30 Habits to Maintain a Stress-Free Home in September (#21-30)

30 Habits to Maintain a
Stress-Free Home in September (#21-30)

Welcome back to read more about the 30 habits that you can create to maintain a stress-free home in the month of September!

If you haven’t read about the habits 1-10 or the habits 11-20, I’d encourage you to do so!

I have compiled a list of 30 habits you can incorporate into your life to help you maintain a stress-free home. This is part three of three which includes habits 21-30.

21. Take advantage of natural lighting.

Natural lighting is known to boost your mood, which can lead to relieving some of our stress. Our bodies need to soak up that vitamin D and if you’re in an area like I am (good ol’ Indiana) you most likely don’t get enough of it.

If your space is dark, gloomy, or depressing – it can rub off on you and cause internal stress that creeps in and you may not be aware of the impact it is having on you. Open those curtains up during the day, sit in the spots where the sun shines through your window, or sunbathe with your pets. Imagine how happy your pets will be if you did; their favorite human, snuggles, and warmth from the sun – you’ll brighten their day along with yours.

22. Add some plants!

Nature has a huge positive impact on our moods and naturally decreases stress. Plants clear the air around you, brighten your mood, and are super cute – if you’re a plant killer, you can try to find some plants that are super low maintenance if you’re interested. If you have kids, try to set some boundaries (LOL) or keep the plants out of their reach.

My daughter used to always dump our soil because it’s a sensory craving she needed to fulfill – we would set the boundary, say no, clean it up, set her in time-out for a few minutes, and then re-direct her to her kinetic sand or play sand outside. After this happened more than a few times, she finally got it!

Don’t want to try plants or have to maintain them? Try adding nature in other ways – leaf art, rocks, a water feature, driftwood décor. These can all help with creating a stress-free home by adding in nature.

23. Unplug.

We all hear unplugging from the constant media stream or devices can be helpful, but many of us are weary to put our devices down. We are usually always connected to a device, even if we aren’t aware of it. Can you set a time during your day when you are free of any electronics?

Our electronics can add stress to our daily lives without us being aware of it consciously. Always being connected to our email notifications, social media pings, and text messages popping up can all lead to feeling stressed and anxious.

Intentionally unplugging for a few minutes a day, or for a set amount of time per week can help you maintain a stress-free home.

24. Adopt and follow the saying: don’t put it down, put it away.

Instead of putting the items down and leaving them for your future self, can you take a few minutes and put those items away?

Where do you naturally drop your things? On the kitchen counter? In the doorway? Is there space around that area that you can change so it becomes a space for your belongings to live? Empty off your “drop zone” as often as possible and as soon as possible. Don’t put an item down, put it away.

Remember to remain flexible with yourself and give yourself grace if you can’t do this 100% of the time. However, working toward following this saying more consistently can help you maintain a stress-free space.

25. Find a way to cultivate your own sense of inner peace.

Our homes should be considered our sanctuaries. After a long day out or a lot of social interaction, coming back to our homes should feel comforting and welcoming.
Try to find a way to cultivate your own sense of inner peace, whether that’s reading a book, meditating, deep breathing, absorbing the quiet around you, or praying.

Once you find what works for you, practice these things in your home and let your home transition into your stress-free space.

26. Make your bed.

It seems so simple; like how is this going to help me have a stress-free home? Imagine having a space you can escape to if you get overwhelmed or just need to rest for a minute. Walking into your bedroom with the bed made is it’s own vibe, and you know it. Try making your bed every morning to see the energy shift it can cause in your space.

It also acts as a small boost to help you feel accomplished for the day; starting your day off with a super small and simple task can set you up for continuing to be productive. It can help clear your mind and help you feel calm any time you enter your room. Can you teach your kids to make their bed? Or reset it for them daily? This small act of service from us as parents can provide your kids with a relaxing place to rest too.

27. Make it smell good.

Using our senses to help us cultivate and maintain a stress-free home is an easy habit to adopt. You can use essential oils, natural cleaners, non-toxic candles, or air fresheners to help you cultivate a clean, fresh scent in your home.

I use a lemon scented multi-purpose cleaner in our house and it creates a clean and fresh feeling.

Whatever scent suits you in reducing your stress is good enough.

Need comfort? Try a warm, cookie-scented candle.

Need to relax? Try lavender.

Need your home to feel clean? Utilize lemon scents!

28. Declutter your entryway.

Your entryway is the gateway to your home – if it is crowded or cluttered, that is the first sensation you get when you come back home. Can you dedicate some time to re-organize this and make it an inviting place to walk into?

By decluttering your entryway and maintaining the space, you will be adding to your stress-free home.

29. Set up zones.

Setting up zones in your home that suit your family can be a life-changer. Some examples of zoning could be: a charging station to reduce wire clutter, a drink station to make it more convenient for your entire family, or putting your toaster in the cabinet right above your butter on the counter so it’s as convenient as it gets (without leaving it on the counter).

Can you have your travel bag pre-packed and ready to go (setting up a travel zone)? This helped me a lot while traveling as a nurse. I intentionally bought duplicates and had them in my travel case, so I never had to re-address my “packing” list. Doing this helped eliminate a lot of my stress while traveling weekly for work. I want to mention that I don’t like additional clutter, but having just my essentials packed away neatly and in a super convenient way to grab and go was a game-changer and made having duplicates worth it to me.

30. Release the need for perfection!

Redefine perfection for yourself. Our homes do not have to be perfect to be enjoyable. Life is chaotic and messy at times and sometimes our houses can be that way too. If you can create a new definition of perfection in your mind, it may help alleviate some of that stress when you see things out of place or needing to get done.

I have had to practice this A LOT when it came to dishes on the counter or tools scattered throughout the house. Sometimes you need to sit back, let it be the way it is, and simply be present in the moment. Work on forgiving yourself when your to-do’s don’t get done and give yourself grace. After all, we are all human and can’t do everything perfectly all the time. It isn’t realistic and you will burn yourself out.

Sometimes it isn’t our homes that are stressing us out, but actually our ideas of what a perfect home is supposed to look like.

Conclusion

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about the 30 habits that can help you create and maintain a stress-free home.

If you’ve read all 30 habits, can you let me know below if it inspired you? I’m also curious to know if you place a lot of pressure upon yourself when it comes to how our homes look, feel, and function. Looking forward to hearing from you!