Little things that can improve your downtime
Human beings have been making New Year’s resolutions — in one form or another — for thousands of years.
Food is a favourite subject and Januarys often begin with a hymn to healthy eating, that fridges and cupboards will be filled with fresh fruits, vitamin-packed vegetables and nourishing stapes.
Work-life balance is similarly scrutinized and promises get made for more quality time home.
Speaking of home, many homeowners each New Year vow to sweep away worn, torn and forlorn decor items and switch them up for chic and stylish new pieces.
Yet, for as long as people have been making resolutions, they’ve also been breaking them. So starting small and focusing on little changes may achieve bigger, more lasting change than pie-in-the-sky promises.
One small shift in the way you cook, eat, use technology, or decorate may be all it takes to make home life at happier, healthier or more handsome.
So instead of swearing off highcalorie, high-fat treats, think instead about getting more veggies and whole grains into your diet. Rather than vow off TV binge-watching, consider how new technology could enhance your understanding and experience of the world.
In exchange for fantasizing about a home that looks like a spread in a glossy shelter magazine, decide to replace just one less-than-beautiful piece with something that’s a perfect marriage of form and function.
When it comes to dreaming of a better life at home, resolve to start small. Research shows that incremental steps are more likely to lead to long-term behavioural shifts than are dramatic, cold-turkey pronouncements.
So whether the aim is to make more wholesome meals, relax more often with family or slot in bigger chunks of me-time in a cosy and attractive home, there are small, simple ways you can change everyday life in 2016 for the better.
In the kitchen
Eat your vegetables: Small but mighty, the Hamilton Beach Salad Xpress is a pint-sized food processor that slices, shreds, grates and chops. With colour-coded, dishwasher-safe cones that nest into a detachable caddy, its compact size means it can live full-time on a counter, making it superbly easy and convenient to bump up vegetable consumption. $80 hamiltonbeach.ca
One-pot wonder: Philips’s new multi-cooker has 10 automatic programs for making everything from peach pie to pea soup. Unlike conventional slow cookers, the ceramiccoated inner pot can be used to sear and sauté — a real bonus. We especially love the rice and risotto settings, which create healthful grain-based dishes, and the setting that makes affordable, additive-free yogurts. $250 philips.ca
Magnetic appeal: Using magnets to lock it in place, the jar for Kitchen Aid’s clever new front-loading Torrent Blender — with four preprogrammed settings — slides in and out like a coffee maker, so it fits neatly under a cupboard. Use this powerful, quiet space-saver to make legume-based stews, fruit smoothies, and high-protein nut butters. $600 kitchenaid.ca
Tools and technology
Household helper: The Black & Decker 4V Max pivoting screwdriver rotates 90 degrees for either pistol-grip or in-line orientations. It can be charged with a USB charger that fits neatly away in a drawer. A handy kit holds bits, screws, nails, hooks and picture wire, so there’s simply no excuse for not attending quickly to small chores. $40 blackanddecker.com TV to go: With an 18.4-inch touchscreen, sturdy handle and integrated access to Bell’s Fibe TV app, Samsung’s just-launched Galaxy View lets you watch television anywhere in the house. Catch a documentary while cooking, check recipes online or keep an eye on what kids are watching and playing while you work nearby. $700 samsung.com/ca Snow problem: Wish you had back all those hours you spend shovelling snow? The cordless Snow Joe Shovel, powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, delivers up to 52 minutes of run time and moves up to 130 kilograms of snow a minute. Use that spare time to read, mediate, or exercise. $379 lowes.ca
Because it’s beautiful
Better sleep: Good-quality bed linen is an affordable luxury that can change the way you sleep. This colourful, limited-edition, queensize collection is woven in Portugal from 100-per-cent Egyptian cotton. Breathable and lightweight, it helps maintain an even body temperature, making slumber more restful. $115 for flat/fitted sheets; $388 for duvet. ZayZayShop.com Chairs with charm: Tired of inexpensive chairs that have all the comfort and appeal of a slab of concrete? Resolve to invest in something that’s both comfortable and well-made. Imported from Italy and finished in Canada, Huppé’s Laze solid oak lounger comes in either fabric or leather (real and faux). Prices start at $2,295. huppe.net Let there be light: Lighting is an often-overlooked aspect of design. That’s a shame, because it can make or break a space. Take advantage of specialists at retailers such as Royal Lighting, who can suggest a plan that delivers the lighting you need with a look you love. Shown here: Crystorama Pendants, starting at $270 royallighting.com