5 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health at Home

May is Mental Health Awareness month, meaning it’s a great time to make your mental health a priority (it always should be but, you know, life). One of the biggest factors affecting your mental health is your living space – without a comfortable and safe place to hang your hat, it’s tough to maintain a positive headspace.

If your living space is not bringing you joy, consider making a few adjustments to help give you peace of mind. Here are a few easy ways you can make your home to happy place it should be:

Cleanliness = Calm

Your mom was right when she was hounding you to clean your room as a teenager. A clean and tidy living space helps tamper feelings of overwhelm, and the less chaos you see, the more calm you can let into your life. Consider these decluttering tips to keep the process manageable. Or, you can outsource your cleaning to a third-party if your budget allows.

Small but Mighty

In NYC, you’re probably not looking at an apartment with too much space. But instead of fighting it, embrace the opportunity to get creative! Repurpose furniture to have dual purposes – i.e. a nightstand with extra storage, or adding mirrors to make your space seem bigger. We have some tips here or you can try some of these solutions here. In the end, having a space that feels like your own can boost your mood and give you fun DIY projects!

Bring Natural Life Into Your Space

There’s a reason people went plant-crazy during the pandemic. Bringing a piece of the natural world into your space will improve your overall sense of well-being, and it’s been proven that houseplants can improve your air quality. Here are some great houseplants to incorporate into your space, and if gardening is more your thing, here are some tips on curating a balcony garden.

Curate Your Sleep Space

Sleep is one of the most important elements of maintaining your mental health – but in the city that never sleeps, you might have some trouble in that arena. Getting some blackout curtains to keep sunlight out, using a white-noise machine to block out traffic noise, and sticking to a sleep schedule are some of the best ways to make sure you’re getting enough sleep. You can even use a scent diffuser with calming scents like chamomile or lavender to help curate a calm space.

Pets are Good Company

If you’re lucky enough to live in a pet-allowed building (or you’ve used our tips to convince your landlord), pets can be a great way to bring some joy into your home. It’s proven that interacting with animals can decrease cortisol levels and feelings of loneliness. So, if your space & lifestyle allows, adopt a pet to give our furry friends a home!

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health – and where you live has a huge impact on how you feel each day. If your living situation becomes untenable, get in touch and we can help you find a better home that really meets your needs.

If you need help accessing mental health resources, the NYS website provides guidance on accessing support.

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