Your home is your haven. Or, at least, it should be. But is it really making you happy or are there aspects of your place that are bringing you down? Little fixes can turn it all around.
Get some houseplants
Put your green thumb to good use and surround yourself with houseplants. Not only will they add a fresh element to your décor (literally!), but they can also make your home healthier, and improve your mood.
“Houseplants are good for your health—and not just for their visual beauty,” said NBC News. “Why? They essentially do the opposite of what we do when we breathe: release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. This not only freshens up the air, but also eliminates harmful toxins. Extensive research by NASA has revealed that houseplants can remove up to 87 per cent of air toxin in 24 hours. Studies have also proven that indoor plants improve concentration and productivity (by up to 15 percent!), reduce stress levels and boost your mood.”
Put your stuff away
“A lived-in home is a loved home, right? But when your stuff starts to take over, it can create chaos—in your home, and your mind. “Pursuing a state of harmony between yourself and your home…confers a range of psychological benefits for reasons that are rooted in science,” said Thrive Global. “Studies have identified a direct link between the stress hormone cortisol and clutter. Cortisol is not just linked to stress. At elevated levels, it also causes depression.” In addition, decluttering “leads to eating better” and improves air quality.”
Paint something
Choose a wall, an old piece of furniture, or an entire room. It’s a manageable project you can do yourself and one that can totally change the energy of a space. Or, buy a canvas and create an art piece you can then hang in your home. “Creating art teaches you to be attuned with aesthetic of the visual world around you and makes you appreciate the beauty in and of life,” said Health Fitness Revolution. “You gain a new appreciation for the texture of a tree’s bark or the fur of a dog, of the various highlights and shadows playing on even the more bare of white walls. Embracing the beauty around you gives you a more positive outlook of the world and can even decrease the risk of mental illness.”
Make those little fixes
The burned-out light bulb 20 feet up in the living room. The broken drawer pull in the kitchen. All those little annoyances are stealing your happy. Pick a Sunday and attack them one by one or make a list and check it twice for your handyman so you can replace the long sighs with wide smiles.
Invest in a house cleaner
All that time taking care of your home leaves you little time to enjoy your home. If you can swing it, finding someone to help you with housework can be liberating in more ways than one. Not only will it free up some of your time, but a good, solid deep cleaning can make your home healthier, too.
Build a garden
Wouldn’t it be nice to grow your own veggies, or at least fresh herbs? Perhaps the best news about gardening is how it can make you feel, and not just when you’re eating what you have managed to grow. “Getting your hands dirty in the garden can increase your serotonin levels—contact with soil and a specific soil bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, triggers the release of serotonin in our brain according to research,” said Djanbung Gardens. “Serotonin is a happy chemical, a natural anti-depressant and strengthens the immune system.”
Written by Jaymi Naciri
Nancy M. Alexander - Stone Harbor and Avalon NJ Real Estate NancyAlexander.com
