There's nothing better after a hard day than coming home to a place where you can begin to wash off some of the day's struggles. It's one of the only places we have in our lives that we get to make work specifically for us. You may not live in your perfect dream home now, but there are always ways to create happiness no matter where you live.
Keep It Clean: Coming home to a clean house is key. If you walk in the door to a giant mess, it just creates more stress. Try to get into a routine of tidying up ten minutes a day to keep things looking good for sanity's sake. Here are some tips and tricks to get you on your way:
- Start 2012 Off Clean: Best Cleaning Tips for a New Year
- How To Clean Your House in 20 Minutes a Day for 30 Days
Stay Organized: Knowing you can find something when you need it without wasting time is another way to create a sense of calm and peace in your home.
- Master Organizing Tips from Justin Klosky
- How to Be Your Own Professional Organizer: 10 Top Tips from the Pros
Add Living Things: Make sure you have plants and flowers around your house. They make your house cozier, healthier and happier. That sounds like a win-win to me.
Be Mindful: Happiness is a state of mind, and if you can bring that intention to your environment as well as yourself you are well on your way.Give Yourself A Break: With all the info and images of new ideas and beautiful spaces we are bombarded with, it's so easy to get down on what you have. Try not to let everyone else's world get in the way and make you feel overwhelmed. There's nothing wrong with learning, striving and improving, just do it on your terms and with a sense of calm and a positive outlook on change.
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Can I tell that it is always a great pleasure to read AT? It is quite like a bible, telling me what to do, what to think and then... Waow! I can be the happiest person in my house. OK, I exagerate a little, but I now nead to start at the bottom: cleaning my house. If you say the rest follows, I believe you!
Where can I get one those "hello" signs? Does anyone know?
Alicia
I think the gratitude list is the most important thing on your list.
Alicia, google says here: http://ohdier.bigcartel.com/category/wooden-sign
What a beautiful post. Thank you.
Beautiful! Nothing like a clean place and mindfulness to keep ya' happy.
I have a different take on adding living things: pets! Nothing makes me happier than coming home to my two kitties.
JMooney - agreed. I have a bearded dragon who lives in a spotless terrarium. For her health, I must keep it clean and orderly (and I do). It's a reminder that my "terrarium" needs to be just as clean and orderly for my (physical and mental) health too. Every evening, I walk in my door, park my keys on the key rack where they belong and head into my bedroom to say hello to her before I do anything else. This reminds me to put stuff away, wipe counters and keep clutter to a minimum. She never has to say a word (being that she can't speak, this is a good thing). Pets are the best at making a home happy and at reminding us to keep our space clean.
Wonderful. But, you had me at the flamingo..
JMooney, totally agree. I do miss pets. Can't have 'em in this rental.
This post is spot on about coming home to a clean house being a good feeling!! On the weekends, before we go out for errands, I always pop in some laundry, do up the morning dishes, and empty the garbage. We come in through the kitchen...overflowing trashcan and dishes are a definite downer coming through the door.
Just seeing that hello sign in the living room above makes me feel happy! Good post and oh so true....
Love this post! So helpful! And it puts my mind on a positive path. I am looking forward to reading through all the links and incorporating some new ideas! A Huge THANK YOU goes to AT & Alysha for pulling all this info together.
So true. A tidy organized and clean home is wonderful. But since I often don't hit that target, I always have my wonderful dog and amazing beyond belief husband. Happiness in my home starts and ends with good relationships. And for that I am grateful.
Thank you Miika!!!
I've been bad about comparing our townhouse to the luscious photos here on Apartment Therapy and elsewhere.
During one grumble session, my husband pointed out that any third world person would consider our 3 bedroom, 3 bath place with attached garage and functioning dishwasher a mansion.
He was right and since then I've been looking at ways to make our "mansion" a more comfy home.
Hi alicia, I got it on Etsy a few years ago.
You can find similar less expensive ones on Etsy too :)
Blissous's husband makes a fair point. So much of the world is not just poor, but wretchedly poor. Someone living in a room with just a cot and a micro or hotplate has it far better than many. Appreciate what you have and still want to make it even better.
Thank you so much for this post. it's I think inspirational, and brings a smile to my face by reading all the positive comments. I'm grateful for my small condo I feel blessed to own it and I love what I've done with it as small as it is. AT has helped me learn how to furnish and decorate it. I feel happy to come home #1 my kitties are waiting for me and because its so cozy my apartment,but you are right
I'm happier when I walk in and find there are no dirty dishes on the sink.
Alicia, they have those signs at Ross and Marshalls for about $9.00
they have different ones like hello,smile etc.
Thank you so much for this post
recipes
Alicia,
I just bought one on etsy last week. See the link below. It was very inexpensive ($7) and came unfinished, so i just used spray primer and craft paint. It came out perfect for my son's room, and to hang it on the wall, I just used command strips:) I hope this helps!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79136542/little-hello-wall-sign?
Lauren
livingbylauren.blogspot..com
I think it's also really important to keep in mind that it isn't just third world residents who might think of it as a mansion! There are many people in the US who are homeless or living with 5-6 people in a 1 bedroom place and one missed paycheck away from homelessness. There are families with five kids in one bedroom and the parents and grandparents in the next in every single city and rural area in the US. I think we sometimes assume most people in the US live like us or better, but that really isn't the case.
These are great tips. I, like other commenters, would add be grateful, and make sure that your home is filled on a regular basis with people that you love!
Whoops, I just saw the very last link in the OP which does in fact mention gratitude. So plus one for that. :)
I wish I could keep my house clean with just 10mins a day. =/
Yes to the living things! I just added an adorable little ruffled African violet to my office window and it always makes my day. It adds life to my little closet of an office.
And also the clean. I've been trying to be more disciplined about putting things away and cleaning up after myself and not procrastinating. It's not perfect yet, but I'm trying. ;)
What a great reminder! I'm the messy one in our family. I know this sounds very wifey, but it finally dawned on me that nothing makes my husband (who loves cleanliness and loves to clean) happier than to come home to a clean home. So I always send a text asking for his ETA and then the kids and I do our round up of cleaning. It gets the kids do a chore and gets me too!
Great post! For me a clean home makes all the difference. I feel so much more peaceful and at ease when my house is clean and orderly. An orderly house motivates me to bring order to other areas of my life as well.
There is some great information in this article! I do think that being organized helps keep things clean because everything has a place to call home. I think giving ourselves a break is important too! There is a lot to be said about home being where the heart is - if you make your space into a place you can relax, even if it's not where you always thought you'd be, then you're learning to adapt so that when you get to where you want to be you'll already have great ideas about how you want it set up!
I recently redecorated several rooms in my home throwing out a lot of unused and unnecessary junk. Clearing out all that clutter and keeping the space free of "stuff" not only makes the room look more updated but clears your mind as well
Thank you so much for including our little hello sign in your post! All the best from Oh Dier