Housing News

6 Ways Your Home Helps You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

The beginning of a new year comes with the opportunity for improvement and renewal. According to experts, making resolutions and sticking to them can lead to realistic lifestyle changes. Since most healthy habits begin at home, here are some of the most popular New Year’s resolutions—and ways your home can help in keeping them.

1. Eat Healthier and Lose Weight

Heading into 2017, one poll found that 21.4% of respondents wanted to change their diet and lose weight. Having the right setup at home can encourage healthier food preparation and make eating in more enjoyable. Rethinking your kitchen’s layout or adding a few small appliances can make it easier to prepare more meals at home. Plus, the health benefits can compound when you prepare and eat fresh fruits and vegetables from your garden.

2. Exercise More

Most of us recognize the benefit of getting our bodies moving, both in terms of weight loss and overall health, but finding time is a challenge. That’s where a home gym comes into play. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but having a designated, ready-to-use space for a treadmill, yoga mat, and free weights cuts down on travel time to and from the gym. Water-based exercises are options for pool owners and can help justify becoming one.

3. Get Organized

Another popular resolution is to become more organized. As you look around your home, there is likely to be room for improvement. Whether it’s a new closet system, clearing out the garage, or optimizing your home office, maximizing your living space can help reduce stress and improve family time in the long run.

4. Spend Time with Family

Spending quality time with the people who are important to you is another key focus. That may mean converting a room or area of your home into a family den, complete with games, an entertainment system for movie nights, and comfortable seating. Alternatively, maybe more dinner parties should be in your future, along with an upgrade to your current dining room or outdoor spaces for al fresco meals.

5. Save More Money

Making better financial choices and saving more money are goals many people aspire to throughout the year. By making a few energy-saving changes, you can reduce the amount you spend on your monthly bills. Installing a programmable thermostat, sealing drafty windows, and replacing incandescent bulbs with energy-saving alternatives are just a few of the ways your home can contribute to the cause. 

6. Get More—and Better—Sleep

A look at resolution topics that have previously trended on Twitter found many people seek more sleep and relaxation. A new mattress, blackout shades, or even a fresh coat of paint in a soothing tone can make a bedroom more conducive to getting those highly desired and necessary Zs.

Whatever your goals are as you begin 2018, here’s to achieving them!