People in Utah have achieved what many other Americans hope for themselves: they are some of the most relaxed in the country. According to Wallet Hub, the Beehive State ranked 49th in stress levels by state in 2019.
It doesn’t mean everyone’s happy here. Stress still affects thousands of Utahns, and the coronavirus pandemic this year makes it so much worse. Stay-at-home orders, job losses, business closures, and mortality can lead to days of anxiety and nights filled with nightmares.
Fortunately, a few tweaks around the house can boost your level of self-care:
- Add a Thermostat
Now that it’s summer, humidity is one of your biggest enemies. You can leave you sweating profusely at night, it increases discomfort, and it can potentially increase your utility. You can’t afford to spend more on electricity.
To give yourself peace of mind, add a thermostat. You can ask a specialist in heating and air to install it for you. This device regulates air-conditioning units and even heaters by adjusting the temperature to the ideal levels. It works even when you’re outside the house or asleep.
- Upgrade Your Yard
If you’re starting to feel the blues, it could be because you’ve been cooped up inside your home for a long time. To bring yourself outside, take up some yard projects, such as decking, food gardening, or landscaping.
You see, the body has its own clock called the circadian rhythm that manages metabolism and hormone production. However, it is also sensitive to light. When it’s nighttime, it secretes melatonin to help you relax.
In the daytime, it needs sunlight to help increase serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with mood, appetite, memory, and motivation. Even better, sun exposure stimulates vitamin D, which can strengthen your immune system.
- Improve Your Shower Experience
Sometimes all you need is a few minutes in the shower to make you feel better. The pressure a rain showerhead provides can gently massage the tensed muscles in the shoulders, neck, and back. The sound of water can also improve your focus and even promote active mindfulness meditation.
To make the experience even more luxurious, attach a few sprigs of herbs such as peppermint or lavender. The heat can diffuse their scent inside the shower.
Keep your shower’s heater-cooler system in tiptop shape as well. Studies show that alternating hot and cold baths can actually do wonders for the body.
- Keep Your Spaces More Open
While there’s nothing wrong with Netflix and chill, being a couch potato can increase the risk of obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. You need to move, and if you’re lacking motivation, the easiest is to open more space.
Join the furniture-free movement, for example. You can exchange your couch with a yoga mat or a carpet where you can stretch anytime you like. Add steel bars around the home for some bar pull-ups. You can even make a maze, so even your kids can enjoy (and forget about the missing chairs).
- Install an Air Purifier
Do you know that indoor air can be just as bad (or even worse) than outdoor air? Think of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) your walls and furniture release. If you have molds and mildew, they can also make any room smell musty or damp.
These odors can trigger allergic reactions and even respiratory symptoms, such as nasal congestion, sneezing, and cough.
One way to improve air quality is to install an air purifier. It makes the environment more breathable and the smell fresher. You have also one less health problem to worry about.
Some home projects reward you in many ways. With these ideas, you can improve your home and learn to manage stress.
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