Encouraging Positivity Through Simple Home Changes

By Jennalea Brave, Guest Contributor

In the midst of the chaos of today’s global health crisis, it isn’t surprising that a lot of people find it extra hard to stay positive and happy. A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorder highlights how psychological distress associated with the pandemic can potentially lead to higher levels of adverse psychiatric symptoms, such as major depressive disorder and PTSD. In the face of this reality, it becomes even more important for all of us to look into the ways we can encourage positivity — and what better place to start than home?

Letting more plants and sunlight into your home

If you are wondering why a lot of people seem to be hooked on planting and gardening these days, that’s probably because of the many mental and physical health benefits they provide. Gardening promotes mental and physical health by restoring dexterity and strength and encouraging low-intensity exercise that’s known to lessen the risk of mental health problems.

To reap these benefits, you can start turning your home into a greener space by adding a few indoor plants here and there. As a beginner, it would be best to stick with plants like Golden Pothos Vine, Spider Plant, and Lucky Bamboo, which are super easy to take care of and are tough to kill.

Aside from this, try letting more sunlight into your home, as this can also do wonders in making you feel even more positive. After all, adequate exposure to sunlight has been proven to increase the production of serotonin — a hormone that’s capable of boosting mood and helping people feel calm and focused.

Getting a standing work desk

If you are one of those people who have been forced to work from home when the pandemic started, one of the ways you can invite positivity into your home is by taking extra care of yourself as you work. Yes, ergonomic office furniture can sometimes be a bit pricey, but they can be of great help in making you feel comfortable while working as well as in preventing ailments that are often associated with having to work in front of a computer for hours on end.

An example of an ergonomic office fixture that you can add to your home to dramatically improve your work experience is a standing desk. Standing desks, also known as sit-stand desks, are special desks that let users switch between sitting and standing multiple times in a day as they work. Through this, you will be able to save yourself from the many dangers of excessive sitting, such as chronic pain and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, and depression.

Decluttering and investing in good storage solutions

Most of the time, our immediate environment affects our mental health much more than we like to admit. Believe it or not, a person’s living space, along with the things that are inside it, can potentially trigger stress, impact mood and take away positive energy.

To keep your home from being a stress-inducing space, what you can do is invest in good storage solutions that can keep clutter away. By having enough storage space, you would be more inclined to declutter your home, which has been found to lower stress, provide a sense of achievement, boost self-esteem, and allow you to manage anxiety better.

Article exclusively written for theblessingsbutterfly.com by Jennalea Brave

Jenni is a yoga enthusiast who believes that this world needs more positivity and love. Not quite a vegan yet, she enjoys jogging, hiking, and swimming. Her ultimate goal in life is to be able to publish a book on health and wellness someday.

Want to read more articles about cultivating positivity? Try These: Transformational Positivity and the 4 Pillars Wrapping It All Up: 31 Examples of the Inspiration Behind the Transformation

All opinions expressed in this article are the sole perception/experience of the writer, and may not necessarily be shared by Michelle Lewis – The Blessings Butterfly. All Rights Reserved.