Self-care, work-life balance, and making time for family are all critical parts of managing stress.
But how often do you consider your home when it comes to managing stress? Everything from your outdoor space, to your interior decor, can either cause or help alleviate stress—and obviously, the latter is preferable!
Here are some tips to help you have a stress-free summer at home this year.
If you’re working from home, give yourself dedicated work space.
Working from home certainly has its perks, but it can become a highly stressful situation if you’re also sharing space with a partner, children, or even pets who like interrupting those Zoom meetings.
Another difficulty? Staying focused. If you’re working in the middle of your kitchen, it can be hard not to feel like you just have to take care of those dirty dishes—and the crumbs on the counter, and probably sweep the floor, too.
That’s why home offices are becoming more popular than ever. By building or creating a separate home office—even one in your own backyard!—you give yourself separate space that’s just for work. You can create an even more pleasant working environment by choosing a space with lots of natural light or one that opens onto your backyard.
Tidy up your outdoor space
Creating a backyard oasis doesn’t have to require extreme amounts of time, money, or effort.
By simply cleaning up your yard space—mowing and edging your lawn, removing any fallen branches, and keeping it tidy regularly—you’ll make it much more inviting.
Add some simple outdoor seating, and you’ll be able to go out and enjoy your own small bit of nature any time you’re feeling stressed. With the right setup, you can even work outside, boosting your mood and giving you that daily dose of Vitamin D, too.
Go big with a swimming pool
If you’re really looking to enhance your outdoor space this year, why not go big and put in a swimming pool?
According to insights from top agents in a recent HomeLight report, backyard pools are now a huge home value boon—which marks a big change for the real estate market. Even as recently as 2018, pools usually made homes harder to sell, as buyers saw them as an expensive liability.
Post-2020, however, backyard pools are getting a whole new reputation. You’ll want to check with a trustworthy Realtor, to make sure that they’re popular in your area, but in general, pools are fast becoming a buyer attraction.
They’re expensive to maintain—that hasn’t changed—but if you’re feeling the urge, especially if you think you’ll be selling your home in the next couple of years, this spring or summer may be the time to take the plunge!
Declutter
According to multiple medical sources, including the respected Mayo Clinic, clutter can contribute heavily to stress. Having all that stuff to pick up, put away, and deal with all the time means you have less time for the things that are important to you—relaxation, stress relief, self-care, and family time, for instance.
Decluttering will also improve the appearance of your home, create a more peaceful and calm environment, and help lower your baseline stress levels.
In addition, if you’re thinking of selling your home, decluttering is a home improvement project that will give you incredible ROI—432%, according to estimates from real estate agents.
Having a stress-free summer at home starts with a bit of cleaning and maintenance, but with just a bit of effort, you can create a peaceful oasis to return to (or rarely leave). Happy relaxing!