5 Easy Ways To Stay Positive At Home

We may all be spending more time at home at the moment — whether that is because we are working remotely, winding down for the end of the year, or reacting to new circumstances.

Changes in routine can feel disruptive, whereas a monotonous schedule can also feel dull and discouraging — so getting the balance right is crucial. Keeping positive is one of the most important ways to stay balanced and resilient - not merely surviving changes, but thriving in them.

If you are spending more time at home, there are a number of simple and effective ways you can stay positive and boost your mood.

1. Change Up Your Space

Refreshing your space can mean a variety of things depending on your circumstances. It could be a deep clean of your home with your family, partner, or roommates. It could be changing around a room or repurposing it so it becomes a dedicated workspace or lounge area.

It could also be as simple as changing your cleaning products, or adding fresh flowers to make the environment feel refresh and rejuvenated. Small changes can still feel significant!

You may consider hiring a professional cleaner if circumstances allow, or starting a new cleaning routine that allows you to stay on top of the cleaning in your space, and always feel like your home is clear and clutter free.

Small changes at home can make a big difference — to your mood, your health, and even the environment.

2. Learn Something New

A routine may feel stable and secure, but it can also feel boring if we don’t allow enjoyment and curiosity.

A great way to feel more positive and energised at home is to learn something new. This could be a practical skill around the house such as baking or gardening, for example, or an entirely different skill such as painting or songwriting.

We may even wish to accelerate our learning in some aspect of our career — such as social media marketing, leadership, IT, or accountancy.

There are now more ways than ever before to learn something new from the comfort of your own home. Resources such as YouTube and dedicated websites can be entirely free, even when offering courses, or perhaps you could choose a subscription service such as Skillshare or Udemy.

Many of these platforms offer completely free trials, and allow you to browse their catalogues in advance to see if there is a course or resource that would suit you.

Get creative and curious! Studies show that learning a new skill — whether with a use in mind or just pursuing a personal passion — is beneficial for our mental health and cognitive skills.

3. Set Boundaries

Many people are accustomed to their work and home lives being strictly separated — even just by the process of their commute. Spending more time at home may mean that you have found yourself working for longer hours, or maybe never fully relaxing at all.

Setting firms boundaries — especially start and finish times, and when you are available to be contacted — is beneficial for both you and your employer. If you can rest effectively and switch off, you will be more productive at work. But if you allow yourself to become overworked you may burn out and your work will suffer.

Set and maintain boundaries, and both your home life and work life will benefit.

4. Be A Friend To Yourself

When spending more time at home or alone, treat yourself as a friend would. If you have not had a productive day or are feeling low, it can make matters worse to reprimand yourself or push yourself harder.

A gentler, encouraging approach is more likely to be effective — supporting yourself as you would a friend. This leads to more productivity and better results in the long run — even if it initially means being more gentle and restful.

5. Get Creative With Connection

Even when physically apart, it is still important and beneficial to connect with others. Explore new ways to connect from home, such as by sharing songs or playlists, sending virtual postcards online, taking photographs and sharing them at the end of the day, or even organising a ‘telephone coffee morning’.

This works in the same way as a regular coffee morning — but from home! Brew a special drink, set up with your phone, diary, and any news for your friends — and then call and catch up. This can be especially important for friends or relatives who may be more isolated than others.

Little connections like these may not be ideal, but they can be an essential part of staying positive at home.