How to Live Better at Home— Even During a Pandemic
Novel coronavirus. Pandemic. World-wide havoc. In light of all that’s happening around the globe with COVID-19, speaking about a better living experience at home might appear trivial. Yet having to hunker down in my home office due to a mandatory “shelter-in-place” for nearly two months has forced me to slow my mind down and take note of a few things.
Confinement, whether forced or self-imposed, naturally gives rise to more personal reflection— a topic for another post. It also prompts us to take a closer look at our overall quality of life and the spaces where we nurture it.
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A Place to Soothe Your Soul
Whether a person is in good health or struggling with a health crises; safe at home or in need of a place to recover as a frontline worker; grieving or grateful to be alive– we all need a place to channel our stress. The current interruption in our lives, COVID-19, is an opportunity to make sure we are equipped to live well at home. Yes, beautiful, restful and well functioning interiors are for the soul as well as the eyes.
With this goal in mind, I have included several things I do— and that you can do also— to elevate your experience of life at home and enjoy it— even during a health crisis.
“Beautiful, restful and well functioning interiors are for the soul as well as the eyes”
1. Embrace Uncomplicated Pleasures
Before this pandemic struck, I sometimes felt that my days were needlessly cluttered and overstimulated. I would schedule days off from work just to enjoy the calm of simple things like personal study and meditation, cleaning my home, soaking my feet, or sleeping. It was wonderful! This global shut-down has graced all of us with an un coup d’œil (a glimpse) of the beauty and charm of a simpler life.
“This global shut-down has graced all of us with an un coup d’œil (a glimpse) of the beauty and charm of a simpler life. ”
Those who follow my Instagram stories know that I give ordinary grocery store flowers a hard push. Why? They’re affordable and they look great! You’ll just have remember to manage your expectations when it comes to the selection. What you see is what you get.
Even still, if your home is not everything you want it to be right now, a $7-12 floral arrangement has a way of making it feel just a bit more special. The best part is that you won’t have to make an extra stop when running errands.
2. Maintain a Routine
An article in Psychology Today cited something called the “procrastination vortex.” It’s a slippery slope where one loses contact with one’s self, personal desires, and overall zeal. Sometimes it’s triggered by a shift in one’s life like… working from home. Ding, ding, ding!
In a world filled with uncertainty, knowing what to expect, even in small matters, calms and strengthens us humans. Maintaining a regular routine is thus a great antidote for worry and procrastination. It’s also a great life skill for teens and younger children. Another hidden benefit is that sticking to a schedule can better enable you to re-enter the real world, post-corona, with a little less anxiety.
“Knowing what to expect, even in small matters, calms and strengthens us humans. ”
Again, Instagram stories is where I demonstrate this as close to real-time as possible. There, some weekday mornings I record video snippets of some of my daily routines: exercising, preparing meals, even making sure I’m dressed to work from home. After nearly 40 days under stay at home orders in my state of Illinois, I’ve been able to maintain this schedule AND tackle a few projects around the house.
Below is an outfit I rocked on IG one morning. To date, this outfit (which is also featured in my Amazon store) has been an audience favorite.
#1 Tory Burch sunglasses // #2 Boho skirt // #3 Eyeglass T-shirt // #4 Gold hoop earrings // #5 Camel Tote // #6 Disk bracelet // #7 Calvin Klein flat sandal
3. Declutter and Organize Something—Anything
Why is organizing so important for enjoying a comfortable home? Have you ever watched a person with no rhythm dance? It’s stressful. Every movement to a beat is so jarring and disconnected that it creates a totally different musical arrangement. A person who lacks such flow also has the ability to throw everyone else’s rhythm off too. We are affected by our environment. A chaotic environment that lacks rhythm triggers stress for everyone.
So if you’re feeling a bit “crowded” at home, clutter and disorganization could be the reason. Being home more means a greater demand for areas to spread out. In turn, a demand for more breathing room means some things must go. Use your stay at home wisely by “distancing” yourself from unnecessary stuff.
There’s an art to household management. Instead of fighting your home by cramming it with stuff, purge and organize it until you create a rhythm—a pulse— that matches how you dance inside of it. This will surely reduce a measure of stress.
“There’s an art to household management. Instead of fighting your home, purge and organize it until you create a rhythm—a pulse— that matches how you dance inside of it. ”
I put my own advice into practice during the early stages of the massive self-quarantine by decluttering my closet. Purging and organizing is budget-friendly and is one of the best morale boosters.
4. Humanize Your Spaces
Over the years, I’ve noticed the gradual depersonalization of homes. Of course I love art and beautiful furnishings. But it seems that family portraits have been swapped out for original art, antique oil paintings, a vintage furnishing, or the portrait of someone whom no one knows. This shift is commonly labeled as a “soulful” interior.
A world-wide crises has a unique way of bringing us all back to the things that really matter. People and families matter. They always have. But COVID-19 has made that even more clear; albeit in a painful way. In the face of so much loss of life, adding a human element to our living spaces becomes ever more important.
5. Easy DIY Home Renos
Being homebound has a way a magnifying little problems with your home. It’s no surprise then that all this self-quarantining for COVID-19 has sparked a surge in DIY home renovations. Fortunately, a major renovation is not always what’s needed to make a huge impact. And now, making small improvements is easier than ever.
Every major big box home improvement store offers free shipping to the store or to your home when you order online. Additionally, the no contact, curbside service is a welcomed perk for people like me who freak out whenever it’s time to run an errand. Here are some simple projects you can tackle while at home:
Prep your balcony, front porch or deck for spring
Update the hardware on doors, kitchen cabinets or a bath vanity
Replace old light fixtures
Repair a damaged door screen
Flip an antique dresser
“Water flows around the rocks in its path. So water we must become. ”
I'm sure we can all agree that the lives of people around the globe have been humbled and forever changed by the power of a new and unusual germ. Coronavirus has become a huge rock that blocks our path to normal activities of daily life. But water flows around the rocks in its path. So water we must become. Gracefully improving our quality of life at home is but one way to do that.
Something For Your Pinterest Board
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