Our homes should be our sanctuary, a place to feel physically and mentally secure in. And with the pandemic, we’ve been confined for a long time inside our houses, turning them into stressful environments that can trigger negative emotions in many of us. For more than a year, we juggled cleaning, working, exercising, and everything else within the confines of the home for each passing day.
This makes it more difficult to find peace, especially for those struggling with issues that can only be mitigated by a warm and caring environment. So it is important to adjust the home space to fit our needs and help to improve our present condition. Here are some ways to make this happen.
A Clean Space
Keeping the home free from dust, dirt, and clutter is already a big step in the right direction. Unsightly messes can be a direct manifestation of a person’s inner turmoil. This can be explained by how some people will cease to clean dirty rooms because they feel like they do not deserve to live in a well-maintained room.
But cleaning up clutter can help distract the mind for some time and give you something to do instead of worrying about other things. Another benefit is that it can give a sense of accomplishment when you manage to clean anything, whether the dishes on your sink, the leaves on your lawn, or the clothes in your closet.
Indoor Greens
The color green is a powerful visual cue that helps to calm the mind. Because of its relation to nature, green can create a harmonious feeling in people and promote serenity. You can, of course, paint your walls a certain shade of green or bring in the decor of the same color to feel the benefits.
But you can benefit more from caring for indoor plants that help to filter the air in your house. Potted plants like philodendrons, aloe vera, and snake plants are very low maintenance and can survive without needing much attention. You can also opt for a vertical garden with herbs, ferns, and textured reindeer moss if you are up for something more unique.
Sunshine
Let in some sunlight into your home as it can help to lighten up your mood. Simply cut some tree branches, part your curtains, and sit beside your window for a few minutes every day to soak up the sun as your body makes Vitamin D. Natural light is found to trigger the release of feel-good hormones that makes you happy and give you better sleep cycles.
Hobbies
Doing what you love can be therapeutic, especially when you feel overwhelmed by your circumstances. Certain hobbies like painting, gardening, reading, and cooking might be more appropriate for self-care, but whatever you enjoy can certainly put you in a better place than before.
We know that sometimes it is hard to engage in your hobby when you feel down. One way to counter this is by scheduling a set time for that activity. This should help to program your brain to follow a routine meant for your well-being. But don’t push yourself to the point that it is no longer enjoyable.
Exercise
A certain level of exercise is always beneficial for your body as it helps avoid stagnation and prevent some diseases. It also helps to avoid problems related to obesity which can cause a whole slew of other health risks. Exercise can be done in many healthy ways without feeling like you’re exercising at all. Activities like playing sports, dancing, swimming, and biking are all simple tasks that will keep you healthy while having fun.
Redecorate
Changing the look of your home can give you a new view of the same space you’ve lived in for some time now. This can be better than going outside to sightsee if you are a homebody. Rearranging furniture, repainting walls, or placing unique decor can make the room more appealing to the eyes and, in turn, make you feel more inspired.
No matter what step you take to transform your home into a safe space for your mind, the most important part is how you follow and commit to your chosen activity. Doing them only once will provide you with temporary peace of mind, but doing them whenever you are filled with negativity or routinely engaging in them might give you all the benefits for a longer period.
Of course, you have to find what activity is right for you. Either you give them all a try to see what works or ask your therapist for advice to give you a better idea of making the home more mind-friendly. With all of this, let us all take care of our mental health within the comfort of our homes.
