Mindfulness is defined as a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.
We quite often hear about mindfulness, it’s techniques, benefits and impact but do we actually really know how to be mindful and why it helps? What does it mean to practice mindfulness and truly ‘be mindful?’.
There are a number of ways that we can practice mindfulness and be present. Yoga, meditation, journalling and breathing exercises to name a few, but we can also be mindful and present by engaging our senses. By enlisting the senses and focusing on something we can see, touch, taste, smell or hear, we automatically become present and turn off any stress responses we might have been previously experiencing. This is why mindfulness works; because we can actually control the response we are having in any given moment. By being present, we can decide what kind of experience we want to have. This is helpful if we want to feel less stressed, decrease anxiety and feel more calm and peaceful.
Quite often design is viewed as something we only see; yet by engaging all the senses in the design of our homes and workplaces, we can create spaces that support our mental, emotional and physical well-being and increase our ability to be present and mindful. Space becomes more than just two-dimensional images we see online or in magazines and start becoming living, breathing entities that frame our lives. We can design spaces that connect us to our world, our bodies and ourselves. We can incorporate our values and beliefs and design based on the authentic foundations of who we are and how we live instead of just chasing trends.
By using our senses (literally and figuratively) we become present in our bodies, in the moment and in our space. Our senses are the most direct route to our emotions and our emotions are essential in telling us when we’re aligned or when we’re not. Our emotions give us the information we need to stay on track or to shift directions to a place that feels healthier and more authentic. I once read that design is a noun, not a verb; it is a process not a place and through the process of living in our spaces, we can learn who we are and what we want.
By incorporating each of our senses into the design of our space, we can learn to be mindful by engaging how we see, smell, touch, hear and taste.
SIGHT – the most obvious when it comes to design and one that plays an important role in how we experience our space. We are attracted to certain spaces and designs and this is unique and individual to each of us. Old, new, minimal, white and subtle, colourful and vibrant; our individual preference for style will dictate what we are most attracted to and how we design our own space. What do you see when you walk into your home? Your office? Your bedroom? Do you see clutter? Do you see minimalism? Do you see a room full of things you love or items you can’t get rid of? Do you feel relaxed and calm or do you have so much going on that your brain is processing too much and you feel exhausted? Do you see inspiration? Creativity? Memories? The things that we surround ourselves with tell us a story. They tell us who we are and what we value. They highlight our beliefs, our history and our mental and emotional states. From a psychological perspective, just by looking at a room we can gather so much information for what we can’t see. What we see when we walk into a space will impact us whether we are conscious about it or not because it’s going to make us feel something. So why not pay attention to the items we bring into our spaces and allow them to support us instead of take away from our quality of life. Start by simply looking around. How does what you see make you feel? What story are your things telling? What are you attracted to visually? This process allows you to become more aware of who you are and what you want from your spaces and your life.
SOUND – sound has a unique way of creating experiences, memories and emotions that we can revisit even if we aren’t living them in the present. Music is a perfect example of this. The song that reminds you of your Mother, the one you first danced to with your partner at your wedding, or the road trip you took with all your friends. But this isn’t the only thing that contributes to our experience with sound. It doesn’t matter how relaxing your space is if there is loud, interruptive construction going on outside your window. Remember the fire alarm testing at your office? No amount of relaxation techniques can soothe that one. As much as we are calmed and soothed by sound, we can also become agitated or irritated by it. It is just as big of a part of an experience in our space as the rest of the senses. Even the smallest of sounds can trigger memories, good or bad. The humming of the fridge, the dripping of an unfixed tap or rain hitting the roof. Sound plays a major part in our experience of space. I love the sound of a water fountain in the background or the music played at spas. Sound adds so much depth and volume (pun slightly intended) to how we feel in a space. What sounds make you feel relaxed, calm and peaceful? Which ones irritate you and make you feel angry? Which ones make you feel creative, expressive and alive? This process again, teaches us who we are and how we feel. Using sound to cultivate an experience can be so beneficial when we are intentional about how we incorporate it.
SMELL – have you ever walk into a beautiful space but it smelled terrible? Or how about the hallway in an apartment building that smells like the neighbours leftover dinner? I once worked with a lady that would cook a whole fish in the microwave in the staff kitchen and human resources had to get involved! That is how much of an impact smell has within our space. Scents also have the ability to take us back to places and spaces we have been before. The smell of coconut oil can instantly transport us back to that family vacation in Hawaii. A pie baking in the oven reminds us of Grandma’s kitchen and how much we adore her. Scents evoke memories which evoke emotions and we can use this to our benefit. Scents can also have a huge impact on well-being. Harsh chemicals or really strong faux scented perfumes can cause us to have actual physical reactions. Headaches anyone? Using smell to create space with intention allows us to experience what it is we are trying to achieve in the space. Spa’s smell the way they do for a reason, this isn’t by accident. We can use a variety of different items to intentionally create smell for our benefit. Beeswax candles and plants can purify the air. Essential oils can have health benefits not just for air quality but for our physical bodies as well. Wearing a perfume you love can increase self-confidence. We can use smell to create a feeling or evoke a memory and is a massive part of how we experience the spaces we occupy.
TOUCH – as designers, we are constantly looking for ways to incorporate touch into our designs. Materials, fabrics, furniture, decor; all incorporate the sense of touch and are essential to creating spaces that feel intentional, complete, and experience-provoking. Textures are one of the biggest ways we can bring space to life. The feel of certain fabrics, the look of the accent pillows, the texture of the natural wood coffee table; how we feel when we physically touch something is key to creating spaces that we thrive in. The soft blanket, the high-quality sheets, the fluffy towels; there is a reason we love these things so much. We can also use space to encourage touch both with the room and with others within the room. Love cuddling on the couch? There is a sofa for that. Like the look and feel of natural, responsibly sourced furniture? There is a table for that. Want to lounge and feel comfortable while sipping a tea and reading a book? There is a chair for that. When we design things with the exact experience we want in mind, we can create holistic and whole-bodied intimacy with our space. Especially now, as humans we miss the intimacy and physical touch of others so much and it is so important for well-being. There is a reason human touch has the long list of benefits that it does and touch within the design of our space is just as impactful.
TASTE – this one might seem odd within the context of design but is it really? I joke all the time that as long as my tablescape is beautiful and the food is styled nicely, who cares what it tastes like but it’s simply untrue. This sense may be more directed to the kitchen and our actual act of preparing and eating food however, food plays a large part of our daily experiences in life. Not only does it feed and fuel us physically, it is also the foundation for memories, connection, family, tradition, celebration and community. Not very often will any of the above happen without a meal of some kind or breaking bread with our loved ones in some way. Food and the taste of that food, cultivates very special meaning and this sense takes us far beyond what is just cooking in the kitchen. Also, research shows that taste-related metaphors actually engage the emotional centres of the brain more than literal words with the same meaning. Sweet, sour, and bitter, are all words we use to describe people or situations not just food. We have all heard statements like “the taste of success” or “she has a taste for fashion” and have used them in some way. Taste is a large component to how we describe and experience life and same in design. Taste helps bring to life human connection whether food is involved or not.
When designing our homes we want to create spaces where we thrive. Where our homes become part of our human experience not just walls and things. Our spaces can teach us about ourselves; who we are, what we value and where we are going and we can do this by using our senses. We can create memories and experiences that provide insight into what makes us the most healthy and happy. When using our senses to guide our designs, we can create intentional, purposeful stages to perform our lives. Incorporating our senses allows us to live mindfully, present and in the moment and isn’t that the point? Although our senses come to us automatically and unconsciously, we can also use them consciously and with intention. We can use them to help us create homes and lives we love.
I would encourage you to start incorporating your senses into the design of your space and your life. If you’d be further interested in how to do this, be sure to sign up for my newsletter as this season’s feature will be a checklist for using all five senses when designing your homes, workplaces and living spaces.
Live well,
Cher
