In the current state of the world, we are finding that home has taken on a new meaning and become more of our safe place and refuge than ever before. This new reality has us spending more time with those closest to us under the same roof, or farther from those who live elsewhere. Whether physically together with those you love, or only together through virtual methods, everyone seems to be trying to find a balance in their everyday lives
This new and essential balancing act doesn’t have a single face and is certainly not a one-size-fits-all situation. In homes across the country, it could look like people just trying to stave off boredom, a college student suddenly finding themselves back at home with their parents, a family trying to juggle the demands of homeschooling, or professionals navigating new technology to meet business demands while away from the office. Home has become more than a place of love, laughter, and relaxation. Home is now a movie theater, a place of recreation, a classroom, a conference room, a workspace, and everything in between. With all of these new roles homes have taken on, it’s important to step back and make sure your home is serving you and your needs.
Make comfort a priority
Regardless of the situation you may find yourself in right now, comfort is more than a lofty luxury found in Instagram posts. Finding comfort in your home is essential to calming nerves and keeping your mental and physical health in top condition. The best part about comfort? It doesn’t always have to be a physical space or an object in your home. Whether your moment of comfort is found in snuggling up to the warmth of a cozy blanket in your favorite recliner, the sound and smells coming from a simmering pot on your stove, the sweet scent of clean clothes fresh out of the dryer, or watching the looks of contentment on your child or pet’s face while they take an afternoon snooze, make sure to make time to savor it. If you are having trouble finding comfort, try your best to make sure the areas in your home are set up to welcome it. If the layout of your space is a problem, consider rearranging it. You would be surprised how quickly moving a few things around can give a room a whole new feeling.
Make productivity a seamless activity
If you or your kids are having a hard time getting into the swing of the remote learning or work landscape, it may be beneficial to take a good look at the areas that you are trying to be productive in. If the kitchen table has taken on a new life as the classroom, the office, and well, the kitchen table, you may be experiencing a lack of inspiration and focus. Look around your home and see if there is a better area to devote to productive time. Whether it be a nook or a full room, a dedicated space will help create the mindset that it’s time to work or learn. If you don’t have a small table to use in this area, consider getting a desk with stylish storage to hide clutter at the end of the day. Hang up some art to inspire you and bring in some small plants to breathe life into your work. If your laptop is old and out of date, upgrade it to make sure your new office or classroom is as functional as it is beautiful. If you are on the fence about creating a home office space because it feels like a temporary need, consider the fact that once things get back to a semblance of normalcy, you or your family can use this space to do homework or pursue passions like crafting or even building your own business. A dedicated space to focus will never go to waste.
Make room for memories
Even though the options for going places are extremely limited, it doesn’t mean that the potential to make happy memories needs to be. Remember, all it takes to create a memory is people that you love. Whether your new memories take place around the kitchen table, while watching movies in the family room, or during a simple video chat or phone call to people you miss, this is a time we will all remember. Don’t forget to add some fond moments to recount in the future too.
Stay safe and be well. If you need us, we are here for you.
