Over the course of the pandemic, our homes have become more than just a place to unwind and relax. Houses have begun to morph into working and learning spaces that have blurred the lines between productivity and relaxation. Clocking out of work or school from the comfort of our desks at home doesn’t offer the same detachment as leaving the office on Fridays. The melding of all of these activities and responsibilities can cause chaos in our households. Our clutter no longer remains in the office but is now in our living rooms, bedrooms, and other parts of the home. While organizing our homes may seem like just another thing to add to the never-ending to-do list during the weekdays, it can make a world of difference. Clean and organized spaces, devoid of clutter, have been proven to boost your mood and increase productivity.
The conversation around our mental and physical health during the pandemic has only continued to gain popularity. More and more efforts that focus on getting back to a healthier you in the new normal have been the season’s trends. Along with taking strides to come out of lock down a better you, many people have also been interested in relocating during the tail end of the pandemic. Cramped living spaces with no outdoor areas have been detrimental factors for some people regarding how they feel and function at home. However, there are a lot of us who just can’t afford to move to a new space, whether that’s financially or just practicality-wise. There are a lot of tips and tricks to make the spaces we’re already in more conducive to a healthy balance of work and play.
Organization
There’s simply no getting around it. Staying organized plays the most significant factor in keeping our homes great environments in which to live, work, and study. Seeing organization as a hassle and a chore is entirely typical, but there are ways to keep things straight at home without spending an hour picking up after yourself.
One great tip is to make sure that everything has its place. Ensure there’s no work paraphernalia in your living room or dirty clothes in your home office; keep the spaces ready for their intended purposes. One great way for less clutter is to make sure there’s enough storage space in your home. Things that end up strewn all over the place usually mean that there’s no other convenient place to put them in, which is where dual-purpose or hidden storage spaces come into play. Investing in furniture that doubles as storage is a great way to keep your home tidy while maintaining your interior design preferences.
Change it up
While your initial furniture or design aesthetic might have suited the old you before the world went through a major pandemic, it may not represent the new you. A lot of us have developed new habits and lifestyles due to being stuck at home for the better part of a year. If our home stays the same, we can often feel disconnected from the space, which leads to us feeling discontent at home.
Changing up your interior design doesn’t have to come at a hefty price tag. It can be as simple as switching out loud curtains for sleeker, simpler designs, adding large mirrors to provide the illusion of more space, or maybe investing in high-quality chairs with leather upholstery that’s sure to last and make a statement in your home. A home that fits your new lifestyle design-wise can make even the smallest of spaces feel luxurious.
Separate spaces
Blurring the lines of work and play at home can lead to you feeling burnt out and having a hard time relaxing at home. As a rule, bedrooms should be kept strictly for rest or entertainment purposes. If you can’t help but have your work desk in your bedroom, make sure you’re not working from bed or close to it, as this can associate your bed with an urge to feel productive. Gaming consoles and other entertainment equipment should also be kept away from your working spaces. Working from home certainly has its perks, but developing bad habits that mix the two during work hours can have serious consequences.
While we’re currently watching the new normal unfold, it’s clear that life won’t look like it was before the pandemic. We as countries, communities, and individuals are no longer the same. Though not all of us may have changed as drastically as others, there are ways our home base can also change with us without having to break the bank.
