Wellness Corner

This is always one of my favorite times of year—brisk morning walks filled with birdsong and evenings accompanied by rhythmic insect chirps and rustling leaves. These moments remind me of the deep connection we share with the natural world and how strongly our surroundings can influence the way we feel, think, and move through each day.

When we think about environmental wellness, we often picture spending time outdoors or participating in conservation efforts. While those practices are important, environmental wellness also includes our relationship with the everyday spaces we occupy. Whether we are in a lab, classroom, apartment, or office, our surroundings can either support or hinder our well-being. Take a moment to look around the space you are in right now. Is it organized and inviting, or cluttered and distracting? Does it create a sense of calm, focus, and productivity, or does it leave you feeling overwhelmed?

Creating a supportive environment does not have to involve a major renovation or a complete lifestyle change. Sometimes, it begins with simply resetting a room. In Atomic Habits, James Clear describes how returning a space to order can prepare us for what comes next. When everything is already in its place, future tasks require less effort to begin, and we are less likely to feel distracted or discouraged. The condition in which we leave a space can shape the energy we bring back to it.

I practice this idea at the end of each workday by taking ten minutes to reset my room. This small routine helps me create a boundary between work and home while also preparing me for the next day. Each morning, when I walk into my office, I greet the space by saying, “Good morning, Office!” I also say hello to my beautiful Pothos, Oscar, whom I have affectionately named. Because the room is ready for me, I feel more ready to begin: my energy is higher, my thinking is clearer, and my overall sense of wellness is stronger.

Environmental wellness is not only about protecting the world outside us; it is also about intentionally shaping the spaces around us so they support the lives we want to live.