Here are four easy wellbeing hacks relating to your living and working environment – simple steps that can reduce negative emotions and make you feel happier and more productive.

 
 

Tidy room = tidy mind

 
Research into the psychology of cleanliness and mental health has found that when your space looks good, you will start to feel good. And when you feel good, this impacts other areas of your life. So, try to keep your room tidy and organised.

For some of us, returning to a clean, well-organised home can help us unwind and feel calm, even after a stressful day. Conversely, mess and clutter can give rise to negative emotions of irritability and confusion. Time spent frantically looking for your car keys, or that new top you are dying to wear can be put to better use!
 

 Photo: Unsplash

Decorate your space with greenery

 
Plants help reduce stress and create a feeling of well-being, as well as improving air quality and helping to lower background noise. Plants such as lavender and jasmine, have a gentle and soothing effect on the body, and this improves night rest.

Keeping a plant can be very satisfying as it gives you something to care for. (It’s great for little ones as well, as a way of teaching children responsibility). We recommend Patch Plants, who offer plenty of guidance on ranges of different plants that could brighten up your home or workspace.

If you are worried about keeping your plant alive, you could always opt for a succulent, which doesn’t require as much care or attention as a plant! And if all of the above is overwhelming, IKEA has a great range of artificial plants – they won’t have all the natural benefits, but they require no maintenance and some lush greenery will certainly add style to your living space.
 
 

Experiment with essential oils

 

There are more than 90 types of essential oils, each with its own unique smell and health benefits. Essential oils are commonly used in the practice of aromatherapy, and can be applied directly to your skin or placed in a diffuser to enhance the smell and air quality of your indoor surroundings. Popular essential oils include peppermint, commonly used to boost energy and help with digestion; lavender, for stress relief and to help with sleep; and sandalwood, used to calm nerves and improve focus. Find out more about essential oils, and which ones will benefit you the most. You can purchase oils online (just be sure to check how legit the website is!) or try Holland and Barrett.

Photo: Unsplash

Make your bed every morning

 

Whilst it might feel like a childhood chore, and just a small act, this daily habit could have more of an impact than you thought. Making your bed can make you happier and sets the tone for your entire day, as perfectly explained by retired U.S. Navy Admiral Seal William H. McCraven: wellbeing

“If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter.”

Not only does it put you in a productive mindset from the start of the day, but you should also feel the benefit at the end of your day: a survey by the National Sleep Foundation found that people who make their beds every morning are 19% more likely to report regularly getting a good night’s sleep.

Discover more about the fascinating scientific study of habits in journalist Charles Duhigg’s best-selling book: ‘The Power of Habit’.

More ways to improve your wellbeing:

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