The Art of Living Well — By Design
The Art of Living Well — By Design
When I was studying interior design, it occurred to me how much I could impact people’s lives through design. I could influence mood and emotion with color choices, like when I decided to use creams and soft yellows in our bedroom to make it feel light and calm.
Even when setting up our old home gym, I painted the walls and ceiling of our garage, made the storage tidy and functional, and organized the space so that we could be fully present in our workouts rather than distracted by clutter and dingy walls.
Something fascinating—and worth noting—is our innate connection to natural elements. Bringing focus to fireplaces, adding aquariums, or incorporating an outdoor fountain that can be heard through an open window has the power to calm our nerves and ease tension.
This is why I’m tying design into what I’m doing now as a coach, specifically as a lifestyle coach, because it creates a truly holistic approach to supporting health and wellness.
Examples:
I can’t see my clients stacking healthy morning habits when they start the day feeling cluttered and harried because there are dirty dishes in the sink and they’re, once again, searching for where they set down their keys the night before.
Sitting down to read a book instead of scrolling through the phone isn’t much of an option if the lighting is too dim in the evening. Sometimes, simply buying a small lamp can make all the difference between unplugging and staying tethered to one of the biggest stressors of our generation: the constant doom and gloom of our newsfeeds.
But one thing in particular stands out to me—especially as we inch closer to the holiday season—and that’s table settings. I feel like this is bringing back something old and making it new again. I’ve always appreciated the small effort of setting out cloth napkins and lighting a few taper candles. I do this just about every night with my family. Now, when we sit down for a “movie night” and eat in front of the TV, it feels like a treat rather than the mindless norm.
I’ve bought many sets of napkins from inexpensive stores over the years, and they don’t add much to my chores. I’ve also found some thrifted treasures that help me create a simple centerpiece with lit candles. It doesn’t have to be elaborate to feel intentional. But that intention alone can work wonders for our ability to eat mindfully, notice when we’re full, and—perhaps most importantly—connect with the people sitting at our table.
True Grit Podcast
I’m dropping these episodes twice a week on Monday & Wednesday mornings
Ep.5Are You Living? Or Just Getting Older?
Calls out the false acceptance many people adopt — chalking up fatigue, pain, and low energy to “just getting older” — when in reality, much of it stems from lifestyle choices, not inevitability.
Ep.6 From Cardio Queen to Strong For Life — Heather Anderson on Lifting, Labs & Longevity
Teacher-turned-trainer Heather Anderson shares how she went from public school English to holistic fitness, why “pink baby weights” won’t change your body, and how strength training supports women—especially 40+
Your True Grit
For the last handful of months I feel like I’ve been on a whirlwind of evolution as I’ve been focused on honing my unique coaching style that feels both aligned in my areas of genius and is easily understood by potential clients.
This has been tricky as not many coaches are out there doing the sort of work I do that not only trains people’s bodies, but their habits and the way they show up for themselves.
It’s a holistic lifestyle approach that I am now weaving in more elements from the wisdom I’ve acquired from wearing so many hats over the years:
Skydiver - For the understanding of fear and how to live fully
Small Business owner - Failing forward lessons
Interior Design - Creativity & supportive environments
Military Spouse - Resourcefulness
Mayor - Leadership and standing in conviction
This is Personal Training like you’ve never seen before so that it shows up in your identity, rather than just a thing you do.
And that is where your power to change your life truly takes shape. Learn more here
And do not forget to check out my new group program
Phoenix Rising
Where challenge becomes renewal, and community becomes strength
Born from fire. Guided by true grit.
Phoenix Rising is where you transform challenges around fitness, nutrition, and mindset into renewal - and rise stronger within a community that fuels your fire.
Phoenix Rising now open!
