Minimalism & Mental Health

3 ways to feel better while having less

Early Spring on the Western Slope is a great time to focus on making some positive adjustments to our lives. Although it might come as a surprise, Spring time can actually cause a dip in mental health as we pass from colder months to long sunny days. There are many theories as to why this is, but ultimately it's something we can be aware of as we re-awaken from the winter months and put some new habits into practice.

1. Declutter a space. If that feels good, move onto the next. Thinking about decluttering a large space can be overwhelming so start small with a desk, a corner of a room or even just a drawer. Studies show that people who describe their house as 'cluttered' tend to have higher levels of the stress hormone known as cortisol. This may not be true for everyone, but if you're someone who thrives in a clean space, try to see what you don't need in your space this Spring and donate or pass it on.

2. Start swapping out some single-use home items for sustainable ones. If you haven't visited Grand Junction's very own New Way Refillery, on North Ave, you're missing out on some beautiful, hand picked zero-waste products and a chance to talk to Kate, the owner, about her passion for starting this type of business. I end up spending about 1/3 less on products I get from her shop, have close to zero plastics to recycle(yay less clutter!) and supporting a local business is a bonus. Don't forget to bring your own bottles from home if you have them!

New Way Refillery website

*New Way Refillery was also recently featured in KKCO11 if you want to read more here.

3. Make something and share with a neighbor (even if it's weird at first!) Mid 2020, I started making homemmade whipped body lotion and mailing bottles to friends and family. I shared some with my neighbors and since doing so, it opened the conversation to be more than a distant wave across the sidewalk. It's a small step towards feeling more connected and less isolated, which has been proven time and time again to be a protective factor from mental distress. As wise 'Spock' says, “The miracle is this: The more we share the more we have.”

— Leonard Nimoy