In the last few months, we’ve all had to adapt in many different ways. Specifically, many people are now working remotely or learning remotely, and even as businesses and schools reopen, things are still not back to normal. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, or maybe even a bit stir-crazy, we are here for you.
This month on the blog, we wanted to discuss some of the best ways to make your home and apartment more relaxing. After all, you spend more time there than ever, so you want it to be a place you can unwind, not somewhere that just makes you more stressed. Here are our top six ways to make your apartment a more peaceful, restful environment.
Keep Things Clean
Almost no one is good at every aspect of keeping your home clean, but the more you can do, the better. From basic clutter to deep cleaning the carpets, floors, and furniture, a clean home works wonders on your mental health. Especially when you live, work, and learn from home, it’s vital to develop a routine for your home that keeps things tidy.
If you’re not quite a neat freak, start with little things. Make sure every item has a home within your apartment so that not a single piece of clutter remains floating around the rooms. Next, deep clean everything, room by room, so that you’re starting at a nice, clean foundation. From there, you can work on a cleaning schedule, documenting when things were last done so that you know when it’s time to clean them again.
Designate Your Areas
Now that so many of us have home offices, it’s important to designate your spaces to keep them separated. If your office has been your bed these last few months, no judgment, but separating your place of sleep from the place you work could be a solution if you’re feeling stressed. Just like using your bed to study in college, working from your bed, couch, or other relaxing areas can diminish both spots, making it harder to sleep in the evenings, and harder to accomplish your work.
Make a Relaxing Environment
There are plenty of low or no-cost ways to mix things up and make a more relaxing environment for you, your roommates, and your family. During the day, you can use essential oils to liven up the scents in your home, or open the blinds and let the light in. Later, in the evening, use candles or low lighting to mix up the mood, or put on some chill music.
Whatever relaxes you, incorporate it into your home environment, whether that’s music, lighting, or otherwise. There are plenty of ways you can make your home more comfortable – it’s really up to you and your interests!
Lighting is Everything
Speaking of lighting, the way you light your home is incredibly important when it comes to your mood and happiness. If your only lights are bright fluorescents like an office, it would make sense for you to feel a bit tense. As we’ve discussed before, there are plenty of unique lighting options for your home.
You can use Christmas lights hung on or near the ceiling; multicolored lights for those looking to splurge; or use bias lighting behind your TV to set the mood for a movie at home. Get creative and again, do what works best for you and the activities you love to do. If you’re a big reader, invest in a good reading light or area. If you love puzzles, get something warm and bright that fills the space so you can see every piece.
Become a Plant Parent
Like lighting, plants can be an easy, excellent way to improve your mood and spirits in your apartment. They offer an easy way to bring the outside world inside. There are many houseplants that are robust and beautiful, offering minimal care and room for error, such as the snake plant or ZZ plant, which can live and even thrive in a variety of lighting conditions.
For children in the apartment, this is a great opportunity for them to learn how to care for something that requires more patience than other care-taking activities, such as owning a pet, which can be more immediately gratifying than a plant, which takes time. Take pictures as it grows and show off your progress.
Sleep Techniques
Finally, the best way to relieve stress is by getting a good night’s sleep – but if you’re already stressed, that’s easier said than done. There are many safe, healthy ways to attempt to get better sleep. First, you can try those same essential oils from earlier. Lavender and peppermint are known sleep aids. There are also many soothing sounds and apps you can find on the app store.
To take it to the next level, pick up some blackout curtains and sleep to your heart’s content. Or create a nighttime routine that doesn’t involve screens, and instead focuses on reading, breathing, and settling down.
During this strange time, we are here for you, providing apartment and storage solutions for those in the Norman, OKC, and Tulsa areas. Contact us today to learn more about our many options!
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