Guest Author Today: Martin Horrowitz
So, you've moved into your new place, but can't quite say it's your new home? Or, are you planning on moving but are scared you won't easily adapt to the new surroundings? Whatever's the case - we might have something for you. In the text you'll find below, we'll show you how to adapt your new home to your lifestyle. Also, there will be some additional tips on the side that will help you get to know the place you'll call home. Stick around!
Something you're already familiar with (an introduction)
We can talk for hours about how the pandemic changed our everyday scenery. Don't worry; we'll try to be short. Anyway, one of the most significant consequences (and there are too many to mention) the virus left us is that most people work from their living quarters. Because of this, it's getting harder and harder to differentiate between work and home. Also, this downright unfortunate historical moment gave many folks a chance to think more about their homes. Did you know that Google searches on home improvement options almost doubled in the past two years? As you surely know, there's a good reason why that is so. Anyway, here are some home improvement ideas and other things you can do to create a more homey environment.
It's getting more difficult to differentiate between work
and home.
If possible, create a home office
While we're on the subject of separating work from home, it might be good to mention this option. We assume you know how hard can it be to focus on work while there are far too many things inside your home that can catch your attention. Whether it's your pet, spouse, or favorite book, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you're not entirely focused. By creating a home office, you'll designate a single room to hold no distractions. The people you're sharing the home with will know when not to disturb you. Your pets might disobey those orders, but the important thing is: you'll have something pretty close to peace.
Explore your new neighborhood
This one doesn't have to do a whole lot with home improvement. As a matter of fact, it has nothing to do with it. Still, it's crucial for adapting to your new home. By taking long walks around your new neighborhood (or further), you'll get a chance to feel the vibes of the place. Say, for example, you're moving to a new Texas neighborhood. Texans are very hospitable, regardless of the "no trespassing" stereotype. If you want to
explore the area with a Texas-native guide, you can ask one of your neighbors to show you around. Next thing you know: you greet the cashiers in the local supermarket by their names, and you know every dog's owner around the block.
Getting to know your new neighborhood will help you adapt faster.
Open space concept
Let's go back to those home improvement options. Nowadays, many homeowners (here's
how you become one) are saying goodbye to walls. What's the catch? Well, since the pandemic started, things became a bit claustrophobic, and... Okay, okay. Removing walls to make more space isn't something people came up with only two years ago, but it certainly became a trend during the mentioned period. So, you might want to think about opening your rooms up a bit. Research proves that more open space inside one's home leads to better productivity and less stress. That sounds pretty good, doesn't it?
Find another space
Okay, we're back on the street once again. The thing is: if you notice the whole work-from-home isn't working, we've got a cool suggestion. How about you find another space to spend time in, like a local coffee shop or a pub? A change of setting is something we need the most sometimes. Not only will you do that, but you'll also have a chance to meet new friends and establish local connections that will make you feel more at home. They say
home is where the heart is.
Find a place that locals like to visit (whether it's a diner, coffee shop, or a pub), and mark it as your second home.
Design your garden for some unforgettable barbecue parties
Want people to love and accept you? Organize barbecue parties. While this might seem like a pop-psych parody, it's not that far from the truth. An outdoor patio in your backyard will certainly make your new neighbors look across the fence. Some (obscure) studies have shown that folks with beautiful backyards have better social capital (the number of connections and people they know). And who are we to distrust science? Anyway, an old-fashioned housewarming party never hurt anyone. That might be just the thing to get you started.
How to adapt your new home to your lifestyle - a summary
Let's do a quick walkthrough. So, how do you adapt your new home to your lifestyle? Well, it seems our lifestyles are pretty much directly influenced by coronavirus safety measures. That's why we'll guess that your work from home. Also, we know it can be hard to differentiate between work and home now. To ease the adverse effects, you can designate one of the rooms in your new place as office space. It's already empty and devoid of distractions, so... Another thing: take long walks around the neighborhood and visit places where locals like to go. You can even throw a housewarming party. Before you do that, think about how the lack of open space dictates how you view your home and do something about it by removing some walls.
Author bio:
Martin Horrowitz is a Texas-born freelance writer currently working with
State to State Move. In his free time, he loves tackling DIY home improvement projects with his kids.
