By Jeremy Koerber

De-Crapify.  Is that even a word?  I am pretty sure you won’t find this term in the dictionary but it’s certainly memorable and brings to my mind cleaner, neater spaces.  Or at least I think that is the image it brings to mind.  Of all the areas of wellness, environmental wellness is one that is often overlooked.  Not to be confused with the natural environment, this form of wellness deals with the spaces in which we live and work.  

Here is a quick self-check regarding your home or office:

1. Does your home or office stress you out by simply being in it?

2. Is it safe (how many electrical cords do you have going into one outlet, are there trip hazards, etc.)?

3. Do you feel productive and energized at home or work or do you feel suffocated and uninspired?

Depending on how you answered these questions, it may be time to de-crapify your spaces.  We were tooling around on social media last night and happened across this challenge.  They call it the 40 bags in 40 days challenge: 

http://www.whitehouseblackshutters.com/40-bags-in-40-days-2015/

No need to re-create the wheel so all you need to do is follow the directions held within and you, too,  can experience an environment void of clutter, junk and yes, useless crap.  Sometimes blogs are hard to write.  When you get to use words (albeit a touch made up) words like de-crapify, they sort of write themselves.  Nevertheless, if one area of wellness is not balanced, that negative energy will spill into the other areas of wellness (physical, occupational, relationship, etc.) and will impact mood and overall well-being.  Don’t take environmental wellness lightly because you won’t believe the stress relief and productivity boost you can get from a clean, well-organized space.

Take a look at the Challenge today:  http://www.whitehouseblackshutters.com/40-bags-in-40-days-2015/

A recurring theme with all of our clients is the concept of small, manageable change.  No matter how much you want to lose weight, tone your tummy or lose inches there is no diet, exercise or process that will get you those kinds of results overnight.  There are plenty of fitness infomercials on late at night that will lead you to believe you, too, can be a cover model in 6-weeks but that my friends is what is called marketing.  Furthermore, it’s marketing that plays off your emotions making it even more likely you’ll buy the DVD, system, or diet pill.

Here’s the skinny (pun intended): Big massive change never works, it is not sustainable and failure is almost assured.  Every single one of the people responsible for the late night infomercial know this but that doesn’t stop them from “wowing” you with TV screens full of sweaty people wearing spandex and no shirts exercising  and tugging on the emotions that prompt you to buy.  For the record, in 18 years in this industry, I have yet to see a group exercise room with that many fit/pretty people in that little of clothing. But I have yet to visit L.A. so perhaps stuff like this actually does exist!

So, what does work?  Tiny changes, maneuvers, switches and habits that can be built over time.  It’s slow, calculated and planned out.  It’s also pretty easy to implement, which is the point.  Too much change all at once causes anxiety.  Ask yourself, “What is one minor change I can do in my life?”  Going from whole milk to 1% really isn’t a big deal but the calories you save over the course of a day, week, 
month or year add up.  Not a water drinker?  Start by getting a water bottle that measures out ounces and commit to drinking 10 ounces a day.  When that gets easy, bump your water intake to 15 ounces per day, etc.  Start getting a benefit from your gym membership by actually going to the gym;  commit to three days a week, pick an activity that you don’t hate (if you hate walking on treadmills don’t walk 
on treadmills) and exercise aerobically for 20 minutes.  When that 20 minutes becomes easy, adjust one of the variables (time, intensity or add a day).

IWC client Keith from the great state of Texas is nearly 10 pounds down in less than five weeks.  His initial plan was to drink a Designs For Health Whey Cool protein shake for breakfast (because he never eats breakfast, the Whey Cool shake was easy to mix and drink) and exercise on an elliptical for 30 minutes three days per week.  Once that was mastered, we added and continue to add more until he 
has created BIG massive change over time.  

Do you get it yet?  BIG massive change is the goal but we implement them one teensy weensy strategy at a time.  It won’t produce anxiety, shin splints, muscle aches or stress.  It simply produces results.

Stop thinking you are going to change the world overnight.  It would be wonderful if you could change your body like changing a hair style but it doesn’t work that way.  What does work is drawing a line in the sand, picking a strategy or two and moving forward.  Are you ready?

To find out more about wellness coaching, contact Jeremy at 314-807-8634.  
To order Designs for Health nutritional supplements visit our website at www.integratedwellness-concepts.com