Psychological well-being is an issue that is at the center of current debate. Confinement and its consequences have had a devastating effect on our mental well-being and to try to help and put a grain of sand in this delicate issue, Ikea considers To what extent can the interior of a house make you more or less happy?
Do you think your home contributes to making you happier? What is the relationship between home and mental well-being? The Homes with Psychology study carried out by Ikea and the General Council of Psychology and the Psycho-foundation It is the first national study that seeks answers to these and other questions related to our mental well-being and, although the good news is that in the study we came out quite well – un 58, 1% of Spaniards have a high level of well-being and even 69.4% say they feel very happy -, it is noteworthy that 1 in 3 has probable symptoms of anxiety, 1 in 4 symptoms of depression and even 1 in 5 has experienced suicidal ideation in the last month. Among the negative data are also the question of sleep. Almost half of those surveyed admit to having sleep problems and 1 in 8 feel lonely.
Novelties Spring 2022 – IKEA
Household variables with direct impact on the household
With the data in hand, comes the ‘search for aspects related to well-being at home. Some of these may be obvious, such as the (good) condition of the home and its functionality directly affect our anxiety but there are other surprising data because it also has a relevant weight in our well-being the relationship with our neighbors, the smell and that our house is silent. (Could the latter be closely related to the relationship with the neighbors?)
The study reveals that the profile that if you are male, of certain and with a high purchasing power, you are more likely to have a high level of well-being at home.
The 10 keys to achieving the greatest psychological well-being at home
As a result of the extensive analysis of the study, Ikea and the General Council of Psychology and the Psycho-foundation have drawn up a decalogue with the actions aimed at guaranteeing psychological health and well-being
1.- Order your house, order your mind
Marie Kondo already told us about it. A tidy home is a happier home.
A higher level of order in the home is associated with greater well-being and happiness and with a lower feeling of loneliness and Ikea reminds us of some tips to achieve this:
Make the bed every morning; daily tidy up the tidy kitchen (with the counter cleared and the clean pots in their place); clothes always collected, clean and tidy in drawers and cupboards; objects well placed and stored in their place and the fewer objects (books, clothes, backpacks…) visible, the better.
2. Smell of home
A good smell perceived in the home is associated with greater well-being and satisfaction with the home itself.
To ensure a good environment, ventilate at least once a day, clean the dust, bathrooms and kitchen, and sweep or vacuum the floor at least three times a week. Throw out the trash as soon as it’s full and try fragrances and air fresheners to find the smell that you like the most.
3.- New house every day
A property in good condition (new, semi-new or well-preserved) is associated with greater well-being, happiness and satisfaction with the home itself.
So that it is always like new, don’t forget to fix the damage: that burned-out light bulb, the drawer that doesn’t close properly, the broken latch, the hand stain on the wall…
To fall in love with your home again, you can change the cushions, a rug or the duvet cover to renew the room each season. You can also paint the rooms from time to time to make it look like you are brand new.
4.- Let there be light
Natural light is associated with feeling greater well-being and satisfaction with the home and, although the light in the house is what it is, there are tricks to get more potential out of it.
Here some tricks;
Make sure your curtains or blinds are made of materials that allow you to regulate the outside light to optimize it to the maximum… if you have little natural light, bet on light and neutral colors
If your house is dimly lit, use light colors on your furniture, walls or decoration elements. And at nightfall, use direct and indirect lights depending on the activities, with suitable lumens and tones to make rooms cozy, good lighting completely changes a space
5.- Silence your house, calm your interior
A quiet house is associated with greater well-being and greater satisfaction with housing, as well as with fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. We also confirm that one of the main causes of neighborhood conflict is noise.
Each autonomous community and municipality has noise regulations, so follow these regulations to the letter for a happy coexistence. Think, for example, that if you can hear your own television, conversation or the radio in the next room, so will your neighbors.
6.- Green I love you green
We have already told you on occasions that surrounding yourself with plants has a beneficial effect. This report confirms that having green areas nearby (and using them) is related to greater subjective well-being and satisfaction with
own housing. So now you know, go out frequently to be in contact with nature, make the most of the terrace or balcony (no matter how small) and of course, make your house look like a garden by filling it with plants.
7.- Pamper your relationships at home
A positive perception of the relationship with the people with whom we live generates greater well-being and happiness and is related to less anxious and depressive symptomatology, less suicidal ideation, lower rates of loneliness and fewer perceived sleep problems.
8.- Who has a friend has a treasure
An more social relationships it is associated with a greater sense of well-being and happiness and with fewer symptoms of depression and loneliness. In addition, the perception of having social support is related to
with greater well-being, greater subjective happiness, less depressive symptomatology and less suicidal ideation.
So now you know, invite your friends to your home and take care of the space to share it
9.-Together, but not scrambled
Independence is also a factor of well-being in the home. Higher rates of satisfaction are found in the home when the dwelling has independent spaces for children to play and study
and when we have private spaces. This intimacy is not incompatible with the previous point. It is as important to share moments with loved ones and friends as it is to be able to enjoy the tranquility and intimacy necessary to find our well-being.
In this sense, if there children or adolescents at home, you can encourage their autonomy with their own play and work spaces. Make sure you do things together, as well as have spaces alone and intimacy when you need it. You have to set limits lovingly, but firmly and what always helps is establish the rules of coexistence.
10.- And above all… support yourself and seek help
Knowing when help is needed and asking professionals for it is essential to achieve the desired emotional balance. Psychologists and psychologists can help you manage stress, worry, sadness,
irritability, pain or any other situation that is being difficult for you already find alternatives to deal with any problem or
discomfort.
If you need the support of a professional, it is important that you know who to contact. On this page you will find a professional search engine
that can help you: www.buscopsicologo.es