Brunswick Blog

As they say, happiness is an inside job. Our homes are not only an extension of who we are and a reflection of our style but what we do within the walls of our abodes has the power to shape our mood, impacts our productivity and can influence our outlook on life.

Scientific studies have shown that adjusting tiny little routines and habits in our daily life can become a catalyst for meaningful, positive change. 

Here are 7 simple things you can do every day to make you feel happier at home…

ONE | MAKE YOUR BED

You may be thinking how is making my bed going to make me any happier…and here’s a few ways it does:

It makes you more productive…

In the book , “The Power of Habit,” by Charles Duhigg, he explains that daily bed making becomes a ‘keystone habit’ which kick-starts a chain of positive goal-oriented tasks. It’s simple, when you start your day and complete a task from beginning to end, such as making your bed, you’ll continue to start and finish all the other tasks that come up in your day.

It lowers your stress levels & makes you feel relaxed…

You spend roughly a third of your life in your bedroom and the way your room looks has a proven effect on your mood. Messy rooms can make you feel anxious. By contrast, a neat room allows you to feel calmer, more relaxed and creates a positive ambiance. Furthermore, when you get into a freshly made bed at night, it helps you get to sleep quicker.

If you ask us, the easiest way to stay motivated in keeping a neat bedroom is by buying beautiful bedding that you love and are proud of. We recently wrote a blog-post on our favourite bedding looks from online store Urban Outfitters-check out it out HERE<<

 

TWO | WHEN YOU’RE FINISHED USING A ROOM, QUICKLY NEATEN IT UP AGAIN

We learnt about this trick from the book, ‘It’s hard to make a difference when you can’t find your keys.’ By Marilyn Paul…funny title but couldn’t be truer.  The book explains how clutter causes stress and order creates calm. This mood-boosting routine is so simple, when you leave a room, be it the lounge, bathroom or kitchen, take 3 minutes to put things back in place. Fix the cushions on the couch, put the remote back in its place, pop your toothbrush away, hang towels. These little tasks take 3 seconds of your time in the moment and on the contrary – if you don’t do it, you could be spending over an hour at the end of the week neatening all of these rooms.

 

THREE | POSITIVE NOSTALGIA

Research shows that indulging in nostalgic feelings is good for our psychological wellbeing- it reduces anxiety and increases our levels of happiness.

Material items with a memory attached make us far happier compared to a material item that simply serves a purpose. The reason is because of the entire cycle of enjoyment that experiences provide. First it’s planning the experience, looking forward to the experience, living & enjoying the experience & then finally, remembering it fondly.

Make your home a tangible gallery of those happy times-and not just in the literal photo on a wall sense. Instead next time you travel, not only consider making purchases for yourself and loved ones, but purchases for your home too. Recently one of our Property Managers came back from a holiday in Morocco. She brought back these beautiful hand-made cushions for her lounge and has said every time she’s on the couch now she remembers meeting the women in the mountains of Morocco who made them. All those positive memories come rushing back and something as simple as a cushion is now far more special.

Equally important to decorating your home with happy memories, is removing things that are painful to you. Perhaps you’re holding onto something from an ex or just never seem to get around to replacing that uncomfortable chair that gives you back pain …remove these things and replace them with feel-good-items.

FOUR | START YOUR DAY WITH INTENT & FINISH WITH GRATITUDE

In The Art of Happiness, the Dali Lama says, “Every day, think as you wake up: today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it."

But instead, our fast-paced lives often see us waking up a little differently….

Before we even get out of bed pre-empting our alarm research shows that many of us are making mental to do lists-often dreading what we need to achieve during the day. After snoozing the alarm, you’ll get up, have a shower and get dressed. On autopilot you’ll eat brekkie and sip on your morning coffee all while you check your phone.

Without even realising it- waking up in this way causes yourself stress and can set you up to have a negative attitude throughout your day. Instead, start your day with an intention.

But what is an intention? And what will be yours?

An intention is like drawing a map of where you want to go-it is a conscious decision you make on where to focus your energy on each day.

So even before you open your eyes in the morning, let your first thoughts be, “How do I want to feel today?”

Here are some we love. Today I intend to…

• lead by example
• be open to success and abundance
• accept whatever happens as if I had chosen it
• encourage and inspire by being my authentic self
• pause before responding in conversation and lead with empathy and love
• nourish my body and speak kindly to myself to help support a healthy body and mind

And the end of each day, it’s important to pause and reflect on some of the positive things that happened. Practising positive reflection cultivates gratitude and allows you to see all the little things that you are thankful for.

FIVE | PHONE A FRIEND

We’re social beings and even if you’re naturally introverted when we socialise with our loved ones it spikes our happiness levels.  Each week, take the time to reach out to a loved one. No that doesn’t mean texting or Facebook messaging them…literally pick up the phone, it might be while you’re cleaning, walking from a to b or while you’re driving (hands-free of course)…but call that person and see how they’re going. You’ll feel instantly happier after 5 minutes guaranteed.

SIX | SPEND MONEY ON THINGS THAT CULTIVATE EXPERIENCES AT HOME

There are a few things you can invest in, that you’ll use again & again over the years to cultivate special experiences at home:

• buying a bbq for those balmy summer nights, while you eat & drink with friends.
• if you love music, investing in great speakers, so you can set the perfect ambiance & feel as though the artist is with you when you’re entertaining.  
• the bar trolley trend is back and here to stay. Stock up your trolley with the spirits you love most and impress your guests with some old-school cocktails
• Maybe you like sitting outside in front of a fire in winter – you could buy a fire-pit(Bunnings has a great selection)
• Or perhaps you want something a little more interactive, you could buy a game table
• the power of scent, unwind and relax at home by burning essential oils or investing in beautiful candles (Mecca has our fave selection of candles)

SEVEN | BRING THE OUTDOORS IN

In 2018, indoor plants are pretty much the non-negotiable accessory for the home. Not only are they affordable, add dimension and interest to any room in your home but they’re scientifically proven to purify the air. If you’re not of a much a green thumb, fear not, there are plenty of plants that are low maintenance and don’t even need much if any natural sunlight. If you’re a Northsider we’d recommend popping into Nature Boy North on Sydney Rd in Brunswick for top advice and a stunning selection of greens to choose from.

 

Love the RH Brunswick Team Xx

 

 Photos by Maree Homer – Styled by Kerrie-Ann Jones