Finding that Healthy Balance

Health, wellness, and well-being. You hear it often and now more than ever, interior designers can directly impact the lives of our clients by designing healthy environments. As good as our designs can be, they must match the lifestyle decisions of those who live, work, and play in the spaces we design. Great design can do everything from creating highly functional spaces to improving indoor air quality and helping regulate your body’s circadian rhythms. But, do we as designers follow the lifestyle choices and workplace policies we preach to our clients when it comes to creating a healthy balance in our personal lives?

In all truth, finding this healthy balance is something I struggle with daily, despite my best intentions. As designers and creative thinkers, I believe we have a unique challenge – our brains never turn off – our minds keep churning and quite often the work never stops. Every time we enter a space, we are bombarded with shapes, forms, textures, and all sorts of materials. For me, the line between life, work, and running a thriving business can often blur so much that they become one.

Creating a sense of balance is unique to each of us. We all have diverse lifestyles, cultures, values, and daily demands. What I consider a healthy balance may not work for others on my team. For me, an element of control provides me with a mental balance.

Here are a few of the things that help me find a work/life balance. In my case, a significant step in the right direction was simply identifying the key factors that contribute to my mental and physical health.

1. Spend quality time with your supportive base. For me, that is my family and a small group of close friends. The time we spend together keeps me grounded in who I am and what is important to me. Live, laugh, love comes to mind!   
2. Keep it physical. In addition to improving my physical health, an hour in the gym helps release stress and gives me a chance to unplug. Burn up the treadmill for 60 minutes –it will clear your mind. I try to hit the gym at least three times a week.
3. Find time for yourself. Historically, this has been one of the hardest things for me to adhere to. Somehow and somewhere in your busy week, find time to make it all about you. For instance, my firm recently began offering meditation sessions each Tuesday afternoon. A quick 30 minutes can improve my mindset.

To hear more on this topic, I am excited to be part of a panel discussion on “Finding a Healthy Balance in Your Daily Demands,” at High Point Spring Market (HPMKT) on April 16. Learn more about this session and check out all the programming ASID has to offer at HPMKT on asid.org.

Let’s practice what we preach and design a healthy balance for the lives we live!