Practical Tools
In her unique vision, individuals and their spaces are equal partners in the process of change. Christine is a mediator or translator, not a white-gloved magician with promises of instant makeovers. Instead she offers know-how and a new approach to living in an increasingly demanding world.
In Lifestyle Design the emphasis is on using practical tools to create Campfires, centers of positive energy that encourage meaningful experiences. By looking inward and translating inner priorities into exterior surroundings, creating living spaces that counterbalance the challenges of everyday life will be uncomplicated — and lasting.
People, Place & Thing Tool -
What They Are and How You Use Them
With the pace of life cycling faster and faster, it is easy to see how the stress of modern living can take its toll. In fact, 46 million people in the United States are either diagonsed with hypertension (stress) or are taking medications for hypertension.
Though there aren’t any magic potions to make these tasks disappear, easy access to practical tools can make a real difference. A tool is anything that can be used intentionally to achieve a positive outcome. Practical Tools for Balanced Living can be people, places or things when they become part of routines and habits that bring about positive change.
1. People Tools:
People are invaluable resources - and they make good company, too. People Tools run the gamut and can range from professional organizers who clear out clutter, to handymen (or women) who can resolve maintenance issues, to friends who can lend a truck, a hand or a soft shoulder. The key is to make it easy to reach them. Their numbers and e-mails should be readily available and even on speed dial (see #3 below). I put in calls to people who can help me when the need arises instead of letting things build up.
2. Place Tools:
Going through paperwork at a well-ordered desk can make the job much smoother (add music from your favorite play list, and it becomes enjoyable). Buying fresh flowers or cutting them from an outdoor planter or garden is a whole new dimension of using outdoor places. When you bring them inside, you energize your indoor spaces as well. On a different level, grocery stores, shoemakers, drug stores and frequently used websites should become part of your routine. I try to avoid last minute rush trips which eat up precious time. By frequenting neighborhood businesses and taking time to connect with the people who work there, errands can become almost as comforting as that trip for your daily dose of coffee.
3. Thing Tools:
Like people and places, objects are only as effective as the way they are put to use. For example, one of my favorite Thing Tools is a light timer. I set timers to turn on a few key lights every night (loaded with compact fluorescent bulbs). That way I don’t have to come home to a dark and empty house. Placemats, flatware and napkins are another set of great tools - when they are set out early so that the table is dinner-ready when it needs to be. Finally, cell phones are key. Where they really count, at least for me, is in speed dialing. That way I can be in touch easily with loved ones or make a series of quick calls to contractors, colleagues or other service providers.
Even though many of today’s tasks might get crossed off The List, tomorrow will inevitably bring in a new round, but that’s life. The important thing is to make the journey more enjoyable.
For the big picture, check out the Campfires and Four Basics pages. Below are some tools put into action.
Christine Eisner
One of my “Eight Basics” is to embrace change. Change, or transition, is about three things: letting go, living in the moment, and anticipating the future. Whether it is with minor transitions like going back to school or the change of seasons, or at the other end of the spectrum, with life-altering events like divorce or death, embracing change is a key part of living a balanced lifestyle.
A couple of weeks ago, I spoke about transition to the Skyland Trail Associates. This group of inspiring volunteers supports Skyland Trail’s work in providing an environment of treatment, education and support to those suffering from mental illnesses. With events happening more and more rapidly in today’s world, dealing effectively with change is key. A healthy outlook on moving into the future can make all the difference in the quality of one’s lifestyle.
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I believe that summer isn’t over until the weather drops below 90 degrees for at least a week. Even so, the annual post-Labor Day routine does take some of the fun out of the continued warm weather, especially because of more time spent in the car and less time outdoors. Just as is the case with homes and offices, how you set up your mobile surroundings can positively - or negatively - impact quality of life. Here are three practical tools:
1. Music, Sweet Music - Your car is not a phone booth, but perhaps it is a music hall. Jazz or Classical music can the perfect solution for a stressful day.
2. Have Supplies, Will Travel - Keep essentials in a carryall or basket. With a bottle of water, some favorite CD’s, a local map (see tool#3), stamps and envelopes, and a $20 bill, you won’t make unnecessary stops and can get where you want to go.
3. Take a Drive on the Wild Side - Take back roads whenever possible for a less stressful journey. (That’s what the local map is for!) You’ll find fewer cars and traffic lights and probably get the added bonus of a more “gentle” drive - even if it’s only a ten-minute trip for groceries.
4. Fill It Up and Add a Mini-Clean - When you stop for gas, fill the tank up. Instead of merely watching the dollars and gallons add up on the meter, use this time to throw in a mini-clean: get rid of trash, shake out floor mats, etc. A clutter-free interior makes everyone feel better, especially the driver!
Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a month-long stay in an Italian villa, it is always nice to come home. In an exhibit I just saw at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York, one of the exhibit signs rightly claimed:
“Shelter is a basic human need… it provides protection from physical elements, physical security, and a sense of belonging.”
This sense of belonging is what you feel when you once again are able to fall sleep in your own bed and resume familiar routines. Even so, sometimes I find myself trying to shift too quickly back into day-to-day life. I have to admit, there is no better way to obliterate vacation memories than spending hours wading through e-mails!
Over the past few years, I have been trying to intentionally maintain my connection to the vacations I leave behind. Not only does this soften my ‘reentry,’ but it also allows me to weave some of my newly-gained perspectives into my way of thinking and living. Here are a few things that work for me:
Making Use of Photographs:
Upon returning from a June trip to Greece and Valencia, Spain, we downloaded photographs onto two digital frames located in the kitchen and my husband’s study. As images scroll past, we continue to keep special vacation moments alive in our minds.
Using the Internet and the U.S. Mail:
While on a July trip to New York, I kept coming across books that I just had to have, including one on Greek Style. Instead of lugging them in my suitcase back with me, I went onto amazon.com every few nights and ordered them to be sent home. In the days and weeks after, I had a gentle flow of books that continued to inspire me well after my return.
(Another idea, though I’ve never done it myself, might be to send yourself a postcard of a favorite place, with a message to yourself on the back to bring you back to that moment.)
Extending ‘Vacation Mode’ by One More Day:
An ongoing ritual of our family is to return home early enough for a family dinner. Instead of arriving with the threat of late bedtimes followed by crack-of-dawn Monday mornings, we intentionally set aside the time to settle in a bit. This includes our ongoing family ritual of ordering take-out, which we eat comfy-style as we reflect on where we were and talk about places that might interest us in the future. (I also consciously try not to do anything “administrative,” including e-mail, until the following day.
Even for adults, there is something about the end of the school year that signifies good times to come. Summer is here - or as Alice Cooper said: “Scho-o-o-o-o-l’s Out for Summer!!!” We all look forward to a relaxed schedule and a bit of kicking back. To make way for the easier, breezier days of summer, start by bringing in some of the elements of the new season.
Let’s start with food (one of my favorite topics!)… I love cooking with fresh herbs. This is the time of year where you can plant some fresh cilantro, sage and basil, so that it’s just a step away for some great salads and grilling marinades. Even if you live in an apartment, there is always room for some pots of herbs on a nearby windowsill. While you’re at it, how about planting a container of mint for some tall, cool mojitos? These days many supermarkets stock fresh potted herbs, but if not, your hardware store is a just quick errand away.
While you’re at it, take a good, hard look at your spice rack. If you can’t remember when you last used those oh-so-cute little jars, it’s WAY past the time to throw them away! Before you buy more, ask yourself, “Do I even know what marjoram is? (More importantly, do I even care??!!)” When was the last time you used dried basil instead of fresh leaves? Be vigilant, and throw those vintage spice jars out. Think first, before you replenish. Just because your mom always had dill weed and dried onion flakes in her spice rack, doesn’t mean you have to!
Did you know that an apple can be more than just an apple? Suppose that you decide that you want to eat more fresh fruit each day, as the nutritional gurus are strongly urging us… Your first instinct might be to set a goal of eating an apple a day, go out and buy a bag of apples and put them in the refrigerator. Goal accomplished, right?
Instead, try looking at that daily apple from a Lifestyle Design perspective. How about taking them out of the bag, and instead of putting them in the fridge, set them out on the counter. Furthermore, if you put those apples in an attractive basket or bowl, then they actually become appetizing, instead of just some grocery store produce. That basketful of apples is transformed into a visual invitation to eat and enjoy. Who knows, maybe seeing them might evoke memories of times you made apple pies with your mom, ate candied apples at a fall fair, or picked apples from a tree…
Well, you see where I’m going with this. The bottom line is that eating an apple a day can be about a lot more than just an apple, if you take a few extra moments to give it extra meaning.
This can be the case for everything in our life, furniture, clothes — even a photograph that you just developed. By framing a photograph and intentionally placing it where you and others can appreciate it, you can add to the quality of your day every time you see it.