What did i realize during the pandemic?
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the meaning of the word “home”. Somehow, I feel I am simpler, not too fussy in the page interior. I finally get it, what do we really need in our homes to feel safe? It might be something many of us didn’t pay much attention to before. I can’t imagine what it would be like to not have somewhere safe to live right now (for whatever reason).
I’ve always thought of the house as simply a place to live, but during the renovation, I found myself drawn to the detailed designs. Usually I would spend a few days or even weeks just measuring my thoughts about choosing a website or paint color… And then Covid-19 hit, like not just me but all of us were affected. error. It is natural to find our own needs bundled up at the bottom of Maslow’s triangle. Overnight, we have to focus on far more basic needs – health, food, shelter, family and community.
The experience during the months of lockdown has fundamentally changed my relationship with my home and surroundings. Might as well change the way I feel about my place…
I am grateful to have this home, our safe place, me for many months. This is a big change in perspective, because I always felt I didn’t have enough love to give this house. We bought it as a “fixer-upper” (house in poor condition, bought with the intention of improving and adding value after repairs), it was completely basic when we moved in. The house was in a beautiful location, the price was right for the budget, but for the first few months I couldn’t be comfortable, because then we had to deal with some bigger and more complicated problems.
Investing in a small real estate that is within our means, we do not have to bear any debt and have enough ability to do what we want. While so many people are facing financial pressure, we feel extremely fortunate to have made the right decision. I really appreciate this little cottage, although it may not be as complete as I originally wanted, I found it to have everything we needed.
COMMUNITY
We spend more time at home during the epidemic season. People have used the front yard, which is different than before and so I have more time to talk to my neighbors, I get to know them better. We share cakes and vegetables with each other, we leave old books and toys in the driveway for people to pick up if they need to. Young children have learned to ride bicycles on deserted streets – something unthinkable just a few months ago. Community is more important to all of us than it used to be, and perhaps the shared experience of being together at home during this pandemic will leave an indelible mark on all of us.
Gravel garden with vines, peonies and lupins
OUTDOOR SPACE
For me having an outdoor space is ideal – I’ve never lived in an apartment for that reason. It has become more important than ever in the past few months, I am especially grateful that I have space to go outside and be able to sit somewhere growing flowers and vegetables. Watering the plants every morning and evening helps to make my work day more rhythmic, watching the plants grow is a source of peace, joy and satisfaction
Fridge with large freezer compartment
We bought a Fisher & Paykel refrigerator a few months ago and are relieved that we can plan our meals ahead of time, the fridge keeps food fresher for longer and can last for days, no have to worry thinking about what we will eat the next day. As a result, we have much better meals. I also make healthier food choices and don’t think I’ll ever go back to shopping ‘in time’ again. Because I no longer have to rush to pick up a basket of essentials at a Tesco Express supermarket – I will now order at a major store once a week.
GROWING OUR OWN FOOD
Fortunately in the UK there is no serious food shortage as people rush to buy eggs and flour to make cakes at home. However, this makes us think that supermarket shelves will always have whatever we want, I think some people will be surprised to realize that the food supply chain is more fragile. what we think. The initial shortage has decreased but perhaps as we all spend more time at home, there is definitely an interest in making our own food at home. Even if supermarket shelves continue to be fully stocked, it’s definitely still the thing to do. Because it helps reduce the environmental impact of the food we consume every day, even if it’s as simple as growing a few tomato or lettuce plants on a balcony or small yard. Along with increasing walking and biking as our primary means of transport, we can all do positive things to help the planet, not to mention picking and eating tomatoes from our own gardens. a warm summer evening. So great!
WORKING SPACE AT HOME
My wife and I are both fortunate to be able to work from home. I had a workspace but my husband didn’t, so we had to tweak our house a bit. Working from the kitchen table with a laptop may be fine in the short term, but if we are planning to work from home as often as we do now, we really need to set up a suitable space to be able to work. comfort and avoid the risk of stress or injury, for example.
MINIMISE OUR LIFE
We’ve gotten better at thinking, repositioning, and making the most of what we’ve got, from creating a canvas from leftover color palettes and polycarbonate to adding a home desk out of one. old table in the kitchen, we found ways to reuse the things we have. I rummage through the clothes I rarely wear in the back of the closet and use up the half-full bottles of lotion from the drawer under the vanity instead of buying new products. I used to stop by Space NK to see my hairdresser, but now that’s not so necessary, I’m going through my days without those habits.
LEARNING NEW SKILLS AND MORE UNATTACHED
Over the past few months, we’ve shifted the focus of our lives to focusing on the space of our homes instead of “going out” to work, socialize, and play outside. Whether it’s growing vegetables, baking bread, finding new ways to meet, socializing online, we do all the housework ourselves instead of hiring workers, we all learn new skills and become more autonomous.
REARRANGE LIVING SPACE
I started practicing yoga regularly again, my husband also works from home, so we need to arrange the space so that it can fit in with the new rhythm of life. We can think about modifying or expanding the house to accommodate the activities in a longer term. In the future, I think it is likely that a lot of people want to maximize the available space in their house, by implementing a loft arrangement or building a studio or home office in the garden, for example.
HOME IS A PEACEFUL SPACE, SOOTHING ANXIETY
Recently, when I shared pictures of my house on Instagram, one interesting thing I noticed is that instead of commenting on how the space looks, some people commented on how they felt. . A heavily mutilated word is “mellow”. I’ve always tried to create spaces that give off a sense of peace and I think that’s what people are looking for at the moment.
Finally, just like rearranging my own home, I clean and organize my social media spaces. I turn off notifications or unfollow people who post inappropriate content for any reason. I’m not judging anyone for that – just something I personally chose to do for my own mental health, because honestly, things are pretty tough and we’re all just trying. Just try to get over it.
Similar to how I want my home to feel quiet and safe, I also want my online space to be as healthy and positive as possible. The things I care less about right now are less practical things in the midst of a global pandemic like expensive designs or large renovation budgets. The people who inspire me the most are those who exhibit sensitivity, resourcefulness and a sense of self – ordinary people living in ordinary homes, creating real, authentic environments, finding joy, positivity and gratitude in everyday life.
Keep those around you safe and support each other through this article in the best possible way!
Source Design Hunter
