If, like many people these days, you find yourself staying indoors more frequently, then you may have noticed life at home has its challenges. Regardless of whether you are forced into it, or you’re voluntarily spending more time in your home, you probably know being stuck inside all the time can be a major drag. In fact, studies show staying home all the time can trigger bouts of depression, insomnia, heart disease, and a whole slew of other health issues.
Thankfully, your health doesn’t have to be held hostage in your own home, even if you’re required to stay inside. Furthermore, you can actually make the most out of a shut-in situation. Here are a few tips to staying healthy while stuck at home if you find yourself spending increasingly long hours indoors.
Start at the Source: Make Your Home a Haven
If you’re stuck inside, then your first task at hand is to make the best out of the situation. That is to say, start making your home a place in which you love spending time. It doesn’t take a lot of money to spruce up your space. Think about adding simple accents that will perk up the energy in your home. Or you can put a slipcover over your couch and chairs instead of paying a fortune for new furniture. Even adding proper lighting can give your home an inexpensive yet more welcoming feel.
The point here is that living in a space that looks and feels bright and inviting will, in turn, have a healing effect on you. Mental health studies show that being in an aesthetically appealing place where you feel safe and comfortable is a powerful way to improve mood and maintain a healthy mental outlook.
Cleanliness is Next to Healthiness
While you’re assessing your home for your health, make sure you do a thorough cleaning. Dust-collecting clutter or trash in the home is known to trigger allergies, which can make you feel miserable and damage your health if you’re always stuck inside. Furthermore, an unkempt or unclean home has a tendency to negatively impact your mental health. If cleaning isn’t your thing, or it’s too overwhelming, then take it in baby steps. Devote time to clearing out one room per day until your home is clean and tidy.
Additionally, think about tossing out items you no longer need. Adopt the 6-month declutter rule. This is a handy guide that helps you determine what to keep or what to get rid of. If you haven’t used something in six months, it’s probably safe to pitch. This, of course, doesn’t include seasonal items, or things you do use, but only on special occasions.
If you can, try to give away your items to Goodwill or to people in need so you can reduce the amount of waste. Or, you might even think about selling your unneeded items for a little extra income.
Clear the Air
A stuffy home can lead to allergies and even illness. This is especially true if your home already has mold or mildew in it. If possible, crack open some windows to encourage fresh air to flow through your home. You can also get home air purifiers which can help eliminate airborne elements that can be the culprit of many health problems.
Check Your Health from Home
While you’re spending time at home, you can also check on your health. There are many at-home testing kits from reliable companies such as Hologic health screenings that make it simple to assess your health. Simply follow the test kit instructions, mail in the kit, and then you can check your results from a secure online medical portal.
Furthermore, you can utilize online telehealth services to tend to your mental or physical health needs from home. Telehealth is a collection of health services online that allows you to consult with your physician via conferencing technology such as Zoom. In addition to health consultations from home, telehealth can offer you reminders, health monitoring services, intervention, education, and much more. While being stuck at home comes with some inconveniences, telehealth makes at-home health monitoring as easy as pressing a button on your phone or computer.
The Last Word on Staying Healthy While at Home
Being sequestered or shut-in the home isn’t a cake-walk, but it doesn’t have to negatively impact your health. Hopefully these tips to staying healthy while staying inside will help you stay on top of your mental and physical game.