Have a Happy Home - 10 Simple things to make your Home Happier

Our homes are an extension of who we are: the state of our home can affect our moods, affects our productivity, and influences our outlook on life.
Scientific studies have shown that we can have an impact on our happiness by adjusting the tiny little habits and routines that constitute our daily lives — we are, in fact, in control of our outlook on life.
It's amazing how a few tweaks to our daily habits can become a catalyst for meaningful, positive change. Here are a few simple things you can do every day to feel happier at home.

1.  Make your bed everyday.  Sounds simple, right? the impact is huge. It's a keystone habit that leads to other habits that will increase your happiness level.

 

2. Bring every room back to "ready". This is a stress reducer.  Spend 3 minutes to tidy the space before you leave it.  the room will look and feel better. This is tough if you have a busy household especially with pets and children.  My advice, invest in bins, boxes and baskets to keep items off of the floor and tuck them away in a corner.

3. Display sentimental items around your home. Surrounding yourself with good memories like photos or other memorabilia from a great celebration, adventure or holiday will make you reflect on happy times.  Make your home a gallery of happiness.

4. Start a gratitude journal.  Make an entry everyday, it doesn't have to be a long entry one line is good enough.  Write what you are grateful for  or just something good that happened today.  Reflection is an important part of happiness.  Also this is a great exercise for dinner time conversation.  instead of asking "how was your day" try " tell me about something positive from today"

 

5. If you can't get out of it, get into it.  Chores like doing the dishes, laundry and cleaning the house aren't much fun but they are important so find a way to enjoy it.  Enjoy soaking your hands in warm water, enjoy the feeling of a clean floor and the smell of clean clothes.

6.  Before you get out of bed every morning, set the tone.   I'm not a morning person but  instead of crawling out of bed.  I say "thank you" and "I'm looking forward to today"  Don't get grumpy or overwhelm yourself with a giant to-do list - just focus on having a positive state of mind it will make everything better.

7.  Do small favours for those you love and don't expect anything in return.  Help a neighbour carry the groceries in, help put out the garbage...when you do good you feel good and don't keep score it will all even out in the end.

8.  Call one friends or family member  day.  In the age of technology we are so clicked-in to email, facebook, texting, twitter and whatever else but there is something special about hearing a voice on the line.  The call can be brief - a quick how are you, i was thinking of you, i love you, i miss you.  socializing, real socializing makes everyone feel connected and feel good.

9. Spend your money on experiences.  So spend on a new grill - it's fun to host BBQs for friends and family, buy a DVD or DVD player to host movie nights at home, how about a new board game for the family to have a game night together. 

 

10.  Spend a few minutes each day connecting with a higher power.  What ever your spiritual beliefs may be stepping into the perspective that we are a part of the universe (which is huge) let's you realize how precious life is and how silly it is to sweat the small stuff.