This post talks about things you can do to be happier at home
Home is where all the magic happens. The home is where most people find refuge away from hectic work life and other people when you’ve had enough (the intorvert life) And when you do leave you’ll always find yourself back in your own space. So we have to try our best to make our home the most exciting place on the planet. There are endless ways to create a happier home, so let’s discuss some of them!
Home sweet home. This is the place to find happiness. If one doesn’t find it here, one doesn’t find it anywhere.
Here Are 14 Things You Can Do To Be Happier At Home
1. Make Your Bed
Making the bed can seem like a chore, and it’s okay if you see it that way. Still, making your bed first thing in the morning is a quick activity you can do to wake yourself up and set yourself up for a day of productivity and happiness.
Get ready to reap the benefits later as well. Falling face-first into a made-up bed after a long day is nothing short of amazing. A study by the National Sleep Foundation suggests a made bed contributes to overall better sleep. Study aside we can all agree that fresh sheets and a made bed= heaven.
If you fell out of the habit of making your bed as most young adults do then try to reignite it, it’s a simple but effective way to start your day right.
2. Stay Connected With Friends and Family
It’s way too easy to get lost in daily tasks especially if you live alone.
Privacy is a blessing but staying connected with friends and family is a sure-fire way to keep you happier while at home. Since they don’t live with you there is no pressure to stay connected, instead choosing to call or message gives you the freedom to chat with those you truly care about.
There’s no social pressure to engage with anyone so when calls and messages are made it comes from a place of love and care; two things everyone needs for a happier and healthier living space.
3. Decorate With Meaningful Items
Nothing makes people happier than looking back on fond memories. The easiest way to brighten your day is by glancing at a picture taken on a happier day. Black and white pictures make amazing decoration pieces, adding to the overall mood of your home.
Pictures work but having any sentimental item, like a gift on display works well too.
There’s a lot that goes into having a happier home but the biggest thing is the interior design. Having a dull living space leaves room for a lower quality of life. So if you have a photo of a lover or furry friend, consider putting up framed photos of them.
4. Decorate With Greens
Plants. Plants are amazing as they are but there is a phycological aspect to the colour green. It’s a calming colour and according to a blog post by 99Designs, green represents growth and renewal. It’s literally the colour that means ‘go’. It’s a great way to build a productive environment for a better feeling home.
Some super trendy house plants are monsteras and snake plants. Taking care of them makes for a great hobby, addicting for many, but still amazing.
Plants are something to take care of, a great option for someone who doesn’t want to commit to a pet.
5. Let the Bedroom Stay the Bedroom
Don’t make the bedroom a workspace. How we treat our bedroom can make or break our quality of life.
Bed-making aside- using your bedroom for its intended purpose is optimal for an overall happier home life because it’s easy to dismiss your bedroom as a place of relaxation if you also use it as a workspace.
Treating your bedroom like a home office isn’t the best idea. It should be a place of relaxation. So treating it like a home office could throw of the comforting vibe associated with the room
Working outside of the bedroom isn’t always an option for everyone so if you’re in a tight space, consider getting a desk as far away from your bed as possible.
Get Lots of Sleep. This is important too. Another study by The National Sleep Foundation found that most people need an average of 7hrs and 2min of sleep to function at their best. We all have busy lives but the bottom line is you need to get the proper amount of shut-eye to function and feel your best.
Being tired is a mood killer. Having the most georgeous home wont matter if you’re constantly tired and unhappy.
6. Keep Clutter to a Minimum
Keeping your house clean looks a lot different for everyone. If you’re a clean freak, congratulations. If not then don’t assume deep cleaning for five hours each day is mandatory.
A good rule of thumb is to take at least 10 minutes each day to do some light tidying up. it might not seem like a lot of time but it makes a big difference.
If you’re the type to clean more thoroughly than 20 minutes each day, preferably before work is ideal. A clean living space makes the home look and feel a lot lighter. I find being able to focus on my daily task a lot easier when I have a cleaner living space. Worrying about dirty dishes sucks when there are also so many emails to check.
7. Let the Light and Fresh Air In
Opening a window comes naturally to a lot of people, and that’s great because letting the light in has so many benefits. I hate to admit it but there was a time I would refuse to pull the curtains because I liked the comfort that came along with sitting in the dark (depressing I know) but I overcame that and found simply letting the light in literally and metaphorically brightened my day.
Letting the light in is great but letting fresh air in is even better. Of course, it depends on where you live but if opening the window is possible I highly recommend it. I’m a bit spolied from I living in a relatively warm counrty. Even so, fresh air makes a big difference.
It smells nice outside and taking in a little nature never hurt anyone.
Opening a window also ties into keeping the place fresh and airy. The sunshine coming in may hit soft furniture, keeping it fresh and smelling nice. Keeping the window open also allows smells you may have gotten used to to disappear.
8. Have Background Noise
No one hates music so consider having it play in the background during a busy day that may include deep cleaning or just washing the dishes for a few minutes.
It’s important to find a balance between silence and noise because being in our heads 24/7 isn’t always a good thing.
Music is personal but lofi is tolerated by most. It’s a great genre to create ambience in a static environment, one that can get boring quickly for many.
9. Keep Scented Items
Mainly candles. Candles are a cost-effective way to keep your home feeling and smelling amazing. Natural smells are great but the aroma therapy from something like a candle can’t be beaten.
Candles make great presents too so stocking up on them won’t hurt. They also make a great light source for later in the day. Reading a book by candlelight sounds romantic enough so consider adding it to your to-do list.
Another great option is essential oils paired with a diffuser. The two make a great duo and they’re the go-to for people who really want to explore the world of aromatherapy. If you end up not liking the oils for some reason, essential oils still have many other benefits for the skin and hair.
Air fresheners could do the trick too but I find people often misuse them, especially when it comes to soft furnishings. They could potentially make the problem worse by dampening things; creating a breeding ground for bacteria.
Smells are personal so feel free to customize the oils and choose a candle based on your preferences. For starters, I’d go with the candle but do what you think is best.
10. Decorate With Pops of Colour
Aesthetics are in and it’s getting more and more common to decorate with one or two of the same colour. And while I love the idea people often forget to consider the psychology of colour.
Consider adding blue to your home interior. According to verywellminded.come, blue is a colour associated with serenity and calmness. It’s a peaceful colour that also promotes productivity and mindfulness. Offices are often painted in the colour for this reason.
Green aside, assuming you have house plants, consider also adding orange to your decor. Orange is an energetic colour, it calls for excitement and enthusiasm. It’s also a happy colour because it reminds people of the setting sun or the sweet smell of an orange.
People often avoid orange because it’s such a loud colour but there are ways to include orange in your decor without overwhelming yourself. Consider adding small wall art to your decor or a simple throw pillow to give your space a fresh colour.
Don’t go painting your walls blue and orange, unless you want to of course, but blue and orange are complimentary colours so don’t feel bad about including both as splashes of colour.
11. Make Time to Do Nothing
Ideally, that would be meditation but contrary to what productivity junkies may tell you, there is absolutely nothing wrong with sitting around and scrolling through tik tok for an hour or more.
It’s really easy to start feeling guilty when doing nothing, I know the feeling all too well but it’s important to practice the art of doing absolutely nothing or taking a break. Work and school are hectic and they often lead to burnout.
Taking breaks to watch a movie, read a book or use social media is a great way to turn your brain off, and like I said there’s nothing wrong with doing that. Preventing burnout is key to a happier home and life. No matter how clean and scented your home may be if you are unhappy your home wont be a place you find comfort in.
If being ‘productive’ while also taking a break is something you want to do then consider reading a self-help book that’s practical for the everyday person.
I mentioned meditation before as a great way to keep your mind and body stimulated without overworking yourself. There are many other health benefits of meditation worth looking into.
12. Get Out of the House
I’m a bit introverted so I understand the home is as good as Disneyland if not better but getting out of the home opens doors for a lot of mental clarity and overall well-being.
For a lot of introverts getting out of the house involves simply taking a 10-minute walk. A lot can happen in ten minutes; a motivational podcast or listening to the sounds around along with some thinking and self-reflection. Taking a quiet walk is the closest thing to meditation you have without actually meditating.
Taking walks is great exercise and exercise has a plethora of other benefits that include mood improvement.
Getting out with friends and family is wonderful too. Social batteries need to be replenished even for introverts. Going on a date with friends and family is an excellent way to keep bonds secure. We need friends in our life who can be there for us when we really need it.
13. Fill Your Home With Life
Get a pet if that’s doable for you. Pets make great friends and companions. Pets are a huge responsibility so they’re not for everyone but the ones that do own animals have significantly happier and in some cases, more active lifestyles (Dogs).
They’re a friend for people that live alone or according to some couples, their dog is like their child.
Have friends and family over from time to time. Going out and socializing is fun but it also helps to bring the party back home. Sharing the home with someone other than yourself or your significant other gives your home a new meaning, if only for a short time.
It’s a chance to get together and have others appreciate what you’ve built and replenish that social battery without having to leave home.
A Home is happiest when there’s someone else to share it with
14. Have a Self-care Routine
Self-care looks different for everyone but some standard practices are taking a long bubble bath and having a skincare routine.
Taking a long bubble bath is an underrated practice. For starters, it’s a great time to think or maybe have that snack you’ve been craving. Aromatherapy can be incorporated as well with scented candles or essential oils.
Skincare is the standard for self-care but taking more time than usual allows for something like a face mask or a soothing facial massage.
Most people save self-care for the weekend and that’s okay but self-care can be any day and anytime if you need it to. Taking care of yourself is the #1 key to staying happier at home.
Conclusion
- Make Your bed
- Stay connected with friends and family
- Decorate with meaningful items
- Decorate With Greens
- Decorate With Greens
- Let the bedroom stay the bedroom
- Keep clutter to a minimum
- Let the light and fresh air in
- Have background noise
- Keep scented items
- Decorate with pops of colour
- Get out of the house
- Fill your home with life
- Have a self-care routine
Knowing how to keep the home happier is important and as it turns out the ideas aren’t all that hard, some even contribute to overall better physical and mental well-being.
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