How to Love the Home You Have
If you’re looking for more contentment at home, you’re in luck. There are many tiny habits that you can incorporate into your daily routine to help you feel happier at home. Even if your current house or apartment isn’t everything you desire, you’ll be more content overall if you’re satisfied with your home and make it into a haven from the outside world. Here are some habits you can try so you can love the home you have.
Practice gratitude.
Pausing each day to reflect on at least one or two things you can be grateful for has been proven to increase overall happiness. Grab a journal or your calendar and jot down one or two happy memories for each day. They can be as simple as, “I have a home to keep me warm and safe,” “hot water is good,” or “had a great meal with my family.”
Make your bed every day.
Not only does this instantly make your bedroom look cleaner, it’s one of the simplest habits you can adopt that can produce visible results every day. It doesn’t need to be “bounce a quarter off the sheet” perfect — simply pulling up the covers and fluffing the pillows will do.
Get rid of the clutter.
Clutter causes stress, so make your home a haven of order. Keep the things you use and love, and get rid of the rest. Hide charging cords, donate books you’ve already read, pass along toys and clothes your kids have outgrown, pare your own wardrobe down and consider a capsule wardrobe.
Bring each room back to zero each day.
Take a few minutes each night to tidy each room, putting items back where they belong, fluffing pillows, washing dishes. Doing a quick tidy before bed each night will help you wake up to order instead of chaos.
Bring a little of yourself into your rooms.
Display a few sentimental items around your home — the happy memories these items can conjure will boost your mood every day. Choose decor that reflects who you are and makes you happy. If there’s something there that brings down your mood or brings up negative emotions, let it go and get rid of it.
Make those chores you dislike into habits.
Tie chores to things you do every day anyway to make them automatic. Brush your teeth? Follow by wiping down the bathroom sink and counter. Making coffee? Wash dishes while it brews. Want to watch your favorite TV show? Toss a load of laundry in to wash, and put it in the dryer during a commercial (or between Netflix episodes).
Make some changes.
You may not be able to move, but can you make a few small improvements to your home to make it cozier? Can you paint the walls, or add a new rug, or rearrange the furniture in a fresh way? Simply removing clutter, giving your home a good scrub, and rearranging a few things can make your entire home feel new and different. Add some live plants, fresh flowers, a new framed photo of a loved one, or an art print from your favorite artist.
What are some habits you can establish to help you love the home you have?
