We spend a lot of time in our homes, and it should be a place where you can relax, decompress, and practise self-care. Self-care is hard to practise in a space that doesn’t reflect the happiness you are trying to accomplish. Through sprucing up your home and doing things that will make you happy, you will be able to set and achieve attainable self-care goals. 

A great programme to take inspiration from is James May: The Reassembler. British TV personality James May takes the time to set goals and learn how an object works so he can reassemble it. Similarly, in Cabins in the Wild, Dick Strawbridge and William Hardie meticulously plan their creative cabin design out and then take time to tackle it. 

You might not be designing a cabin, but you can set aside time for yourself to accomplish a project that you want to do. Here are five things you can do in your home to create a healthier space to practise self-care. 

 

 1.  Use colours and textures to create a relaxing space to restore your mind

We all need time and space to relax and process our thoughts and emotions. A great way to reset your mental space and begin practising self-care is to bring colours and textures into your home that will make you happy. Start by changing up the same, old spaces that you see everyday. Have you ever wondered what the sofa would look like from a different angle? You should rearrange your living room furniture to freshen up your home, get creative and revamp spaces with upcycling, a lick of new paint, or reface your wooden cabinets with a new coat of stain. 

Seeing and smelling freshly laundered materials will create a happier, healthier home as well which will allow you to better focus on setting time to practise self-care. A great goal to set is to regularly clean the fabrics and linens in your home including the bed, curtains, and even the sofa cushions. You can also brighten up your day by simply cleaning the windows. By letting natural light in, you will boost your mood and create a wonderful space that will help you care for yourself. 

 

 2. Break down home DIY projects into smaller parts

We all have those little - or larger - projects that have been nagging us for far too long. By creating achievable goals you will prove to yourself that you are enough and are capable of overcoming challenges, no matter how long they have gone on. The best way to begin is to start small. An easy goal to set is to make time to organise a cabinet or a drawer in your home that has gotten too unruly. 

A bonus perk, everytime you see the improvement you will be reminded of how much better your home looks! 

 

 3. Make DIY a hobby!

Mental health and self-care is important, and you need to make a conscious effort to reclaim your time and spend it on yourself doing the things that will make you happy. If you love to knit, draw, craft, play music, bake, garden, or do something that makes you happy, make a conscious effort to do it.

If you’ve seen the vertical wall planter built on Garden Rescue or gotten inspiration from the renovated homes featured on Restoration Man and would love to try something of your own, go for it, set a goal, and achieve it. Your home is a space to do the things that give you happiness, and the more you tailor your home to your personal self-care needs, the easier it will be to regularly set time to do things that make you happy. 

 

 4. Create a space you can work out in

Actively relaxing are two words associated with DIY and self-care, so why not combine them. You can set a fun challenge for yourself at home by finding a pair of light weights, or weighty objects from around the home like books, milk cartons, or a laundry detergent bottle, and use them to give your arms a short workout. The weights can be kept in the kitchen and taken out when you have a few spare minutes, like when you’re waiting for food to heat up or for the ad break to end. This is a great way to practise self-care for yourself, mind and body. 

By taking ten minutes a day for a walk break, you can practise self-care by exercising your body and calming your mind. Many experts suggest getting outside into nature which you can do by exploring your garden, street, or a green space not too far from home. 

 

 5. Be kind to yourself 

Finally, remember to give yourself credit. You deserve to enjoy your home and the time you spend in it because your home is an extension of you and has a significant effect on your mental wellbeing. Self-care requires a conscious effort to be put forward, so start by setting a goal to practise self-care and start caring for yourself. One way to check in with yourself is to journal; write your thoughts and just let the words flow. After you check in with yourself, be mindful and take time to think about the current moment instead of worrying about the past or future. Most of all, tailor your self-care journey to yourself and do what will make you happy. 

Your home is a place for you to relax and practise self-care. By sprucing up your home, finishing up projects, and using your new found spaces to do the things that make you happy, you will be able to set and accomplish your self-care goals without distraction and feel good about the space you are spending your time in. For more tips on kickstarting your self-care routine, check out our 7 ways to kick start your self care.