Easy Ways to Feel Better and Be Less Stressed in Your Home

Your home is supposed to be your safe haven, the place you come back to in order to decompress and relax. But how many of us have relaxing, decompressing environments at home. If you’re dreading going home at the end of the day, or being gone when you wake in the morning, it’s time to make some changes.

However, the right changes don’t have to cost a great deal of money. There are plenty of easy things you can do right now, or at least this week, for very little moola, that will make a huge difference in the way you feel at home. Let’s think about what’s stressing you out.

When interviewed, most people would say that way stresses them out most at home is chores. The dishes need to be done, the laundry needs to be put away,  the trash needs to be taken out and everything is dirty. The second biggest thing people note as stressful is repairs needing to be done. The growing list of responsibilities for them at home is too much.

I can relate. But when these things are keeping you from enjoying the one place you should be able to go to in order to take a load off and rest, its time something changed. Lets look at a few of the things you can do now to make your home the haven you deserve.

Clear the Clutter

When your home is full of clutter, not only do you have more to clean and more to shuffle around when looking for something, but it is stressful for your brain. “Excess things in your surroundings can have a negative impact on your ability to focus and process information” (lifehacker). 

“Physical clutter overloads your senses, making your feel stressed, and impairs your ability to think creatively.” BY getting rid of things you don’t use, you don’t need, or you haven’t used or seen in at least a year, you can significantly improve how you feel when you’re at home without doing any other improvements.

Fix Anything Broken

The next step is fixing all of those like things that are always on your mind. So the sink is leaking, the toilet runs, your computer chair is wobbly, the stupid TV remote never works for you and you fight with your bedside lamp every night.

Constantly battling little things in your home that cause you frustration can quickly add up to the beginning of a really bad day, or an even worse ending to a frustrating day. The last thing you want to do when coming home from a hard day of work, or when you’re trying to relax over the weekend is all of the dumb stuff that never works in your house.

Now is the time to fix it. Buckle down, and next time that remote bothers you, change the batteries. Stop off at the store when you’re out and about and buy the pieces you need for that sink and toilet. The less time you spend with frustrating items at home, the more time you have to rest, now and in the future.

Clean

Cleaning is like a final step in setting the stage to now make your place your own. I have a great article for cleaning up for space using what you already have in your pantry, called 12 Ways to Green Up Your Cleaning Routine, so you don’t have to worry about spending money on cleaning products. Then check out my article for getting through this step quickly, 4 Steps to a Clean Organized House Fast. There’s no sense in spending more time here than necessary.

A clean house is going to really make a difference. No more clutter, no more little frustrations, and now no more dirt. I bet you sleep well tonight! Now we can get into the good stuff.

Paint

You’d be surprised at the huge affect a little paint can have on your mood. What is your favorite color? Consider painting one wall, the first wall you see in the morning, or the one you see most often, in a vibrant hue of that color.

White is bland, but color can excite you, sadden you, anger you, or make you happy. Make sure you choose wisely and don’t be scared to experiment. For some people warm colors make them feel good, and for others its cooler ones.

For your bedroom, I recommend a cooler color like blue, green or purple because yellows, reds and oranges are known for excitement and energy. When you’re trying to sleep the last thing you need is to be jazzed, but boy would that be great in your kitchen. Pick colors that make you feel good.

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Pictures are kind of the touch that says this is your domain. You live here and you are claiming this place. I really love putting up smiling pictures of my family because they make me smile. But maybe the ocean, landscapes, animals, plants or boats are more your thing.

Consider stocking up on picture frames at thrift stores. You can always paint or decorate them to match your style. And then fill them with pictures that make you smile and make you feel good. Hanging them is then another personal preference. I like random collections of all different frames. Others like all the same frame in neat shapes or rows. Google some options to see what you like and then go for it.

Add Some Creature Comforts 

The point is to make your home more comfortable and therefore more relaxing. What would make that happen for you? Some fluffy throw pillows for the couch, maybe a soft blanket to wrap up in, some nice big soft towels for the bathroom, or even some big coffee mugs in your favorite colors might do a great deal for you comfort-wise.

These things sound wonderful for me, but I’m sure you have a few things you have in mind right now. Don’t think you can’t have them because you don’t have the money. I buy just about everything in my house from thrift stores, garage sales, or online sale pages like Facebook Marketplace for pennies. Scout out a few of these areas and see what you can find. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Add Some Curb Appeal

One final recommendation I have is to spiff up your yard. Of course you don’t want to come home if it looks like your house is abandoned from the front. Take a good look and decide what would make your home look better.

Maybe your home needs a good coat of paint. It may just be your front door that needs some paint and maybe a wreath. Getting rid of weeds, planting some flowers or a couple bushes, or even just putting in some pretty stepping stones where the grass is wearing thin could really make a difference. Look at some of the other homes around you for ideas.

Have you seen another home you really like in the neighborhood? Maybe there’s something similar you could do at your house to have that same effect. It’s worth a shot. In the end, you’ll have a home you can be proud of, that you’ll look forward to coming back to everyday. And that is worth all of your hard work.

By no means am I suggesting that you try and tackle all of these things all at the same time. Just considering that is stressful to me. Take things one day, one week at a time. Perhaps decluttering only takes an afternoon, but fixing stuff that’s broken takes a few weeks, or vice versa. That’s fine.

The whole point is lowing your stress levels and finally giving you a place to truly call home, a place to kick back and refresh. If lowering your stress levels is raising them, all is lost. Take your time and work through the process a little at a time.

Hopefully in the end, not only will you feel better, but you’ll be proud of your efforts, have pride in your home, and enjoy the space you call your home. You pay good money to live there, you should enjoy it. Now if you can simply maintain this standard in your home, you’ll keep the stress at bay. Good luck!