4 Ways to Make Staying at Home Not-So-Bad

Your home ought to feel like the safest place on earth. But with all of us kept anxiously indoors right now, your home might feel like anything but. The good news is that you can make your space a little better to be in for the long-haul without spending your life savings on tea and blankets.

Here are a few ways you can transform your home into a safe haven for your mental health while we're all staying inside.

Separate your work and rest spots

If you've suddenly found yourself working from home like many of the 400 entrepreneurs working worldwide, chances are you've had to makeshift your safe space into your workspace. While finding somewhere in your house to get cozy while you work isn't a problem, according to a study on work habits, up to 80% of young professionals working from home admit to working from bed.

That's not good.

Working from your bed can make you associate your sleeping area with work. The result? You guessed it: insomnia. Considering so many people are already struggling with sleep right now and experiencing vivid dreams, it's best to create a designated work space in your home even if it's unconventional.

Give everything a place where it makes sense for you

When you're cleaning your house for what feels like the millionth time to keep busy, you put certain items away in certain places. Have you ever asked yourself why? Sometimes we put things in certain areas of our home because that's where we've always learned to keep things. For instance, dirty clothes go in the hamper in the bedroom.

But if you notice dirty clothes ending up elsewhere in your house, there could be a chance that your bedroom hamper just isn't doing the job. Consider placing a hamper, instead, in the spots where your clothes end up the most. The same is true for other items.

Do you always lose your keys? Leave a designated spot for them by the door. By creating special areas for your belongings instead of beating yourself up for not keeping your house clean, you can help to keep your home organized in a way that works for you instead of the other way around.

Throw away design trends and do what makes you happy

Many people right now are spending a lot of time online. In fact, about one-third of all data is expected to pass through the cloud this year. While scrolling aimlessly through Pinterest, HGTV.com, and Better Housekeeping isn't as bad for your mental health as absorbing hours of news content, you could end up making yourself irrationally disappointed with your space.

Don't let yourself get overwhelmed by different styles and ways to arrange your furniture. Instead, figure out what makes you happy in your space and make those changes if you need to. Never sacrifice comfort for aesthetics.

Wipe down areas around your home regularly

Regularly wiping down areas around your house during this time is essential for both your physical and mental health. But not every store right now has Lysol and Clorox wipes stocked. Fortunately, you can DIY your own cleaning wipes using vinegar and water.

Keeping counters, door handles, and railings clean is especially important. Younger kids typically get six to eight colds per year. The last thing you want to worry about is a cold when there's a respiratory illness already going around.

It's all too easy right now to feel trapped in your home. But by following the tips above, you can reduce your stress and make your space just a little bit better to be in.