This pandemic has been bringing families together globally like we haven’t seen in a long time – and not only bringing together to stay, but living together physically in the house. Melding multiple lives together in this time can be a challenge, but can also be a beautiful moment in your lives that you’ll remember as a time of rest and togetherness at the exact moment you needed it. Here are 10 ways to cultivate a happy home in the middle of the madness.
- Create a comforting atmosphere. Your home is the place you and your family go to rest and recharge after a long day – light a candle, pull out extra blankets, install some non-abrasive lighting. Every family is different, but being intentional about taking care of your home space can make a huge difference.
- Get Plants! Not only are plants beautiful decorations, they improve the air quality of your home! If you’re not much of a green thumb, don’t worry – there are plenty of easy to care for plants that you can get in a regular home store.
- Play nostalgic music. Music is a powerful thing – it can help you focus, brighten your mood, and even carry memories with each song. In fact, there have been recent studies that show that playing music from someone’s time can actually have an effect on the memories of people with Alzheimer’s and dementia! Link
- Check in with each other. Quarantine times has made living in close quarters with family members a bit of a challenge, and with this tension can come a lot of arguing if left unchecked. Be intentional about checking in with how your loved ones are doing and how you can help make their day easier – you may be surprised at how just a check in can make a difference in your week.
- Take care of your body. Exercise is proven to release endorphins and lift your mood – so even when you’re feeling like you don’t have the energy for a workout, remember that the workout may actually give you energy for the rest of your day! Link
- Learn something new. Irish poet & writer William Yeats once said, “Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that, but simply growth, We are happy when we are growing.” That can mean different things for everyone, but take time every day to learn something new and grow in areas not that you need to for work, but something important to you.
- Get Outside. COVID-19 has made our normal active lives become a lot more static, but if you are lucky enough to be somewhere you can go outside take advantage of it! Even if it’s just a porch or opening a window, getting a daily dose of vitamin D works wonders for your health.
- Make time for yourself. Introvert or not, we all need privacy and time for ourselves. While we are caring for our loved ones, we need to remember to take time alone to recharge – when we care for ourselves, we give ourselves the energy and endurance we need to care for those around us as well.
- Find fun things to do together as a family. It can feel like the days are on repeat at this point – but it doesn’t have to be that way. Try cooking international food together one night. Watch an old movie your mom has always over-romanticized and you never tried. Enroll in a language course online and practice new words around the house. Having fun seems like a luxury but it can make or break daily life as a family.
- Thankfulness. Last but certainly not least, set your intention every day to be thankful. If you have a home with family, good food and maybe even an extra caregiver in your home, that is more than many families in the world right now. Choosing to be thankful costs nothing but can change the whole dynamic of a family, and it starts with the decision every day.