How To Prepare Your Home For Social Distancing: 16 Tips That Work

Social distancing, or stay-safe-at-home, has been the clarion call for most governments and health organizations all over the world for the better part of the year 2020.

But then there is a problem. With literally nothing interesting going on in the world right now, staying at home has become extremely boring and stressful for most people. If you are one of those people, here is your solution: Prepare your home for social distancing. Here are 16 tips that work:

1. Create an office space

Many people have lost their jobs due to the persistent spread of coronavirus. If you still have your job, you need to be happy and not stressed. Working from home is the best anyone can wish for during a ravaging pandemic like the one we are experiencing right now.

3 Second SEAL Test Will Tell You If You’ll Survive A SHTF Situation

Now, instead of complaining about how hard working from home is, a better idea would be to improve your home office/working space to make it more comfortable and functional. You can start by investing in a standing desk, an ergonomic office chair, and better Wi-Fi.

2. Make your home cozy

Move or rearrange furniture around the house in order to maximize floor space. That will make your home feel less cramped. If you have some money saved up, add a few extra silky throws, some fluffy pillows, a new rug, and some squishy blankets to make the home a little cozier.

3. Add natural light

A simple home remodeling project such as adding an extra window will give your home the gentle breeze and extra natural light that you have been missing since you stopped going outdoors. If you don’t have a budget for a remodel, you should consider dressing down the windows to allow in more light. You really shouldn’t cover them up now that you are constantly at home.

Pro tip: Try to reorganize your furniture so that you spend most of your days in areas with the most daylight and areas that help you make the most of your view. You can, for example, set up your home workstation at the window facing the city, or the beach if you are that lucky.

4. Prepare for medical emergencies

Ensure that you have the following:

  • A list of personal emergency contacts, particularly if you live alone and have an underlying health issue. It could be a list of relatives, neighbors, or friends who are aware of your health issue and who you can count on for help.
  • Details about your doctors or healthcare providers, including home, office, and emergency room phone numbers if you have them. Your insurance providers’ information and your medical records can also be helpful in case you are taken to the emergency room unconscious. Keep them in a place where someone you trust can easily access.
  • Stock up on all the medication you need for at least a month, or two, and have a plan for how to get refills.

5. Invest in indoor plants

These are good for three reasons. First, they are beautiful so they will improve your home’s synthetic appeal. Second, they purify your indoor air so you don’t get intoxicated in the home. And third, they are just like pets – they keep you company and allow you to love and care for them. Plants will give your life some sense of purpose.

If you don’t like the increased responsibility that comes with owning a live plant, you can stock up on dried flowers. Those will add color in your home and will never die even if you neglect them after the lockdown is lifted.

 6. Stock up bath and hygiene products

Many people have stocked up on toilet paper, which is great, but that is not all you need. Have enough hand soap for 2-3 months, feminine hygiene products, concentrated laundry detergent, shampoo, and other bathroom and kitchen cleaning supplies. If you have a baby, stock up on diapers, formula, and baby wipes, etc.

 7. Stock up on food

This is simple: Ensure that you have all the foods that you need while stuck indoors. Have your dried grains, soup, and stews, dried fish, cured meats- anything you normally use in the kitchen!

 8. Bring in nice smells

Ensure that your pillows, couches, clothes, and everything within your living spaces smell nice. Bring in scented candles, reed diffusers, or DIY potpourri. 

 9. Declutter

In as much as you want to feel comfortable at home during this period, clutter could be preventing you from achieving this. You probably have been keeping clutter because your hands have been full of other things to do. Now that you are spending most of your time at home, there is enough time to do this.

The best way to do it in an organized manner is to start from one room to the other. Remove the things that you no longer use from the house. From this you can identify those that you can donate to a worthy cause; now is a good time to lend a hand to the less fortunate. Throw the rest away.

10. Make a home mini-spa

 One thing that has probably been curtailed from your normal schedule is your favorite spa sessions. However, you can still recreate the moments in your bathroom. Grab some essential oils, cider vinegar, noble vegetable oils, and other ingredients to make cosmetic treatments and masks. You can always get a guide online on how to prepare one.

 To complete the spa feeling, light scented candles as you soak away in your bath. You will love the rejuvenated you at the other side of the session in your home spa. Besides, a little escape from the hustles of taking care of the home will be good for your relaxation.

11. Clean

 Above everything else, you want to stay in a clean place during this period. General cleaning will instantly transform your home and improve the air that you are breathing. Take your time to clean the rarely washed items in your homes such as the carpet, curtains, sofa, and windows. Dust the cabinets and shelves.

A thorough cleaning helps in identifying things that need minor repairs that you could have otherwise not noticed. You also find misplaced things that you’ve frantically been looking for.

12. Organize

 Talking of things getting lost in the house now is the time to create a territory for each and every item in your house. No one likes looking for items everywhere with no success. Organize your storage and categorize items according to how frequently they are used. Utilize to top shelves and cabinets for rarely used items such as party glasses and sewing kits. Place the frequently used ones such as shoe brushes in the lower shelves.

13. Make your bedroom comfortable

Even if you are working from home, you can’t help but spend a little more time in your bedroom. Some days you will feel lazy to get out of bed and end up working on your laptop from your bed. It will give you much comfort if you made your bedroom a little cozier. Start by cleaning the mattress, if it is too much work for you, you can always pay someone to do it. Consider changing your beddings; those made from natural materials are always a good choice. Get comfortable pillows and a cozy blanket. Lastly, block out the light with blackout curtains to ensure that you are enjoying quality sleep.

14. Dedicate a corner for exercising

Compared to when you were commuting for work, working from home doesn’t guarantee much movement. There are no stairs to climb, you don’t have to run for the elevator or bus and you are no longer walking around the office as it is your norm.

We all know that exercise is good for you, especially if you want to stay productive working from home. Dedicate a corner in your house for your exercise. Now that you can’t go to your gym session, create a mini-gym at home. Invest in some equipment, starting with a gymnastic mat for yoga, fitness bands, dumbbells, and weights.

15. Create a library at home

One way to expand your knowledge is by reading extensively. You probably listen to an audiobook in your daily commutes to work, but now is the time to feel the sweetness of turning pages and reading from a book. Purchase a display cabinet or a bookcase to create a library at home. Complete the look with framed photos and small indoor plants placed on the empty places of the bookcase.

16. Create a relation spot at the balcony

Staying at home will give you enough time to do your favorite activities such as painting, playing board games, and reading among others. You will enjoy these activities more if you have a cozy, relaxing space dedicated to this. If you have a balcony, it presents the best option for a relaxation space. Place a chair or two and a table on the balcony. Besides using this space for your activities, it also poses a soothing space where you can watch the sunrises and sunsets.

Conclusion

Stay connected during this social distancing and isolation season. This is good for your mental health. Keep your mind engaged all the time be it through physical exercise, indulging in DIY projects, or doing household chores. Learn a new skill if you can. Anything that will get you to the other end of the pandemic safe, sound, and healthy, by all means, do it!

Written by

Jennifer Monroe is an architect. She is young and ambitious, with a degree in architecture. She has eight-plus years of experience in interior and exterior design. Her mission is to inspire others to live their dreams and create their perfect sweet homes.

Latest comments
  • There is no surge as such, yes some people are still getting sick enough that they need to go to the doctor or get additional care, but for the most part, things are settling down. Most reported “new” cases are not really new, but the result of test results showing exposure or antibodies from having had the virus. Another reason for more cases showing up is the number of illegal immigrants reporting in to Border Patrol stations in California, Arizona, and Texas with the virus. Since their numbers have crowded the hospitals in the border towns BP is transporting the overflow further inland to hospitals were there is room for them. The ratio of deaths to cases is falling as a result of testing. I don’t like the way the media and CDC tell it to the public, it’s still scare tactics for the agenda.

    I was talking to some other men at church yesterday and we found that all four of us had gotten what appeared to be a strange form of “flu” last November or December. One guy said he went to his doctor and the doctor told him it was not flu, but some kind of virus.. Others at church also had confided that they had been sick before the virus was announced and all the craziness was inflicted on us by the government

    This virus has been used a a political weapon in this election year and don’t look for it to go away unless the Demoncrats win. There is no cure for the common cold, seasonal flu and there will never be a cure for these 19 strains of Covid viruses which have been around since the early 1960’s.

    The governor here in Texas caved to pressure and issued a mask up order with a fine for not wearing one in public. I’m 76 years old and had not worn one at all until Friday when I went to some stores… Across the front of it was this message: “This is not a mask. It is a symbolic gag on our freedoms.” I put it on as I step in the door and rip it off as I exit.

    No, my home is not going to undergo any modifications of how it operates, there is no such thing as a “new normal” and what is being imposed on America is right out of George Orwell’s book “1984” – tyranny.

  • I agree, I don’t wear a mask either and most stores here in New Hampshire don’t require me to do so. If you wish to wear one, it is your right to do so. But it is not my requirement to do so.

  • All this info is good to know but………..I’m not going in on this “new normal” crap and I aint wearing no mask.
    I am still working and doing pretty much as I please.
    I still see my family and give them hugs, shake hands and pats on the back.
    We still all get together and cook out and have a good time.

    The grocery store I go to started making all employees wear masks and they put a sign up that says to cover your mouth with a cloth mask but no one enforces it, I’ve been inside several times shopping and even stopped and spoke to the manager, no mention of masks.
    They do have some of the employees wiping down shopping carts with disinfectant, but I’ll grab a cart from outside and enter the store with it, I wish you could see the look on these kid’s face, its like they saw their first horror movie! They come running up trying to spray down my cart but I tell them its ok, no need for it, they have been brain washed poor souls.

    I will continue to live my life and fear will not be part of it.

  • You’re only protecting yourself & everyone else as a precaution across the USA by wearing a mask whenever outside and especially around anyone else nearby. It’s not only the kind thing to do…,it saves lives. Yes they are uncomfortable, though this will be over faster if everyone did. Many young people get downright sick after playing ball together or at a night out partying. Covid is in the air everywhere where there is less fresh air. Do yourself & everyone else the favor of wearing a mask, distance & washing hands, and having clean habits.

LEAVE A COMMENT