A few weeks ago, I got the chance to attend a very interesting session on the science behind odour-removal by #AmbiPur, with the very charming Boman Irani and the oh-so-stylish Neha Dhupia.
They got me thinking about the senses as our door-ways to experience the world. Not just smell, but also sight, sound, taste and touch – all five combine to form our perception of our space. Which also means that we can use these five senses to make our homes so much more appealing. While trying to get the house in order, I’ve found that a check-list of the sensory kind tends to be quite helpful.
I originally wrote this as a post on the parenting portal Momspresso; read that article here
Being mindful and composed in a house with a toddler can be difficult, to put it mildly!
There is so much energy in our mini-humans that it can be exhausting for anyone. Our five senses – sight, sound, smell, touch and taste – are our doorways to experience the world. They are also the perfect tools with which we can create some peace and harmony. I’m not talking about sitting on a hilltop and chanting till we find ourselves (if only that was possible for everyone!), but the senses can be tuned by adjusting our homes. And calm senses will mean calm us, will mean our lives can be a little bit better for the wear.
Sight
Our homes change with kids. Their stuff slowly takes over all the space in the house.
Every. Little. Nook.
Don’t get me wrong, I do love that we are able to give our kids so many things to keep them stimulated. But I definitely don’t like to see a mess everywhere all the time.
When play-time is on, there are no rules. But for after play-time, we have toy boxes and bookshelves in each room so kids can clean up after themselves. It’s an easy habit to inculcate from the youngest age, so long as you make it feel like a fun activity rather than a chore. Your clean-up time will eventually reduce, and the house will not look like cluttered chaos.
Sound
City living means apartments. They may or may not have nice views, but they are certainly 
not kind to our ears. Traffic sounds, religious “music”, neighbours’ kitchen sounds… something or the other is always on.
Music is the best way to block out these and get some space to think. Invest in a set of portable speakers, and make sure your kids have good taste in music. Trust me, they do not need to hear nursery rhymes 24/7. Introduce them to your music – even if that is hard rock and metal. (Added bonus, kids look super cute head-banging to Aerosmith!)
Smell
Oh, that baby smell. I’m not talking of the idyllic baby powder we imagine before getting hit with the realities of parenthood. I mean the real down-and-low.
Diapers and throw-up.
I’m sure all parents can relate to this. Those are two smells that are the most difficult to get out of your nose. I’d been struggling with these in our home, and recently got the chance to witness the science behind AmbiPur. We saw a lab-test of AmbiPur’s trademarked Odour-Clear technology that interacts with odour molecules and literally neutralizes them! I tried the new AmbiPur Sandalwood air freshener, and it actually worked in our home to completely remove household smells.
It even got rid of the dreaded musty smell that permeates everything during the monsoons, leaving the perfect earthy freshness that is needed to feel at peace. I always find my nose to be the most sensitive (and easily distracted) thing, so I can definitely vouch for a freshener like AmbiPur which finds the right balance between being overpowering and doing its job of eliminating bad smells.
Touch
At some point in the journey of motherhood, we realise that there is a very important phrase called “me-time”. And there are a dozen things that are fighting to eat into it. I’ve created soft and comfy corners in the home where I can relax – even if that relaxation is for all of 42 seconds!
Contrast cushions and printed throws on the living room sofa are great in making them inviting (and are practical in covering up any spills!) I also make sure that we are always stocked up on freshly laundered towels in bright colourful prints. They remind me of the times I used to take a luxurious hour-long shower, haha!
Taste
Food, glorious food! Treat yourself to good food and half of your problems melt away. The most important way of using this sense of taste to enhance our state of mind is to be present in the moment.
No mobile distractions actually make meals more interesting. When we focus on the food, our body tells us when it’s had enough (thus preventing over-eating), our gastric juices get activated faster (meaning digestion works better), and we get quality time with family (win-win-win).
So in addition to yoga or meditation, keeping your home sensually active and attractive can work wonders in achieving a balance between the mind and body.
Try focusing on the senses when you’re organizing the home and you’ll surely notice the difference!
Images sourced from google
