture according to purpose. In a living room, put a mat in one corner and allocate a space where one can do yoga, or even just jog in place. Make reading and other hangout spaces minimalist to encourage meditation and focus. Most importantly, don’t make bedrooms so comfortable that people choose to lie down all day long.

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