Picture this: It’s January 2022, and I’m scanning the disaster zone I call my bedroom. I’ve just reread Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, feeling inspired to tackle my clutter… until the feeling of overwhelm kicks in. My reality check? A junk drawer in my dresser, surfaces buried under papers and last night’s dinner plate (oops), clothes and notebooks strewn across my bed, and everything from a stuffed Eeyore to random speakers creating obstacle courses on the floor. Sound familiar?
When Wellness Gets Dimensional
Back in the 1990s, Dr. Margaret Swarbrick came up with the “8 Dimensions of Wellness” framework. Inspired by Dr. Jerry Johnson’s work on wellness and occupational therapy, she created this holistic approach to health to addresses disparities facing people with or at risk of developing mental or substance use disorders. But, anyone can use the 8 Dimensions of Wellness to level up their wellness game – especially when it comes to that often-overlooked environmental piece.
So grab your favorite beverage (I know you have at least three on your desk right now), and let’s explore how you can mix these wellness dimensions with the KonMari Method® to kick that clutter to the curb and feel a whole lot better!
Wellness: It’s Giving Balance
Dr. Swarbrick defines wellness as “a conscious, deliberate process that requires a person to become aware of and make choices for a more satisfying lifestyle”, aka making intentional choices to live your best life.
The 8 Dimensions are:
- physical (exercise, sleep, etc)
- emotional (all the feels)
- social (your people needs)
- spiritual (what gives you meaning)
- intellectual (brain food)
- occupational (you better work)
- financial (money matters)
- environmental (your places and spaces)
These dimensions don’t exist in isolation. They work together to maintain balance so you can get that wellness! Say your home looks like a classroom of sugar-addled toddlers just went through it – you might hesitate to invite friends over, no? See, it’s all connected!
Space Matters: The Secret Life of Your Surroundings
Environmental wellness isn’t just about hugging trees (although that’s great, too). It’s about how you vibe with your surroundings – both the great outdoors and your personal spaces. It includes feeling safe, breathing clean air, and creating spaces that make you say “ahhh” instead of “ughhh.”
Tidying with a Twist: The KonMari Philosophy
The KonMari Method® encourages us to reevaluate our relationship with our belongings. It flips the traditional decluttering script; instead of “what should I toss?” it asks “what sparks joy?” Fifteen years after its publication, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up still has people around the world folding their shirts into tiny squares and talking to their socks.
The genius of KonMari is that it’s not just about tidying up – it’s about creating a space that reflects your ideal lifestyle. It’s less “organization system” and more “life philosophy dressed as a cleaning method.”
The Ripple Effect: From Tidy Drawers to Total Wellness
Tidying up reduces the visual noise and distractions in your immediate environment, which reduces stress. It can boost your mood, help you move your body more, improve focus, and help you feel more in control of your surroundings. Surrounding ourselves with joy-sparking items helps us cultivate gratitude, practice mindfulness, and be reminded of pleasant memories. By consuming less, we appreciate what we have even more.
When you tidy up KonMari-style, some pretty cool shifts happen:
- Visual chaos fades away, and your brain suddenly remembers what focus feels like
- Your mood gets a natural lift (no need to mainline that third espresso)
- Moving through your space becomes effortless – stealth exercise at its finest
- You switch from feeling like your stuff owns you to you owning your stuff
- The objects you choose to keep actually serve you instead of weighing you down
Plus, being more intentional with possessions means you appreciate what you have while buying less – your wallet and the planet both say thanks!
Environmental Glow-Ups: Try These Today!
Ready to boost your environmental wellness, KonMari style? Start small:
- Adopt a few green friends. Plants freshen the air AND your mood. Got a brown thumb? Go with an easy-to-maintain pothos or snake plant.
- Take a nature break. Even 10 minutes away from screens will have you feeling like a new person!
- Try color therapy. Surround yourself with colors that make you smile. Have fun and express yourself in your space!
- Create a sensory sanctuary. Add an air diffuser or white-noise machine to combat environmental stress like pollution or traffic noise.
Your Turn: Small Steps Toward Big Joy
Once you start tidying up your environmental wellness, you’ll notice the other seven dimensions following suit. That organized closet might inspire you to finally try that yoga class (physical wellness), which introduces you to new friends (social wellness), which leads to… well, you get the picture!
So, what’s one tiny joy-sparking change you can make to your environment today? Your future self is already feeling lighter just thinking about it! Need help? Get in touch and we’ll get started!
Better Dwellings 