Never before we have stayed and spent more time in our homes for a prolonged period. It’s normal for our emotions to sometimes feel up and down, get frustrated and lonesome. Because of that, there has been an increased in number of people who became conscious and concerned in their mental health and wellbeing.

And as we start easing out of lockdown, it’s important that we develop on the healthy routines and wellness programs that many of us have learned during this time.

What is wellness?

Wellness is the act of practicing healthy habits to attain better physical and mental health results. It’s a holistic way of pursuing and making choices towards a healthy and fulfilling life.

To understand the importance of wellness, it’s significant to know how it's associated to health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is defined as being “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

By making simple and healthy choices, you will be thriving on your way towards reducing stress, having social interactions and achieving optimal wellness.

How is wellness linked to our homes?

Our home impacts most of the every aspect of our lives. It influences our life cycle from how well we sleep, how we eat, to how often we socialize, to how safe and secured we feel.

If you wish to improve our own health and wellbeing, there is nothing more important place to start than the home where you spend most of your life.

Finding ways to promote wellness throughout your home can play a major part in improving your quality of life. So, we’ve come up with some tips and ideas to help you in designing for wellness at home - to manage your physical health, mental health and that can have positive effects on your lifestyle.

1. Maximize natural light

Your surroundings can be a big factor when it comes to your health and wellness. As we still are spending most of our time in our houses, creating a good home environment is important now more than ever.

Maximizing natural light provides measurable health benefits such as:

· Boosts Vitamin D

When exposed to sunlight, the skin absorbs vitamin D, a critical nutrient that prevents bone loss and reduces the risk of heart disease, weight gain, and various cancers.

· Great mood booster

Light exposure can help decrease depression and anxiety as sunlight increases serotonin in our brains.

· Improves balanced sleep schedule

Getting morning sunlight can help you sleep better at night. It can also be helpful in people who suffer insomnia by helping to regularize the patterns of sleep and wakefulness.

How can you bring more natural light into your home?

· Use mirrors to add more light - sunlight from the window can reflect against a mirror, casting more brightness between four walls.

· Add glass roof tiles to bring in natural light

· Use glass doors

· Clean your windows to increase natural light

· Choose brighter paint and wallpaper/colors

2. Tidy up and declutter

Decluttering, or removing unneeded and unwanted things from your home or office, is not a new concept, but its health benefits have become increasingly recognized. Part of creating a wellness in your home is having free of unnecessary clutter – extra stuff is stressful.

Creating a clear space for a clear mind is easier than you might think and getting rid of excess stuff can benefit your mental health by making you feel calmer, happier, and more in control. Benefits of decluttering include:

· Higher self-esteem

· Better focus

· Lower risk of allergies and asthma

· Improved lifestyle and well-being

A few tips for decluttering your space:

· Take the chance to clean your home.

· Rearrange it in a way that maximizes space, functionality, and in the end - happiness and satisfaction.

· Take a moment to assess what you need to keep, and donate what you no longer useful and needed.

· Evaluate your routines, and organize your rooms and furniture in a way that best suits your lifestyle.

· Don't strive for perfection. There's no need to hide items that you use a lot. Also, try not to judge your spaces against those of other people.

3. Create calm spaces

As a place where you often escape after the stress of work or life’s’ daily ins and outs, your home needs to induce a calm ambiance, help you recharge from the day.

Calm spaces provide balance and has a good effect on your mental health. Create a feeling of freshness and evoke a sense of calm by tweaking your space with these quick ways and without breaking the bank:

· Venture with color. The simple addition of a colorful wall or statement piece can transform the mood of any room. Experiment with different shades and combinations to determine how they may impact the feeling of your space.

· Add plants. Bring that green indoors. Plants can reduce stress and boost productivity plus, plants eliminate toxins from indoor spaces, thus re-oxygenating your home.

· Turn a spare room into a place for meditation, away from any electronics, computers or distracting noises.

4. Carve out a reading nook

As life staying at home still continues, most people are turning away from their devices and curling up into a good book. Many are dreaming of having the perfect reading nook at home. They’re actually easy to set up and it’s the perfect place to spend some of your day and freeing yourself from exhaustion.

In creating your reading sanctuary, the first thing you consider is where in your house to place it. Here are some options:

· Living room. This is the most obvious choice for many. Put up your reading nook in a cozy corner. It can be enjoyed by everyone in the family.

· Bedroom. Maybe you’d like to have a private space for reading? It is the best option for those who want a serene and quiet place.

· Home office. A reading nook is not just a place for resting. Your home office can be a space to pour over your books, documents, files, etc. Just arrange it for a more comforting benefit.

Some item ideas to put in your reading nook:

· Bookshelves and books

· A perfect and comfortable seat

· Home decors that can soothe your mood

· Houseplants to spruce up the space

5. Make clear distinctions between spaces to work and relax

As many are still working from home, it’s important to not forget and prioritize having a separation between work and rest. Keep in mind the importance of mentally detaching from work and focusing on relaxation at the end of a workday.

Set space boundaries by having a separate workspace with its own door and establish time boundaries by forming a daily work schedule.

6. Embrace nature

The environment can increase or reduce our stress. The stress of an unpleasant environment can cause you to feel anxious, or sad, or helpless and a pleasing environment reverses that.

Nature can help you disconnect, wind down and take a break. Many are seeking a return to nature as a way to slow down and embrace calm and quiet. Embracing nature in your home goes beyond just incorporating greenery into your space. It is associated with a positive mood, and psychological wellbeing, meaningfulness, and vitality.

7. A better scent can lift your mood

Our sense of smell is so powerful that it can shape and drive different behaviors. Some scents can actually drive productivity at work by helping you feel energized and refreshed.

Better scents not only improve productivity and performance, but they can also enhance the overall work from home experience. Aside from that, aromatherapy can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Some scents can have a beneficial impact on your mind and body, like the soothing effect of lavender which may help you sleep and would be a perfect scent for the bedroom.

There are various ways to add aromatherapy to your home such:

· Use oil diffusers and essential oils

· Use candles, though keep in mind your building’s policies as some properties might not allow them

· Install air fresheners

· Use room sprays

And here are some functional scents that enhance well-being:

· Apples - smell of crisp apples may actually help ease the pain of a migraine headache

· Cinnamon - this sweet-smelling essential oil is known to boost brain power and improve cognitive functions

· Lavender – it has a relaxing scent, which acts as both a sedative and a stimulant. It improves concentration and can also have a refreshing effect.

· Lemongrass – it has been shown to ease anxiety and reduce stress

· Pine - can help reduce stress, elevate your mood, and increase alertness.

· Ginger - is great to get an extra energy boost as it’s been shown to fight fatigue and ease pain

· Peppermint - is linked to prolonged attention, while enhancing alertness

· Citrus - scents like lemon and orange may be well known for their Vitamin C properties, but simply by sniffing the fruit, they also are energy boosters and can help reduce feelings of anxiety and irritability

· Coffee - scent of coffee can promote wakefulness and alertness

· Jasmine - is good for meditation, promoting harmony, reducing depression and inducing joy and happiness