So you’ve finally managed to buy a house, and you have somewhere to call your own, and a retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Few things come close to the feeling of kicking off your shoes after a long day and relaxing in your very own fortress of solitude. When you only have a limited amount of time in the evenings, you’ll want to savor every minute. So without further ado, here are some top tips to help you make the most of your downtime without having to work overtime to afford it.
Keep It Tidy
This may sound like an obvious one, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to let your standards slip.We’ve all been guilty at one time or another. You start off just putting your work clothes on the bed to sort later as you change into your loungewear, or leaving that glass and plate on the side to wash up in the morning. But eventually, you end up with a pile of dirty clothes on your bedroom floor and no cutlery, because it’s all in the sink with that baking dish you ‘left to soak for a few minutes’ a few days ago. Be strict with yourself. Do the washing up straight away (and put it away, don’t just leave it on the draining board) and you can relax with that glass of wine on the sofa afterwards, content in the knowledge that your kitchen is clean for tomorrow. If your clothes are dirty, put them in the dirty laundry, if it needs to go away, then fold it neatly or hang it up. Do like your mother said and pick up after yourself. It can be the last thing on your mind when all you want to do is get into something comfortable and switch off from the day, but keeping on top of the cleaning and tidying means that when you walk through that door in the evening, you are greeted by a tidy and presentable home. It also means that if you have any unexpected guests, you don’t have to talk yourself down from a panic because you can’t remember just how disgusting a state you left your house in when you rushed out this morning. And best of all: It costs you nothing but a few minutes of your day.
Keep The Occupants Healthy
Nothing can ruin your zen quite as quickly as illness in the home. Once one person catches a cold, it’s only a matter of time before they lovingly pass it on to everyone else. Nobody wants to risk taking time off work due to ill health, or feel like their beautiful haven of a home has become more like a quarantine area. Win the fight before it starts by keeping everyone’s immune system in tip-top condition. A simple multivitamin can keep things in order and help keep your body topped up with any essential nutrients you might not be getting enough of with your regular diet. Getting a flu jab as winter sets in can also help stop you getting run down. Also, bear in mind to keep your pets happy and healthy too; companies like Advecta can help keep your furbaby in a pleasant mood for an evening tummy rub, which will keep you both content for a cosy night in. It’s also a good idea to give your pets a way to de-stress and unwind in the evenings too. Investing in a quality scratching post for your cat can save your furniture from being demolished, and there are plenty of options when it comes to keeping your pooch entertained too. A healthy home is a happy home, and a happy home is a haven to relax you for another productive day at work.
Create An Ambience
Now that you have a tidy and illness-free home to greet you in the evenings, it’s time to consider how best to unwind. Putting on a nice scented candle and enjoying a glass of wine could be a simple way to add a touch of elegance and calm to your evenings. Maybe pushing back the furniture and creating your very own living room dance floor could be your brand of throwing off the working day. Either by yourself, or with a partner, it’s a great way to get that blood pumping after 8 hours sitting at a desk, and also boost those serotonin levels.
Turn Off The Technology
As a society, we are constantly attached to screens. We work all day at a computer screen and then spend our free time scrolling through Facebook or Instagram, then we come home and sit in front of the TV till we go to bed. Take some time to unplug yourself now and then. Read a book, go for a walk, or take some time to have an in-depth conversation with your partner. You’d be amazed at how much fun you can have from a simple board game or pack of cards. The point is to make your home your own little island of calm within the hustle and bustle of daily life. Not only does this allow you to break up your day a little better, but your eyes will thank you for giving them a rest from electronic screens, and you’ll sleep better because the lack of screen glare will allow your body to produce melatonin (the hormone that regulates sleep) at the proper time.
Hopefully, these tips have opened up a world of possibility for you. It just goes to show that you don’t need to break into your savings to ensure you can have relaxing and therapeutic evenings midweek. All it takes is a little planning and self-control, and you too can head to work in the mornings, refreshed and content due to having unwound fully from the stresses of the day before. There are plenty of other options too, so don’t just stop at this list. See what other unique ways you can come up with to give you a little something extra to look forward to on that drive home.