Your home, sweet home, plays a role in your happiness.
More than a place to hang your hat, your home environment affects your sense of community, your feelings of belonging, and your opportunities to relate to others. All elements of life that affect happiness.
Connecting with the outdoors and being comfortable, safe, and healthy indoors are also important.
Yes, paying attention to your home can help you be happier.
Happiness and Community
Research shows that the happiest communities are places where people feel welcome, can connect to the beauty of nature, and have many opportunities to connect with others. To be happy in your community, look for a place where you fit in, whether that’s a small town or a neighborhood in a city.
If you’re relocating, find a place where you can talk to neighbors and meet people on the sidewalk, in the park, or at community gatherings. Hiking and bike trails, commons, and other shared spaces will help you make the social contacts that increase happiness.
Happiness and Nature
Spending time outside, in nature, is a boost to happiness. Time spent in nature is good for your health, and not only due to the physical benefits of exercise. Studies indicate that walking in quiet outdoor spaces soothes the mind, changes how our brains work, and improves mental health.
And don’t discount the benefits of natural light. It’s great for your mood. Just ask anyone with Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Happiness and Freedom from Clutter
The most controllable part of your home environment is your personal space. You can increase your happiness quotient by decluttering your home.
Accumulating stuff is easy. Getting rid of what no longer has meaning for you is harder. But it’s worth the effort. Even if you’ve not reached hoarder status, getting rid of clutter and re-organizing what’s left can change your life in a good way.
Safety and health are obvious reasons to declutter. Reducing clutter reduces the danger of tripping and falling. You’re more likely to exercise if you can find your running shoes. In a de-cluttered home, you can quickly find your pain pills or allergy medicine when you need them.
Clutter and extreme disorganization may be symptoms of health problems like attention deficit disorder, depression, and chronic pain. Being disorganized may contribute to emotional, physical, and social suffering.
Thus, getting rid of clutter in your home environment strikes a blow for better health and clears the way for happiness.
Freeing yourself from meaningless clutter while keeping what makes you happy does not need to be a major upheaval in your life. Incorporating small habits into your daily routine can bring you the happiness of an uncluttered home over time.
Some ideas for decluttering:
- Use the one-minute rule. If a task will take a minute or less, do it now: hang up your coat, answer the email, put the dish in the dishwasher, file the paper, read the letter, fill out the form.
- Give away one item a day. That’s 365 fewer items in a year. 366 in leap years!
- Fill one trash bag and toss it. Do that regularly.
- Make a game of it. Challenge yourself to put away 12 things, throw away 12 things, donate 12 things.
- List places to de-clutter. Start with the easiest, then stop. Next day, do the next easiest.
- Use the “box” method. One box for trash, one for items to donate, one for items to relocate, one for items to keep, one for “maybe” items.
- Get rid of papers!
- Take pictures of sentimental objects instead of keeping the objects themselves.
- Organize your closet. Pile all your clothes on the bed, keep only those you wear and love. Or use the hangar method, hanging all your clothes one way—as you wear them, reverse the hangar. After six months, donate the ones you haven’t worn.
Happiness in the Bedroom
Of all the rooms in the house, the bedroom is where you can most improve the happiness of your home environment. After all, we spend one-third of our lives there. It’s the place we sleep, have sex, and retreat when we’re sick or need comfort.
Having a “happy” bedroom means you’ll get the sleep you need to be healthy. Investing in a comfortable bed, bedding, and black-out curtains is only sensible. Well-rested people are happier than the sleep-deprived.
Comfort, even a bit of luxury, is necessary in the bedroom. Incorporate what makes you happy. Emphasize serenity, safety, and things that help you relax. Ban the TV, the computer, the work desk. This place is for happiness.
And make the bed! Think how happy that will make you the next time you come in.
Happiness and Your Home Environment
Finding a neighborhood and community that lets you get out in nature and be among people will increase your happiness. Keeping your home environment organized and free of clutter and distraction will enhance it further. And focusing on the bedroom to help you sleep well, have great sex, and retreat, when you need to, from stress tops it all off.
Yes, your home, sweet home, can play a starring role in your happiness!
