DESIGNING YOUR HAPPINESS BY CHAROLETTE ETHRIDGE

When asked what I love so much about design, my answer has always been “I love being able to change a person’s mental and physical health by adjusting the space they enter.” This being said, I’ve found myself to be quite the hypocrite this semester.

Being someone who thrives off of a change in environment, Covid-19 has proved to be very difficult. I underestimated how much time I would spend in my bedroom, in fact this space has a whole new meaning to me this year. This space is where I sleep, where I have class, where I have work, where I have meetings, where I do homework, and occasionally where I eat. With so many different activities occurring in one room and so much time spent there, I realized that it was not designed in a way that would make me happy and healthy.

If I design spaces for others that are meant to improve their lives and their health, then why don’t I put the same effort and creativity into my own? Within the past couple of weeks I decided I needed to make changes. I figured out a few elements that were affecting my mood, and I acted on them. I moved my desk in front of my window so I was looking out into natural light and the outdoors, I changed my lighting from the harsh overhead lights to a softer hanging light and I decided to light candles to improve the overall aroma of the space. Although these changes may seem small, they have had a huge impact on my happiness.

With just a little bit of reflection, I was able to use my creative energy and design skills to improve my living situation and work environment, and I encourage others to do the same!