We don’t see the sun as much in cold British winters, so it is important to find ways to make the most of what natural light we do get. This is also helpful when transitioning into the warmer, sunnier months.

Using lighter colours on your walls will obviously make your space seem brighter but it will also reflect any natural light streaming in. We advise off-whites with warmer tones to illuminate that natural warmth of the sunlight radiating in rather than colder tones. Flooring and furniture can also aid in light reflection so keep that in mind when selecting pieces for your space if you are craving more light.

Soak up that vitamin D anywhere you can in your home, especially if your home office does not get much natural light. We always find that the dog knows where all the best sunny spots in the house are, so we take her lead. Jane can often be found crosslegged on the floor in a sunny spot working mobile! Rebember vitamin D is an energy booster, stimulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the gut to maintain healthy bones.

Exposure to sunlight is also thought to increase the release of serotonin in the brain which is a mood-enhancing hormone. This is why many people in Britain buy SAD (seasonal affective disorder) lamps to use over the winter months for light therapy to ease symptoms of seasonal depression. Feeling the warmth of sunlight on your skin simply feels good and we need to remember to do more of what feels good.

Sunlight streaming in is also a good reminder to get those windows cleaned!

We’ve spoken about the benefits of houseplants in the home before but here’s a quick recap: A study from NASA found that not only do indoor plants remove carbon dioxide from our environment, but they also eliminate toxins in your space. These toxins are found in furniture, paints and cleaning products to name a few. By eliminating these toxins and producing oxygen, houseplants aid in purifying the air making your space a cleaner environment.

Aside from the physical benefits, indoor plants also provide positive benefits for your mental health. Nurturing and taking care of an indoor plant such as an orchid or a monstera, gives you a sense of purpose as you are looking after another living thing. Embrace the green. Studies have shown that even just being in the presence of an indoor plant reduces stress as viewing nature has a much more positive affect on our emotional and mental wellbeing than plain urban scenes.

It has also been proven by researchers that indoor plants in the workplace increase productivity, as much as a 45% increase in creativity and 20% increase in memory retention. All the more reason to pop a potted plant on your desk in your home office or at work.

We’ve said it time and time again, but we are more than happy to continue to shout it from the rooftops: decluttering your space helps you declutter your mind. If you think about it, cleaning and decluttering your physical environment mirrors organising and decluttering your thoughts, allowing you to feel more focused and on top of things.

Studies by researchers at ICLA’s Centre on Everyday Lives and Families discovered a direct link between clutter and cortisol, the stress hormone. The study showed that clutter had a profound effect on our mood as messier spaces result in an increase in anxiety and stress. Be very critical when decluttering and decide whether you really need something you’re considering throwing out or not. You can also follow the Marie Kondo method and decide whether it brings you joy or not. After all, you are the one who has to be surrounded by the pieces in your home so your space should be a reflection of you and what makes you happy.

If decluttering seems like a daunting task. We recommend only giving it 5 minutes a day at first and build yourself up to a day or weekend to tackle tricky spaces such as attics and garden sheds. Overwhelming yourself straight away can add to the stress rather than relieve it so it’s best to take it a step at a time.

Making your space a sanctuary for your mental wellbeing is crucial; nevertheless, you need to remember to extend that compassion and care you have for your space to yourself as well. With pandemic fatigue settling in, it’s important to be compassionate with yourself and allow yourself to take the break you need. Reach out to those close to you and talk about what you’re feeling. It is much better to let go of the stress rather than bottling it up and verbalising it can help with this. Write down the things that bother you if you don’t feel comfortable talking to someone about it as another outlet.

With all the home working and schooling we’ve been through; it is important to have tolerations. Tolerations to our spaces but also to our partners and ourselves. Don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t got everything done on your to-do list. In fact, a friend mentioned a small hack this week that we enjoyed: make a ta-da list instead of dragging yourself down with a to-do list. Celebrate the small wins and accomplishments in these trying times and ta-da, you’ll be feeling much more positive and forgiving to yourself.

We’ve been quite taken by the phrase “eat the frog” to find motivation these days. No, we don’t recommend to you start eating frogs. The saying is coined by author and speaker, Brian Tracy, who was inspired by a quote from Mark Twain: “If the first thing you do in the morning is to eat the frog, then you continue your day with the satisfaction knowing that this is probably the worst thing that will happen to you all day.” Essentially it means to tackle the big, tough task first thing at the start of the day. This will give you a sense of accomplishment earlier on in the day to feel good about. It will also make other tasks feel easier to complete, a tactic we are implementing and finding that it works.