Prioritize Your Health at Home With These 5 Healthy Living Tips

When this new year began, you probably made a resolution or two for what you wanted to accomplish. Chances are also good that one of your resolutions had to do with living a healthier life. You’re certainly not alone if that’s the case – many of the most common New Year’s resolutions have to do with healthy living.

Sadly, this is about the time when healthy goals made at the start of the year begin to break down. If you’ve been feeling tired and discouraged, this blog is for you – because we’re about to provide some tips that can help you feel healthier and more fulfilled with a few simple tweaks to your home!

Why It’s Worth Making Changes At Home

Putting the focus on our houses is an often overlooked trick to making long-term healthy changes. Our homes are the centerpiece of our lives. They provide everything from security to privacy. They also play a major role in our happiness and overall comfort and wellness. Given the power our homes have in our lives, if you want to make healthy changes, it’s worth asking how your home can help you make those changes!

Not sure where to start? Not to worry. Just take these initial steps to start creating a healthier home and a happier environment overall:

1. Reduce the Clutter in Your Home

Did you know that clutter is bad for you? When you have piles of stuff scattered throughout your home, it doesn’t just cause an unsightly mess. It overwhelms our minds, which see the clutter and become overwhelmed by a visual representation of never-ending work. We then feel anxious about the work ahead, guilty that we’re so disorganized, and experience other negative feelings that weigh our mental health down.

Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to de-stress and deal with clutter! There are lots of ways you can make your space more manageable and more relaxing. You can work with your partner or children to declutter your home. You can also purchase new furniture or re-design spaces in your home specifically with the goal of sorting your clutter into bins and drawers. And of course, if you don’t use something, you have the option to donate or toss it! Whether you choose to reorganize or remove items entirely, addressing the clutter in your space will be a major positive change.

2. Bring the Outdoors Into Your Home

Even if you don’t consider yourself a nature lover, it’s worth considering adding a touch of the great outdoors to your space. Over the past few decades, scientists have found connections between nature and reduced risk of depression and anxiety.

Research into the phenomenon is ongoing, but in the meantime, there are definitely things you can do to take advantage of this potential benefit! While a walk in the woods might deliver the biggest mood booster, you can also display some art or photography in your home that features beautiful scenes of nature. That way, even on a busy workday, you can feel a little closer to the natural world.

3. Build an Indoor Garden

This idea is probably scary to a number of you, but hear us out! Purchasing indoor plants is a great way to build a healthier and happier home. Indoor plants are linked to reduced stress levels and increased feelings of well-being. They may also boost creativity and productivity, which is a nice perk when you’re working from home! Best of all, indoor plants are relatively easy to purchase and are sold by a number of grocery stores as well as by garden centers.

Growing an indoor garden from scratch is also an option if you’re feeling adventurous. It will admittedly take time and research, but it’s definitely something worth considering as you evaluate what projects you want to take up at home.

4. Adjust the Light Sources in Your Home

The lighting in your house can make a big difference in your daily mood and routine, especially if you work from home. Lighting can affect your productivity during the workday, which can in turn make you more tired and frustrated more quickly. It can also affect your sleep patterns, especially if you’re exposed to high levels of blue light.

The solution? Tailor and update the lighting in each space in your house based on how that space is used. In your home office, do things such as updating lightbulbs and bringing in lamps to create the best lighting for your work needs and preferences. In your bedroom, opt for softer light sources. And finally, avoid any devices and digital screens at least one hour before you go to bed – make it two or three for the best results!

5. Make Your Spaces Work for You

Perhaps the most important part of creating a happier, healthier home is to support your healthy habits by design. This requires understanding your goals and creating spaces that specifically support those goals.

For example, if your goal is to sleep a certain amount of time regularly, you’ll want to design a bedroom that puts the focus on a good night’s rest. If you’re trying to improve your overall diet, you can organize your kitchen in a way that makes it easier to create nutritious meals. And if you’re trying to exercise more, you can add more movement into your day by associating exercise with something fun. For example, using a stationary bike while watching TV is a win-win option!

These simple changes can make a big difference if you’re trying to feel healthier and happier at home this year! And once you make these adjustments, you’ll be in a better state to make additional decisions that support your growth and goals throughout the year.

These are just a few of our favorite design-related tips to make a home work better for your needs and goals. If you happen to have questions about selling or buying a home in the near future, know that we can provide tips about those topics as well! Just contact a Howard Hanna real estate agent in your area to begin that conversation when you’re ready to plan for your next big move.