5 WAYS TO CHANGE YOUR HOME TO HELP KEEP YOUR FAMILY SANE

It’s safe to say that we’re all losing a little bit of our sanity with each quarantined day that passes. And even though restrictions are lifting, we all know the virus is as much of a threat as it was on day one.

Bottom line: we’re in this for the long haul.

And since we’re hunkering down to spend more time in isolation, it’s up to each of us to figure out creative ways to keep our families sane.

In this post, we explore five ideas for changing your home in order to maintain some sense of sanity.

Create a true home office

If you’ve been working in a corner of the kitchen, you’re probably already seeing why that’s problematic. The kids and spouse are less likely to have a filter and will disturb you at any given moment.

On the other hand, if you’re able to create a home office in a separate room you can close the door and put up a do-not-disturb sign. Sure, it’s not going to work all the time, but there’s a better chance when you have your own space. If you don’t have an extra room, try getting a desk and a room divider.

Install a home gym or workout mirror

When we work out, our bodies release feel-good chemicals to keep our spirits up and our tempers down. So, try to find something that your family will use. Maybe it’s a Peleton or a workout mirror. Maybe it’s a traditional home gym.

Get automatic blinds

Studies have shown that natural sunlight has a mood-enhancing effect, and if you aren’t getting outdoors as much as you should, automatic blinds can help. You can set your blinds to open and close based on the time of day, so you’ll always optimize natural light within your space.

Start an indoor herb garden

You can keep your sanity and provide fresh, healthy meals for your family by starting an herb garden in your well-lit kitchen. Studies have shown that having plants can improve air quality and boost your overall mood, and plants that you can eat also have nutritional benefits.

Plus, your new indoor herb garden could introduce you to a hobby you never knew you loved. Gardening can be very relaxing and offer meditative benefits.

Even if you know gardening isn’t your thing, adding more plants to your indoor space can have many benefits and possibly help you keep some of your sanity.

Install a pool or outdoor playscape

Let’s face it. Most of this whole “keeping your sanity” thing is going to involve keeping the kids entertained. And even though most of us have been uber-laxed about screen time rules, video games and tablets can really only go so far.

Depending on your kids’ ages, you may get some great mileage on an outdoor playscape or install a swimming pool. Even if you only get a small pool for one season, your kids will have something to do, and you may be able to find a few moments of relaxation.

We can joke about losing our sanity while on lockdown with the fam, but there are some serious mental health concerns abound. For one, the addiction and stress connection could take a family down during this time.

Excess stress can lead to alcoholism or another addiction, and that can have a ripple effect that negatively impacts the whole family. To avoid this, make sure you use some of these techniques to change up your home so that you and your family can make it through this tough time more easily!