#StaySafeTogether: creating a great atmosphere in your home

So what can we do to make home the very best place to be throughout this period?

A soothing ambience 
Lighting and music have a far greater effect on the feel of your home than you might realise. When mornings are all about getting up and out of the house as quickly as possible, bright lighting and a blast of breakfast radio are the order of the day, but now is the time to switch it up, particularly if you are feeling anxious. Use lamps instead of overhead lighting for a more soothing feel. Check out playlists of calming music on Spotify and YouTube.

Keep it clean 
A sudden shift from office-based to home working means a lot more activity in the home – including more cooking and eating – and therefore more to clean up. Letting such chores pile up is one of the fastest routes to feeling anxious or low in your surroundings – perhaps now it is finally time to create that cleaning rota?!

Screen time 
It has been heartening to see so many teachers, childcare professionals, personal trainers and myriad other specialists set up YouTube channels so they can continue delivering their 
skills remotely during this period of self-isolation. Whether you live alone and will benefit from the community spirit of a group yoga class, or you now have children to keep entertained throughout the day, a television, computer or tablet screen could well form an important lifeline. You might even want to rearrange your furniture to enable exercise or group activities in front of the screen.

Mix it up  
Without pubs, restaurants, gyms and classes to head to outside the home, getting creative inside the home is going to be essential. How many of those experiences can you recreate? Don’t just watch a film on the sofa with the lights on; draw the curtains, turn all the lights off, cook up some popcorn and recreate the cinema in your living room. Don’t just have a bath; treat yourself to bubbles, a face mask and pretend you’re out at a spa. Don’t just cook your old favourites; work your way through those cookbooks you haven’t opened for years. And of course, there’s always the virtual pub, courtesy of your favourite drink and a videoconferencing tool like Google Hangouts or Zoom.

Don’t get complacent and be smart
A radical change to your routine can make it easier to accidentally leave doors or windows unlocked, because you’re simply not used to being in or out of your home at these times. Try to be extra careful with regards to home security, making use of camera’s or security systems if you have them. Make your house smarter by organising and automating with an app. Sensors will help and detect for you. If you live with housemates or family members, make sure you’re all aware of each other’s new routines

Get outside 
Fresh air and sunshine (or rain, as the case may be) are crucial to wellbeing, particularly when we’re spending more time at home. At the time of writing, self-isolation advice does not enforce staying inside all day; it actively encourages getting outside, whether into the garden or for a run or walk. Remember to follow the guidance; keep your distance from people who aren’t members of your household.

Spending more time at home might sound like the ideal when we’re struggling through difficult days in the office, but there is no doubt that there will be challenges ahead as we adapt to this new reality. Taking some simple steps to make your home ambient, secure and the base for a variety of different activities will make the weeks and months ahead far easier.

#StaySafeTogether