Why it’s perfect time to make your home sustainable

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has thrust the world into a lockdown, threatening jobs, economies and more not to mention the very real threat to life the virus poses for many. A lot of people - myself included - have found themselves virtual prisoners in their own homes as governments around the world shut down businesses and leisure facilities in a bid to halt the spread of the virus. This meant for many that days and nights merged and blended into one another and filling in the waking hours has become increasingly difficult. The lockdown has meant no contact with friends of family and unable to live life normally has had a detrimental effect on many peoples’ mental health (here are studies with such statistics: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7151434/. It’s little wonder then that people have been yearning for a return to normality as routines are disrupted.

How DIY Can Help Mental Health

One symptom of negative mental health is an inability to motivate oneself to do even simple chores around the home. But finding the motivation to make some small, sustainable tweaks to the home and perform some DIY tasks can actually help to boost mental health and instill a sense of achievement. Plus those tasks can help to while away the hours and prevent boredom from setting in. The tasks don’t have to be complicated, but performing them can be a real boost to mental health, helping to focus concentration and the satisfaction of a job well done can’t be underestimated. Here’s a few DIY ideas to undertake around the home that offer a measure of household sustainability, making your home a greener, more eco-friendly place and more energy efficient.

Prepare the Garage

If you have a garage, why not consider turning it into an extra room if it isn’t being used for its intended purpose of housing a car? Of course it might need to be decluttered if it is being used for storage. Sifting through stored items can be therapeutic (proofs: https://www.prevention.com/life/a20515773/health-benefits-of-decluttering/), conjure up lost memories when stumbling across a long-forgotten book or photograph, sports equipment or whatever else. Of course it isn’t just decluttering, but think of it as preparation for proper insulation of the walls, or installation of some solar panels to help harness the suns’ rays and save on energy bills. These might need some professional help to complete, but laying the groundwork can provide a sense of anticipation.

Landscape the Garden

If the garden needs some TLC then you can do more than simply cut the grass or weed borders. Landscaping the surrounding area to make it more bird and bee-friendly can help enhance the local eco-system, attract wildlife and provide a pleasant living environment. And, if there’s enough area to do so, creating a vegetable plot for root vegetables such as potatoes or carrots offers a real sense of improvement come harvest time. Perhaps rework paths or paved areas, or create a patio for outside leisure. Or plan and install a garden pond.

Let There Be Light

Why not change standard light switches and fittings for dimmer switches which can save on electricity bills by allowing for adjustable light to fit the time of day and match the amount of natural light available. If dimmer switches aren’t practical then consider swapping existing lightbulbs for energy-efficient bulbs. These are long lasting and use less energy than conventional bulbs, thus saving money with no loss of illumination.

Insulate the Curtains

Get out the needle and thread and apply some thick material to the backs of curtains in order to insulate them better for colder weather. Insulated curtains can help to keep in heat within a room while also preventing colder outside air from entering. Plus, thicker curtains help block out light so if used in bedrooms they can aid a better sleep by preventing light bleed into the room which can hinder sleep. These are just a few ideas and a quick online search will turn up hundreds more DIY projects (personally, I prefer both https://www.instructables.com/ and https://www.ourhomesmagazine.com/ for finding new challenges and tasks), both minor and major that can be undertaken not just during lockdown but when life returns to normal. Hopefully, the tips and advice provided above will be of use for you. Feel free to share more insight into the world of sustainable home improvement by contacting me in the comments as I plan to update this article with time.