HEALTH FOR HOME & HEARTH
Hello everyone and welcome to another WELLNESS WEDNESDAY. As the world continues to confront Covid-19 and the changes it has brought to our lives, we all search for ways to remain productive, useful and positive.
Our main priority now is to remain healthy. Washing our hands, wearing masks and other personal protective equipment, and socially distancing, have become commonplace in our new world and our daily routines.
Yet, it’s also important to keep our homes healthy as well. After all, with so many of us still experiencing isolation, self-quarantine, and working full-time from home, our home has now become our world.
Accordingly, let’s take this opportunity to use our extended time indoors to tackle all those neglected and long-avoided home projects with which we’re all familiar. After all, a tidy, clean house makes for a clear, calm mind.
And here are 8 easy home improvement projects to get you started.
SWITCH AIR VENTS
Ah yes. The much-neglected air vent. Now’s the perfect time to take them off and give them a good washing or dusting. You might even consider replacing those vents that are rusted or damaged with new, attractive vents that will work beautifully and add a splash of color or design to your décor.
CLEAN CLOSETS
Over time closets can get messy. Begin by taking everything out and placing the items you no longer use or wear in a donation box for your local charity. Then clean the interior by vacuuming, mopping and dusting. Now replace the items you keep in an organized fashion. For example, if this is a coat closet, place the most worn garments up front and the rarely worn garments in the back of the closet or on a high shelf. Throw out old, bent hangars and treat yourself to inexpensive, new, brightly-colored durable ones.
ADD NEW HARDWARE
You don’t need to renovate a room to get a new look. Just changing the hardware on drawers and cupboards will make a huge difference. It’s amazing how this simple project can update any room and give it a fresh, new look that will make you feel great every time you see it.
TOUCH UP THE PAINT
We all have left-over paint around the house. Find the paint that matches and then walk through your house and touch-up the high-traffic areas like the baseboards or the door frames. If you have enough paint, give your front door a new paint job. A beautiful, newly painted front door will give your entire house a facelift with a minimum of work.
HANG THOSE PICTURES
This is me. Take all those pictures and photos you’ve been meaning to hang, and finally do it. Use old frames that have been sitting around empty. Or take frames with old pictures and photos and replace them with new ones. Create a photo or accent wall with great images and wonderful personal memories.
TACKLE THE CUPBOARDS
It’s no wonder we put this project off. Cleaning bathroom drawers and cabinets, or that really icky space under the kitchen sink are not things we look forward to. So, start small. First, empty the space. With disinfectant spray or wipes, clean the surfaces. Throw all the old, unused or expired stuff out. Buy some thin rubber shelf lining material. Cut to size and place on the bottom of the drawer or cabinet. Now, put all the remaining items back and organize them by use. Really, I just did this in the cabinet under my kitchen sink. Not only does the cabinet look incredibly clean, sanitary, and neat, but I feel great every time I open it.
TEND THE GARDEN
Working with plants and soil is therapeutic and life-affirming. Even if you only have a small outdoor space or a few pots of greenery, gardening is a reward in itself. Plant a few more flowers. Try an eco-friendly succulent garden. How about a small herb garden for your kitchen? Even placing a few hanging plants in the house will beautify your space, improve the quality of the air, and add color and fragrance to your environment.
TREAT YOURSELF LIKE COMPANY
Let’s face it. 2020 is not a year we’ll remember as one of endless entertaining with family, friends and guests. So, it’s the perfect time to treat yourself like a guest. Break out the fine china. Unbox your best silverware. Dust off your beautiful wine glasses. Set the table with your favorite napkins and tablecloths. Enjoy all the meals at home this year in a little elegance and beauty. Whether you’re with family, or by yourself, dining in a bit of luxury while staying safe at home will make every otherwise mundane meal a special occasion.
Remember, beautifying, upgrading, cleaning, and organizing your indoor space is not only good for your home, it’s good for you as well.
Beautifying and upgrading your indoor space can lead to greater creativity. Cleaning can actually help you focus, practice mindfulness, and live in the moment. Organizing your space can lead to more productivity. And creating more comfort can reduce your level of the stress hormone cortisol, resulting in better sleep, less tension and irritation, and a stronger immune system.
No matter how small your indoor space may be, just a few tiny changes can make a big difference in the health of your home, and the health of you and all who share your space. We all have time on our hands these days, so let’s make sure we put that time to good use.
Thanks again for joining me everyone. As always, I wish you productive and positive days ahead. Until next time, please remain safe, stay in GOOD HEALTH and . . .
TAKE THE COURSE AND TAKE CHARGE!
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