Home hacks to de-stress life
Wish you could feel a little more calm and in control? Start with a few simple tweaks at home, says ABI JACKSON
There’s never going to be a magic wand to make life easy – but we’re huge believers that little things really can add up to a big difference, and as is so often the case, that starts at home.
Making little tweaks to cut the drama and chaos, and make managing the day-to-day a bit simpler, can really help with keeping stress in check.
Here are five ‘home hacks’ for life less stressed – and we haven’t even mentioned baths, plants and candles – although we are huge fans of those too...
HAVE A ‘FREQUENTLY MISPLACED ITEMS’ PLACE
Always dashing around at the last minute, rummaging for misplaced keys or hunting down your bus pass?
There’s enough stress and chaos without adding to it by being late all the time, because you can’t find something just as you’re about to leave the house.
An easy solution is to have a dedicated place for ‘frequently misplaced everyday essentials’ – perhaps a lovely ceramic dish, or a little shelf .
Putting things there as soon as you get home will soon become a habit you barely notice you’re even doing. That way, every time you need to grab them quickly, you’ll know where they are.
Who knew it was that simple?
MAKE STORAGE SOLUTIONS YOUR BEST FRIEND
We’re not claiming to be neat-freaks (my bedroom frequently looks like a tornado has passed through). But the power of decluttering should not be underestimated. Entire global movements have been dedicated to this topic, and it’s proved to be a goldmine for book publishers in recent years, so there must be something to it.
Being more mindful as a consumer (basically not buying tons of stuff you don’t actually need), and having regular charity shop clear-outs are two great ways of keeping clutter levels in check.
But do yourself a favour and kit your space out with adequate storage too. If space is tight, then head to a budget homeware shop and stock up on sturdy boxes that can go under the bed/stairs/sink/atop bookshelves – anywhere, so long as you’re concealing the chaos.
You will feel calmer and more in control. It’s amazing how much lighter you feel when your space isn’t full of mess.
START LABELLING (OR AT LEAST SORTING)
How many times have you bought something you know you already have somewhere at home, but just can’t find?
Here’s a little weekend project that’ll make this a thing of the past and invite a new sense of stress-free order into your home and psyche. Rather than having drawers and boxes stuffed randomly with bits and bobs, sort them by theme and then get labelling (or just add a discreet tag inside the drawer or box if that’s more your style).
So it might be ‘Travel Items’, ‘Stationery’, ‘Electrical odments’ (all those extra cables and bits that come with new phones, laptops etc).
This probably sounds like a no-brainer to some people, but if you’re the sort of person whose whole household organisational system resembles Monica’s ‘secret closet’ on Friends, get down to it.
PRINT A ‘POWER PICTURE’
Feeling strong and confident isn’t something that just magically happens; sometimes you need to work at it a little – and a touch of DIY home decor could be just the ticket.
Pick a photo that reminds you of a moment, place or person that makes you feel amazing and powerful. This might be from that time you completed a charity run, a holiday when you felt utterly free and on top of the world, or a snap with family and friends that fills your heart with joy.
Get it printed, frame it, and hang or place it somewhere you’ll see every time you’re getting ready to leave the house.
Then, as you’re about to head out and face the day, look at your ‘power picture’ and take a second to drink it in and go back to that place: You’re ready.
INVEST IN HEALTH-ENHANCING PURCHASES (SUCH AS A GREAT MATTRESS)
It’s tempting to spend a fortune getting your home looking stylish – but racking up huge credit card debts to do so really isn’t going to help those stress levels. Make your home cosy and personal, but do so within your means and accept that the ‘dream home’ might be a long-term goal.
When you are able to make some splurges, start with the ones that are truly going to make a difference to your life and wellbeing – like an amazing mattress.
They don’t come cheap, but quality sleep is so important. Switching to a really well-made mattress with the right level of support – no more tossing and turning trying to get comfortable or waking up with knotty shoulders and sore hips – can literally change your life.
Surely that’s worth way more than upgrading your TV or having a slightly more Pinterest-worthy sofa?