Life is tough for many of us. Especially right now. We live in a time of political turmoil and economic uncertainty. Many of us are working harder and for longer hours than ever, and still struggling to make ends meet. Austerity is… still a ting, no matter what was said in the run up to the recent election. It seems like more and more we’re retreating inwards at a time when we should be making the most of our time with friends, family and loved ones. Still, if your lifestyle and budget mean that you’re spending more quiet nights (and long days) in than you used to, that doesn’t mean that your life can’t be filled with happiness and joy.
Image by Jessica West via Pexels
Your home can (and should) be a place where you manufacture your own personal brand of happiness. Here are some ways to help you do just that…
Tidy up
Sorry to get all Marie Khondo on you, but the truth is that it’s much harder to be happy in an untidy or cluttered home. Clutter is a distraction for the eyes and mind and can actually elevate our stress levels when we’re at home. Not only is a tidy home more conducive to feeling peaceful and happy, the actual act of tidying up can be surprisingly therapeutic.
Surround yourself with happy memories
Ideally, you should have something on every wall that makes you smile. Or at the very least in every room. One of the best ways to ensure this is by keeping pictures of your happy memories proudly displayed at key points around the home. Multi photo frames are a great way of keeping multiple happy memories in one space without creating clutter.
Swiping through pictures on your phone is all well and good, but there’s something extra satisfying about seeing your happy memories rendered in a frame.
Limit your screen time
As tempting as it may be to collapse onto the sofa in front of your Netflix wish list or a DVD box set, too much screen time can actually lead to an increased risk of anxiety and depression. Of course, snuggling up with your SO and kids in front of a good film can be a great way to spend a Saturday evening, but try and make screen time a treat rather than the default. And that goes for smartphones and tablets as well as your TV!
The less time you spend interacting with what’s on the screen, the more time you have to spend with the people in your life who mean the most to you… and when it comes down to it, what purer form of joy is there than that?
Make the most of your natural light
Natural light benefits your health in a number of ways. And when your home is flooded with natural light, it not only helps you to feel better, it also makes your living space look and feel more airy and spacious. So make sure that when the sun’s out, the curtains are thrown back, the blinds are lifted and glorious sunlight is allowed into your home.
